There is a story on Yahoo news (video with no link) today, discussing how
normal people are getting phantom vibration sensations from their cell phones.

I think this is very similar to the vibration sensations PNers sometimes have.

The neuro that was interviewed says the brain learns the feeling, and then it
may become phantom for some people! (like phantom limb perceptions after an
amputation).

So that leads me to wonder how much we are really perceiving, and how much it might be historical perception? (learned responses) ??

If you go to Yahoo news today, you can see the video. I couldn't find a link to it, I'm sorry.

Mrs D.,

I haven't looked at the video yet...but will.

This is something that my Neurologist explained to me a few months ago...the brain simply remembers; windup, central sensitization, etc. The brain simply remembers or leaves an imprint long after the initial injury has healed. Which is pretty much true in my case and my Neurologist has me convinced. I have also been reading the book "Central Pain Syndrome" and it makes a lot of sense even if pretty technical. But I am looking at it all or taking it all in from being a spinal patient.

went to a long seminar on chronic pain, last spring.
The central pain loop in the brain...is really a complex thing. You'd have to
have the graphs and study them for a while to really understand them.
The seminar was targeting Medication Overuse Headache, but RSD and Fibro were included. I would think some PN fits there too.

It occurs to me that if some pain is truly central...historical...then we should
be able to UN-learn it. This might be where hypnosis, and relaxation come into play.

Mrs D.,

I agree! And another thing...I now know why opiates and even meds such as Neurontin or Elavil did NOT work for me. Of course they still use them but it was Klonopin that made the biggest difference...just quieting down the CNS. And this was just through trial and error and trying various meds; but when as a last resort she tried me on Xanax, it was a godssend...and then on to Klonopin. Anyway, there is another poster on BT that posted about research being done on the chilli pepper and something about PH selective painkillers that would TARGET those sensory nerves. But I do agree...how do we go about unlearning all of this. I DO have a friend with supposed RSD. And I say supposed because she still doesn't know for sure if she has it or not. Some docs are saying yes and some are saying no. In any case, she is attending a Rehab center where they work STRICTLY with spinal patients and/or patients with nerve damage. She is now to the point where she is exercising in warm water and says there has been a remarkable change in pain...much, much lower. I would love to check this place out and/or ask for an order for PT....she says it is wonderful. Soooo....maybe this is one way to get things to calm down.

This is very interesting Mrs. D and ii totally makes sense. I have always wondered why i still have pain if the EMG showed my nerves were normal. It can be a bit of damaged that cannot be perceived by the EMG and a bit of what my brain has learned. Hypnosis sounds interesting.... i am going to discuss it with my neuro.

Thanks Mrs. D,
It makes all of this pain make more sense. My pain/neuro tried to explain it to me as a continous loop. Pain goes in, pain is supposed to go out in a certain period of time, ..if pain doesn't then the brain has learned it.

I so wish my nervous system would quieten down. It feels as if my entire body is vibrating and twitching. And..vibration from wheels of cars makes it worse. I've noticed and I think I remember Kmeb saying this also. The more I use my muscles and the more tired I get, the worse the vibration, twitching and trembling is.

I found this link to the article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...s_N.htm?csp=34

Billye

Hmmmm....maybe another reason for me not to get a cellphone.

fanfaire

Let's all do some yoga!!!

Breathe in . Breathe out.

Don't laugh. I do this at night. Sometimes if I get a flare up (for whatever reason), I try and get my brain re-wired. Alan and I actually did some Tai Chi in the living room the other night. I balanced on one foot and did some of the moves we see the chinese people do in the park.

Alan looked at me balancing on one foot and said "how on earth can you do that". I just stood there on one foot and looked at him.

He tried to balance on the one foot. He could not sustain this.

I have no idea why. Probably has something to do with the CIDP.

And his neuro thinks his balance is better??

Are we (at our age) supposed to be able to stand on one foot for any length of time without putting that foot back on the floor?

I did this for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Might not sound like a lot of time but Alan couldn't do it for 15 seconds. I probably could have done it longer but I was doing certain movements with my hands and certain breathing.

It helps to relax.

Melody

with my numb feet if its dark or i close my eyes i fall over never mind balancing on one foot

I read similar about this. Also for people like us who have been in pain for a long period your brain is extra sensitive to pain I think. It is something how the brain precieves it. I know at the clinic they used the biofeedback to help with the mental part. I don't know if its retraining my pain but for my anxiety I have started again to do deep breathing and relaxation tapes. At the clinic they use to say the more you talk about the pain the more you feel it.