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Enduring Pain
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Enduring Pain |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Some of this will be reiteration of statements previously made and this next statement will sound incredibly trite, so bear with me. Pain is the central fact of my life (with two major exceptions). I mean not only emotional pain and psychological, but physical as well. That last is the focus of this essay. Specifically, how I deal with physical pain. To that end, a brief history is in order. After suffering a car accident 10 years ago, for various reasons, I was left in constant pain. From recurrent disc fragments that induced sciatica to deep, intra-muscular pain, I run that gamut. Enough history I think. Initially my pain was very hard to deal with. It destroyed my memory and concentration completely. Intense pain becomes no easier to deal with as time goes by but there are things you can do to reduce it's impact and you're awareness of it. I should say rather that I have found several things, which help me to accomplish it. The single most effective tool I have found effective in fighting pain is controlled breathing so I shall start with that first. There are many forms of controlled breathing and I have tried many including the Lamaze technique taught to pregnant women to ease the pain of childbirth. In reality pain is not so much eased or relieved as pushed out of your conscious mind and replaced with the concentration necessary to control your breathing. Bio-feedback can also teach you to enter the same state of relaxation. Both produce alpha waves within the brain and alpha waves are associated with relaxation. Stress will also heighten the levels of pain and make you more aware of that pain. To continue, begin in a sitting position, laying tends to limit the volume of air your lungs can hold. Head down and arms relaxed with hands hanging or in your lap, take deep cleansing breaths before you begin. Inhale through your nose to a 5 count then exhale through your mouth to a 10 count. It should take twice as long to exhale as inhale. You must also develop a constant motion of in and out, meaning there can be no "hitches" when you switch from inhale to exhale and vice versa. One last thought on breathing, try to breathe from your diaphragm instead of the abdomen. Keeping the mind occupied is the greatest help but you must relearn concentration first. The idea is to sidetrack the attention. Those that suffer from chronic pain learn it over time so I'm not quite sure how to explain it but here goes. Here's an overused cliché that fits. In a room full of people, how do you focus on one single voice or conversation? You tune out the rest as background noise. It's not quite the same thing as with pain, but the theory is similar. The pain does not fade but your awareness of it does. Writing poetry or essays works for me, animal care does as well. Reading though is the best distraction I have yet to find. Of course, the limited pain meds I am given help not at all. Friends however seem to make it easier to bear. I don't talk about it much to anyone but just having the distraction helps immensely. This essay while it says much about little boils down to one fact for myself, which is thus; What choice do we have but to endure the pain? The only other option is curling up and letting go of sanity. I do not mean to sound harsh. Truly I don't, only to inform. Use every resource you can to get by, cultivate every distraction. For those just beginning to suffer, remember that it will get easier to deal with and for some, will go away altogether. Find someone who has gone through it already because they will understand better than anyone what you have to deal with and in this case misery is better off for the company. ©1999 DreamEvil ------------------ Now and forever my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© |
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Dragoness Senior Member
since 1999-08-07
Posts 513 |
Never having to had to endure physical pain I can onle try to understand what it is like.But seeing it on a day to day basis at work I would like to see more people use these techniques.The mind can heal where medicine cannot. Very well written brother of my heart! ------------------ Set you heart free and your mind will follow. |
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Saxoness
since 1999-07-18
Posts 1102Texas |
I personally think you are very strong to have the courage to learn these techniques, instead of giving up ------------------ "Glory remains unaware of my neglected dwelling where alone I sing my tearful song which has charms only for me." -Charles Brugnot |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
I have indeed experienced horrid pain - through a back injury that debilitated me for 6 months, but as for living with it constantly...nope, can't relate. I assume you still suffer, dear Dream? If so, then your coping techniques are marvellous. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
What strikes me most is that you've failed to mention anything about will power. You have it, my friend. In spades. You are a wonderful teacher and mentor. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
