Truth #12: Many times people who struggle with chronic pain become adept in covering it up. You may never see the magnitude of actual pain the person lives with daily and if you did it would shake you to your core. Chronic pain is exhausting and it touches every aspect of a person's life. Chronic pain sufferers are chronically sleep deprived. Sleep would be a welcome relief, but unless heavily medicated a chronic pain sufferer will also suffer from insomnia. Many chronic pain sufferers have addiction issues and ride that roller coaster in search of relief. Chronic pain will drain a person both mentally and physically changing a person over time which can lead to other health problems. Often times this person becomes irritable and dislikes being around people, commotion and noise. Chronic pain damages a person's concentration and makes doing even simple tasks a challenge at times. Most chronic pain sufferers try to ignore the pain and live a normal life, but doing that is next to impossible. Chronic pain damages a person's self-esteem and self-worth because the person cannot do the things they have done in the past. A chronic pain sufferer sees themselves as damaged goods thus less than everyone else around them. They are forced to accept their limitations and this causes great internal strife. Often times they feel like everyone is disppointed or mad at them for not being 100% anymore because they feel that way about themselves. Chronic pain breeds isolation and severe depression and sometimes chronic pain sufferers take their own lives when the mental and physical pain becomes unbearable.
Oh yes. Years back I went to a pain management clinic. One of the criteria to attend was that you had to have had chronic pain for at least six months. The presenters told us that 'chronic pain affects EVERY aspect of a person's life'. They obviously expected us to be surprised to hear it and impressed at their insight. We were not.
ReplyDeleteIt affects everyones lives around the person who has the chronic pain. I guess some people who make those presentations are impressed with themselves and probably don't know what chronic pain actually feels like. Also, you have to remember that some people who go to pain management are only drug seeking and they try to weed those people out.
DeleteOh, yes, my mother suffered from chronic pain, due to both a hip that was eventually replaced and shingles brought on by the stress of at all. I have to say, the morphine subscribed to her was a godsend. It allowed her to get off a couch she was almost attached to and DO things. Yes, I know people can become addicted to painkillers, but that's a risk that sometimes needs to be taken if the pain is severe enough.
DeleteKirk, I hear shingles are dreadful. I'm glad she was able to get hip replacements and as for the painkiller rabbit hole...it's a dangerous one to venture down. When I have to take them I have to be very, very careful. Those receptors in my brain start screaming immediately for MORE!
DeleteMr. L has chronic pain and insomnia and it breaks my heart. When i go to clean the house for them, he's always trying to sleep. We tiptoe and i make sure i vacuum the other end of the house, and when he gets up to eat i go vacuum the bedrooms so i won't wake him with the noise.
ReplyDeleteChronic pain is so devastating for anyone who has it in their lives...it's a difficult way to live.
DeleteDamn woman, you see me.
ReplyDeleteMy 3rd eye sees everyone! lol
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