This is a bit of an odd question but I was wondering if someone might have an answer. I have recently been diagnosed with trigeminal neuropathy not the classic type TN or ATN. I have constant variable throbbing in my upper molar region on both sides of my face, caused by dental injury. I am trying to find a med that will work but also considering more dental procedures at a later date. Don't know yet if I am a candidate for surgery, probably not. My condition is definetely chronic as I have had it for two years. For arguments sake, if someone has a life long chronic pain condition, TN or other, can it make for a lower life expectancy, meaning can the pain itself lead to chronic or terminal disease, i.e. cancer or heart disease, etc? Would this not be the case if the person who has the chronic pain is otherwise healthy and has no psychological issues? Basically does chronic pain make for a shorter life or is this just a ridiculous question?

Your question is very valid.

If you have pathology causing pain- infection, lesions, etc., you are at greater risk. One of the insidious features of pain, however, is hypertension and changes in your HPA- your adrenal-corticoid-hypothalamic complex. Over time, the body can thro too much adrenaline, cortisol, hormones, etc. It can also interfere with your kidney-heart complex that regulates BP. The best thing you can do is have frequest checkups, try to exercise as much as you can, eat a healthy diet, and use techniques to lower sterss- hence BP, like Tai Chi, that won't cause excess pain, but will help keep you well.
Also, keep track of your psychology- find joy where you can or all is gray- keep your mind active.
God bless and god luck.
MDH

Hi Wavegeek,

I have never heard of cases where CP directly causes cancer or anything like that.............but it is a well known fact that the stress of stress on our bodies lowers life expectency. I have high blood pressure. Only in my 40's but I am severely overweight, so I don't think that's directly caused by my CP issues, but.......my bp is fine with my meds when my pain level is managable (say, less than 5/10), but when my pain soars, so does my bp. I don't see how that's not going to cause a heart attack or stroke someday.

Even regarding the cancer issue......I don't see how pain could directly cause a tumor, but if our bodies are run down from the constant stress of CP, I think our bodies would be less able to fight off any threats.

I think the best that we can do is to try to get our pain as well managed as possible.....that includes medications, therapies, and medical interventions as well as the things we can directly control......like finding peace spiritually, through support of family and friends, finding hobbies that we can still participate in, etc.

I am a very spiritual person, and believe the purpose of our lives (on Earth) is to grow spiritually. I also believe those of us that have to endure Chronic Pain are "advanced" entities, as I think I can speak for all of us in these situations that we have LEARNED so much about ourselves, others, and life in general from the situations our CP have put us in. With all that chock full of knowledge and experience in life, it moves us towards the head of the class and we get to graduate ( or as I'd like to put it, return home to the Other Side) the "School of Life" quicker than most. So, I do believe there is some physiological connection between chronic pain and higher increases in fatal ailments. I don't know about you, but suffering 24-7 with RSD, Brachial Plexopathy, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, 5 herniated discs, and Fibromyalgia, I don't think I'll be too upset when I get to be freed from this body. LOL!


Vanna

Glad you can put an optimistic spin on this Vanna. Some days death does sound preferrable. I know that chronic pain has aged me well past my years on the outside, so it would hardly be a suprise if pain was doing the same on the inside!

atb, kami

Thanks for confirming my reality. I will not be tested or treated for anything that can kill me. Why would I? I can't get off this rolling rock soon enough! My pain is due to a car accident 20 years ago, in which I also sustained a serious brain injury. Add that to my already bi-polar existance and I can only pray that my time on this earth as an "old soul" will pass quickly. Laying around so much, being a burden to society is not a very fun way of life.

Going to my mountian... Some days I can only wish I was free to sit on the top of a mountian( don't know how I will get there seeing how I have RSD 24/7 both legs) but I have actually dreamnt about it.. I don't want anyone to look for me or miss me.. no cells phones allowed....I can feel a warm breeze on me with no stress just a place to cry and relax... alone or with my best friend...one day I want that... my brain checker, as I call her... she beieves I have already been there....thats deep!! It's part of my bucket list... I have also said ..placing cards with my Dad, who has sadly deceased, would not sound bad to me at all some days... Pain grows us tired...

Great thread!!!!!!

Hugs, Keep Smilin!

I do understand that last statement. I concur. 24/7 is a miserable state to live on earth in. There is a better place awaiting.

God help us all
(Broken Wings)

Know whats funny...?? Prior to RSD I never would have thought that..and now it almost seems natural and makes sense...5 yrs. ago I would have ever thought about this and now it almost gives me a sense of relief.. I have told my brain checker this very thing at the same time begged her not to dial the 800 #..least allow me to get out of her driveway first and give me a head start!!

Good day, friends... Kathy

I believe chronic pain left untreated will cause a shorter life span. My doctor had an injury, he wouldn't take his pain meds., thinking he would tough it out. When his doctor called him to ask if he was taking them and he said no, did his doctor ever get ******! Pain sets off a chain-full of chemical reactions that have a bad effect on the major organs.

Another example. I spent 20 years with un-treated panic attacks. Panic also sets off a cascade of nasty chemicals that flood the system, wearing on the adrenals, etc. Aside from these chemicals, pain causes high blood pressure, so what else does it do that we don't know yet?

Funny, as I recently asked my doctor friend this same question you asked. I trust his expertise totally. He said there is just no way to tell. Doctors tell people "you have X amount of time left to life" (when faced with life threatening illnesses) yet how many times are they wrong!?!

There is a site called Real Age.com (or something like that, I can look if you want) with a bunch of questions to answer and it tells your real age. I keep meaning to do it 'cause I figure if it says I'm 82 years old ( I'm really only 52) maybe I would live my life a bit differently, ya know? I mean when were in our 30's, 40's & 50's, were planning for the future. When were in our 80's the future is NOW!
Questions like, how much you exercise, if you smoke, if you have high blood pressure, and or other health conditions, are over-weight, how well you cope with stress, how often you have sex, socialize, etc., add up to your "real age".
Considering I can only walk 10 minutes every day tops, can not do anything weight bearing, and I smoke (shhhh), don't eat healthy cause I'm too tired to cook often now, live alone, I must be about 90.

Geesh! Sorry so long winded but it's been on my mind. I mean it's not cancer but it *is* threatening life. (But not life threatening?)

One last thing I promise. My mentor/doctor/friend/therapist (all rolled into one) is such an honest, highly intelligent, and aware person. He's the only person I've spoken to who will admit that life on this planet doesn't even come close to what it's cracked up to be. And how it really sucks for most people.

It's so refreshing for me to hear such honesty. (So thanks for the posts here along the same vain!) He says they made a mistake when he was born and that he was supposed to end up on some other planet. Tee-hee.
Sunrise
PS: I wish I believed in the after-life.