Hi everyone,

Thought I would ask if this is uncommon or normal.....

I have recently had a resurgence of my severe pn for no apparent reason, so therefore I can't address the way to help myself out of the pain of course. But something I have realized I do this past year is when I am in the 7+ range of pain I begin to get restless and feel the need to find a good feeling. Some way, any way, any good feeling. Mostly I turn to food. I have become somewhat of a comfort eater. Health is not a to serious of problem at present time, but, who knows, it could become a serious problem. At this time I am 5"5 (I have already shrunk an inch at 40 from 5"6 at 18!-is this normal?) and 130lbs. I am flabby but not fit as I do not exercise due to my condition. I am hoping to get a recumbent exercise machine off of freecycle at some point, since I can use my legs most days with no problems - but my health is okay right now. I know eating is a bad habit, in a way, but I do other things to help distract me; a hug from my kids, a kiss from my hubby. So where is the line between a bad habit and a necessary crutch?

But do other people do this? Or something like this? I fixate on needing a good feeling. I only get this way when my pain get up in the higher numbers and goes on for multiple days. I don't eat a lot - I just need a little to distract me from the pain. I just feel so bad physically I can't stop thinking about feeling a good feeling! And the taste of whatever favorite food of the hour is..mmmmmm..feels so much better than the pain!

Okay am I completely looney or what?!

I always was a bit of picking more than eating a good healthy meal. But- this has been crazy. Especially in the evening, I watch tv after hubby goes to bed and have a bowl of dry multi grain cereal to pick on (almost continually). It seems to keep my mind off the pain, etc. I thought it might be my pain meds causing the need to pick even more than usual. In addition, I will grab something sweet durning late afternoon/early evening as well. Pain is at it's worst during these times.

I've found that listening to a favorite piece of music can sometimes help take my mind off the pain, if only for just a little while.

I don't eat when in severe pain. I just can't.

But my chronic pain and arthritis, is aggravating. I just got some amitriptyline at the doctor's this week. My feet are not hurting too much but my neck, back hip and knee are giving me grief.

I grow things. I start my garden indoors, around now with seeds.
Right now some go in the fridge for "cold treatment". I have 3 pots of cat grass germinating and some catnip.

My cats keep me pretty busy, and laughing, and I rely upon them quite a bit to keep me diverted from discomfort.

I also come here. I've found over the years that helping others, helps me. I enjoy knowing there is some hope, some benefit my painful existence is connecting to.

Eating releases dopamine, which makes us feel better. See this article on nutritionwonderland.com -- scroll down to the part that's headlined "Dopamine and Eating Behaviors".

Eating, especially sugary foods, also releases the kinds of endorphins which act as natural painkillers. But another kind of endorphin (dynorphin) also works as an appetite stimulant -- it makes us feel hungry. From Franzlefort medical articles:

It may be possible that stimulating natural pain relief -- dopamine, endorphins -- through eating could eventually become a problem: the reward-pleasure-craving-for-more cycle could lead to overeating. That's bad for health, and especially for neuropathy sufferers due to the effect of glucose metabolism on nerve degeneration.

(I think that's so. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken.)

There are other behaviors which can release dopamine and endorphins, though. Exercise is a prime example -- get that bike! -- but listening to soothing music for half an hour (as kvan1917 wrote above), being in sunlight, letting yourself experience strong emotions (think about how you feel after one of those laugh-'til-you-cry episodes), and cuddling with someone (including a dog or cat) can also release naturally analgesic chemicals.

There's some evidence that being in a natural setting also helps. From Athleta.net:

It's not bad to use snacking to alleviate the pain, and there's definitely scientific evidence showing why that works. But I might suggest that one diversify one's methods of stimulating natural relief.

Thanks ger715 - I am glad to see that someone besides me does this. It is definatly when my pain is reach 7/8 that I feel the need to eat. It does not have to be junk food either, just a food I love.

kvan1917 - I havent tried music, but I would love for that to work! I will try it - thanks for the idea!


mrsD - My cats too give me that feeling to combat the pain. I also have a ferret. They all play together and are at this time very involved with destroying the x-mas tree. It adds alot of humor and joy to my day to havetem running around and playing. That and when one of my cat's cuddle with me also help with the painful moments. I can't eat when the pain hits at 9+, I don't desire anything at that point but to be unconscious. I love to garden but because my pain is in my arms I have had to give that up completly. How are you able to focus on gardening when the pain is in your legs and hips, etc? I am talking about those peak moments? I can deal with the lower pain and can distract myself I just dont want to develop an eating disorder.


don_s - WOW - Talk about an education! You have given me the most amazing information I have read in quite a while. I don't always need to have a sweet treat to fullfill my craving, but I do notice at times I crave a sugery treat. Which is strange as I have always had a a sugar intolerance. I really, really appreciate what you taken the time to write - thank you! There is alot of good information I can use. It really explains why I crave to EAT when my pain hits the 7-9 range! I don't feel hungery at all - I just want to eat food that I love.

I ate for comfort for a long time. I have found a product which satisfies my need for sweet and is good for me. Sunsweet mango in a PKG. You can snak all day on them. Your need for sweet and munching on less nutritional things will go away. I lost 65 pounds, I was indeed obese. This was one of the things that helped me to keep myself under control. Pain did cause me to over eat. Mostly emotional pain. I hope this little snack can help you too. ginnie

The main nerve (peroneal) goes thru the back of the knee.
Also the meniscal nerve is back there. (my ortho showed me when I went to him the first time).

I just use a Lidoderm sideways, now, if it flares up like it did.
Don't know what caused it tho....I cannot walk or put pressure on that leg when it does that. I apply it above the bend of the knee on the back of the thigh, and tape the ends down so it doesn't move during sleep. The adhesive is not great on them, as most people know.

I am now cutting the Lidoderm in half and using one/half now that the worst is over. I am afraid to stop it all at once, since I don't know what is causing this, flare.

The first night on the amitriptyline, that leg "ached" for some reason...maybe I was so out of it, I slept on it funny? That is all I can think of. At least it is not red and swollen like the first time. I wore my brace the first day too. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to get out of bed!

Lidoderms are really good but you HAVE to put them in certain places to get the best results. It will vary from person to person depending on what is causing the pain.

I wish I could do something like the mango...but I have a terrible fructose intolerance, and that would make me so sick!
There IS alot of sugar in dried fruits -- diabetics beware.

The kind of mango in health food stores does have a higher content of sugar than sunsweet mango. Yes diabetics still need to limit but not as much as the health food variety. I did check for sugars, and it is less than alot of the cerals out there. ginnie

Ooooowwwwwww......I love mango! Is this the dried mango or cut and peeled refrigerated? The dried mango tastes more sugaery than the refrigerated mango - but the yboth super tasty! I think I will have to try using this as an alternate to ice cream - thanks for the suggestion and congratulations on loosing and keeping off the weight yah yay!!