As seems common brother, we are often on teh same track. Though for different reasons I too am in pain throughout every day. I have suffered myriad forms of injury from falling and becoming temporarily blind, falling and cracking a vertebrae in my lower back, falling, (maybe I should stay away from heights,) and breaking my ankle and foot in thirteen places, to having a ten penny galvanized nail shot through my femur, (pulling it out hurt WAY more,)being hit by a truck while walking across the street, having my kneecap broken from a baseball bat, having my hand crushed inside the hinge point of a cherry picker, almost losing my thumb, as well as many other things I won't bore you by going into. My point in telling you that, is to show that I do understand. Initially, I felt the same pull toward insanity that you mentioned. It can be quite maddening to have to bear the pain and know that there is little if anything you can do to dull it somewhat. It is a constant companion that is ever screaming for attention. I have found as you do that distraction helps immensly. If I can focus at least a small amount of attention away from the pain, then my awareness of it subcedes a bit, which has the same effect as if it was really lessened. Also, I have found that pain med's don't work very well. Personally, it is because my metabolism is to fast, and anything I consume is used up quite quickly. Also, my body is quick to develop immunities. Not to mention, who wants to take pills all the time? I have found that there is an advantage though. As you said, pain is an inevitable fact of life. I find that having to deal with the large amounts of pain that I have, has enabled me to deal with the minor ones that come my way with nary a thought. Tolerance is a good thing, both mentally and physically. Stay strong bro! Chris |
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
Invaluable lessons, Dream  As you know, I also suffer from chronic pain. True, pills are a small band-aid at best, and in the long run are not worth the side effects that may come with them. I've used the distraction techniques for quite a long time, and it works! I've also learned some stretching exercises that don't intensify the pain and once I'm through, the pain is reduced to a tolerable level. Thanks for posting your wisdom in dealing with a difficult fact of life!Ummm, Christopher, sweetie...stay away from high places and big pieces of machinery, will ya?  You scare me! LOL |
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JennyLee Senior Member
since 1999-09-01
Posts 1461Northwestern, NJ. |
I like this!! Biofeedback is a tool in which I use to control migraines that tradtional meds could not take care of. Jenny |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Well, Dream, you know by now physical pain is no stranger to me. I find it much easier to deal with than the emotional pains I go through, however. This is a most accurate and well written piece. I usually try to focus on a time frame in which the pain will no longer be with me...sort of how you count I guess, but more of a countdown to painlessness. Either way, really enjoyed this piece. ------------------ Michael Anderson I could not love except where Death Was mingling his with Beauty's breath - Or Hymen, Time, and Destiny Were stalking between her and me. EAP |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Pain is a reality and fact of everyday life. If we are lucky, we get to choose what pain we will bring on ourselves. Most of the time, that is not the case. Thank you for the response to this piece, though it was written at the request of one near and dear to my heart. I would agree with you Michael. I would much prefer another car accident to the trainwreck of emotional pain we endure. ------------------ Now and forever my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Allow me to correct you, if I may be so bold: you have NO choice but to endure the pain, because sanity or lack thereof has no bearing on the sensation of pain. Taking leave of your senses only works to abate pain if you are unconscious, and even that does not eliminate the perception completely. Studies have been done on such things -- we experience pain even in our sleep -- it is a survival mechanism. You have a little known courage, my friend. Few people are so willing to accept suffering so matter-of-factly, and indeed most expend more energy complaining of pain, or attempting to deny its existence, than they would by simply enduring it and relieving what portion of it they can with such mind-over-matter techniques as you have described here. Of all your pieces I have read to date, this one is perhaps the most direct glimpse of what "makes you tick," to use a tired cliche, even if you do not deem it so yourself. A truly interesting journey I have been taken on, here. --Kesslynne ------------------ You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. [This message has been edited by Skyfyre (edited 10-27-1999).] |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
I must reply to you on this Skyfyre, You are right about one thing...pain is a "mechanism" It is a mechanism of the brain and like all mechanisms of the brain is based on chemical reaction. To say one an individual cannot reach a means of controlling that portion of his/her brain is like saying "Man will never fly to the moon." The brain, itself is very powerful, and we as humans know very little of its true potential. Some people do have a choice of enduring or simply ignoring pain...believe me on this. ------------------ Michael Anderson Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Michael: I just love a good debate! En Garde! Ignoring pain does not make it go away; even the use of drugs such as painkillers only temporarily disable the body's relay-system of pain sensations. So long as the source of the pain is there, the pain is there also. I do accept the point that