Psyc major here ...which doesn't mean I'm any smarter than anyone with common sense.

I'm very familiar with the concept of reinforcing pain and they are finding real biochemical links between pain and depression. I come from a "suck it up and get busy and stop complaining'" family that tends to internalize depression and express it in physical symptoms. We've tended to learn to use exercise to 'cure' a lot of ills and it really does work, along with pleasant social interaction, hobbies, meditation, etc.

I think thats a useful strategy for anyone with chronic pain but I can also say from experience that at some point it just may not work anymore. I had pretty much exausted my coping ability by the time I went to the pain clinic and when the PA started taking about needing to learn to accept my disability etc. I wanted to smack the little twerp.

That said, this is a good site for you Sherizan, people here know a lot of tricks and it does help to identify triggers and learn what has worked for other people. And as Mrs D suggested don't get too wrapped up in having PN, have some fun and make some 'happy neurotransmitters' too, that might help as well.

judi