You'd think living in constant pain, I'd jump at the chance to relax, especially if I'm stuck in bed most of the time anyway.
What is the problem?
I think the relation works.
What was that?
Yes. I think I actually am finding it difficult because it works.
You're probably wondering how that makes sense, I'll try to explain.
| When you're in constant pain, your brain can only focus on a certain amount of it at a time. Eventually it begins to ignore some of the pain; shuts itself off from some of it. When my migraines flare up, my body pain completely disappears. |
So for some one with chronic pain, at least initially, relaxation, I learned, can be very painful! You suddenly realise how much your body is dealing with.
One unfortunate aspect of pain physiology is that the longer pain goes on, the easier it becomes to feel the pain. This is a consequence of a very basic neural process called long term potentiation, which basically means that the more times the brain uses a certain neural pathway, the easier it becomes to activate that pathway again. [...]
For whatever reason, it appears that in many individuals with chronic pain, the volume (of pain signals) has simply been turned up too loud and left on for too long. This is called central sensitization, and it probably plays at least some role in many chronic pain states. It is another example of how chronic pain does not necessarily imply continuing or chronic harm to the body.
- Source: Todd Hargrove, Seven Things You Should Know About Pain Science
- It tells you that your body is not very well, and explains to you in some way why you may be experiencing 'unexplainable' tiredness, irritability, mood swings/depression
- It can help remind you of your health, and the importance to look after it.
- It can confirm you are unwell, many are doubted by those around them and may start to doubt they are ill themselves, this can serve as a wake up call when they realise the extent of their pain.
- The pain is something that can be learnt to be controlled with relaxation techniques, it shouldn't always be a painful experience.
- With the pairing of relaxation, mindfulness, good healthful habits, positive changes in life and support and coping mechanism, chronic pain can be minimised and managed better.
I've admittedly missed a lot of pain management sessions, and my exercises are really going out the window at the best of times. And I can feel it. but it's the relaxation techniques, being put into perspective for me, that helps me continue that side of it, and have more positivity about the rest following.
I'm really looking forward to being able to see more improvements, but I know for a fact my sleep troubles have almost gone thanks to meditation, and I can feel a difference in pain awareness within around 30 minutes of beginning meditation, without the increase in pain that I get with pain killers. And the best thing is, I can't over do it. ^__^ Definitely worth it in my book.