pain is a perception: as it happens, humans have an uncanny ability to change their perceptions of a thing, but not to eliminate them entirely. It has been theorized that such perception-altering techniques are partly responsible for the popularity of Sado-Masochism, as the individual's enjoyment of the act (the domination/submission or what have you) allows the pain involved to be perceived as pleasure, up to a certain threshold. Most of the persons I know that have been involved in such things, myself included, will tell anyone that asks that it is almost entirely a mental phenomenon, incorporating very little of the physical stimuli. The human brain is undoubtedly one of the wonders of the world, and we are yet ignorant of many of its workings. Therefore, I concede this point to you on the possibility that we are capable of "ignoring" pain, but have not yet begun to use that part of the brain (or have not yet discovered the ones who do know how to use it). Thank you for a most engaging discourse. --Kess ------------------ You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Perhaps I shouldn't use the word ignore...if man is capable of controlling the very chemical release that allows us to feel pain...and comes to a point where he can shut that release off, then in fact there is no pain even if bodily damage is occuring. Pain is a product of the reactive mind, a means of a "survival mechanism" as you say. But the analitcal mind has power to override the reactive mind. The analytical mind also has the power to control every facet of the human body...albeit not many have this capability, the capability is there. ------------------ Michael Anderson Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? [This message has been edited by Michael (edited 10-27-1999).] |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
Just so. Again, this has been invigorating, I thank you for the intelligent conversation. --Kess PS: Dream, please forgive me for using your piece as a battlegrounds!  ------------------ You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. |
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Cinderella Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 152Arizona |
In 1986 I died, but God brought me back to life. Pain and suffering are terrible and my heart aches for you D.E. but it is wonderful to have you here with us-for all to share your talent!  |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Skyfyre, I will address this by the numbers: Have you never heard of mind control? The yogis have, under controlled laboratory conditions, stopped the heart rate, changed the temperature of one side of one hand, laid on nails, and walked broken glass. At no time does the EEG record a pain spike. There are also sideshow "blockheads" that drive nails into their own bodies. Take a look at Guinness some time. Are you in constant pain? Have you ever endured 10+ years of constant suffering? If so, then you should have learned to somewhat block pain. Pain is perception and if one does not perceive pain, then the pain does not exist. The problem comes in when the pain levels are erratic or spike. If pain drives me insane, I am no longer who I am and would therefore no longer feel the pain. I would agree that ignoring pain does not make it go away, just the awareness of it. The trick is in the sublimation of pain, in forcing it down or into another path so that it no longer impinges on the awareness. "I do accept the point that pain is a perception: as it happens, humans have an uncanny ability to change their perceptions of a thing, but not to eliminate them entirely." Incorrect as a psychotic does not perceive reality at all and a psychopath perceives it differently. Perception is everything. If you believe that you feel pain, then you do, believe that you do not and you will not. To a degree. Beyond that degree, hypnosis can create a state in which no pain is felt. As an example, a woman here in the Twin Cities underwent surgery to remove tumurous tissue without any anaesthetic but hypnosis and felt no pain. S&M being my fetish of choice, I can speak with some authority on it. Orgasm is a result of the overloading of the human nervous system, pain can also overload the nervous system and induce the same flow of endorphins that orgasm does. Endorphins are basically the body's natural Opiates as they prevent the flow of impulses along the pain receptors. The women that I have known as a Sadist have always achieved more intense orgasm and even ejaculate more forcefully, when there is a degree of pain involved. With some, the more pain, the more intense it is. "Most of the persons I know that have been involved in such things, myself included, will tell anyone that asks that it is almost entirely a mental phenomenon, incorporating very little of the physical stimuli." Again, with pure Bondage & Discipline, it is primarily a mental thing. With Sao-Masochism, you are dealing with physical stimuli as opposed to the purely emotional and psychological stimuli provided by humiliation and degradation. Please refer to the prior statement on S & M. Hansen's disease causes the deadening of the nerves that feel pain, while heat and cold can still be perceived. The wounds of those with it, tend to rot and fester and lead to gangrene as without pain, the body is unaware that it is damaged and so does not seek to repair itself. Survival mechanism that pain is, Reason can overpower our instincts. ------------------ Now and forever, my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© |
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