[Hope15]

I know that many of us feel a considerable amount of pain when we are stressed, depressed, upset, crying, etc. I was wondering what is the connection in the body between emotion and pain? I also notice the opposite is true. When I am really up, or happy, or very distracted, my pain level will often drop. How does this technically happen in the body?

[mrsD]

I don't know exactly... the neuroimmunological responses are affected by emotion. Inflammatory cytokines (PGE2 prostaglandins) are released with stress. Low levels of Omega-3 intake make this worse. Some people have very high PGE2 levels because they are eating far too many bad fats and high omega-6 oils from fried food etc.

If I get frightened, or really PO'd my feet will buzz for a while.
This is not often, but I can tell how upset I am by my feet. It will go down my legs sometimes.

[Hope15]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I don't know exactly... the neuroimmunological responses are affected by emotion. Inflammatory cytokines (PGE2 prostaglandins) are released with stress. Low levels of Omega-3 intake make this worse. Some people have very high PGE2 levels because they are eating far too many bad fats and high omega-6 oils from fried food etc.

If I get frightened, or really PO'd my feet will buzz for a while.
This is not often, but I can tell how upset I am by my feet. It will go down my legs sometimes.

Thanks MrsD. One thing I just hate is when I am in a lot of pain, then of course I get really upset. I may even start to cry, this of course causes more pain. It's like a vicious cycle, pain, crying, more pain, more crying.

Then the other night I went to my brother's house with other family members. I was laughing and having a good time, almost forgetting about the neuopathy. I could not help but notice a lower pain level. Of course this is not always a given, but it sure is nice.

I need more times like this, as my neuropathy has spread even more. Since November, it now affects my entire body. I am being sent to pain managment for the first time. I just pray that I can find that right combo of drugs that can lessen the pain greatly and help to give a better quality of life...

Oh, and I am still reading Liza Jane's hopeful message in the stickys. Even the neurologist I am seeing now said that yes, there are people with neuropathy who have gotten better. Which brings me to another emotion, hope. This is just so important to have....

[jarrett622]

Originally Posted by Hope15

Oh, and I am still reading Liza Jane's hopeful message in the stickys. Even the neurologist I am seeing now said that yes, there are people with neuropathy who have gotten better. Which brings me to another emotion, hope. This is just so important to have....

When I have hope that this *can* heal it makes it a lot easier to bear. I used to have anxiety attacks about this and how it might or could progress as I get older (I'm 48 now) and my anxiety would rear it's ugly head, I'd get depressed and as you point out it starts a cycle. Without hope I'm done.

[Kitt]

My PN will never get better. It will only get worse. Just the nature of the beast.

[jsrail]

Originally Posted by Hope15

I need more times like this, as my neuropathy has spread even more. Since November, it now affects my entire body. I am being sent to pain managment for the first time. I just pray that I can find that right combo of drugs that can lessen the pain greatly and help to give a better quality of life...

Oh, and I am still reading Liza Jane's hopeful message in the stickys. Even the neurologist I am seeing now said that yes, there are people with neuropathy who have gotten better. Which brings me to another emotion, hope. This is just so important to have....

I find that I am mostly angry and frustrated, though after seeing a shrink years earlier after relationship issues, I've learned how to cope with this and not let it effect my family. My SFN will not ever cure, and at 46, this makes me very upset at the extreme levels of pain, balance issues, (and too many to mention) etc. I am now beginning the SSDI filing, another soon to be frustrating project! :-). I take large volumes of nerve and pain drugs which only partially allows me to function. We are not financially great right now.

But with it all, I enjoy my time with my 6 year old son. This always gives me a renewed prospective on my situation. And how unfair it would be to let my anger and frustration negatively effect my son's life (as well as my wonderful wife, whom I owe everything to). With this, people have commented on my realistic, positive, and non-negative view of my life as something they find refreshing and unexpected, considering my serious condition. I do this without religion or hope, but everyone has to find their own way to cope. But I tell people "just find a way", whatever it is, to find those good things in your life that you can reflect and spend time on. Too much free time can lead us to feel too sorry for yourselves and dwell on our pain. If a god, dog, or your kids work for you, go for it! It will only make you feel a bit better, but never worse. :-)

I am trying to find a pain management doc now and hope he'll bump my meds up a bit. Best of luck with your situation, and know that there are many of us here who know what you're going through.

Jay

[Hope15]

Originally Posted by jarrett622

When I have hope that this *can* heal it makes it a lot easier to bear. I used to have anxiety attacks about this and how it might or could progress as I get older (I'm 48 now) and my anxiety would rear it's ugly head, I'd get depressed and as you point out it starts a cycle. Without hope I'm done.

jarrett, don't ever give up your hope. Sure, you will often read nothing but bad news about neuropathy, but no one, not even the doctors can absolutely prove that someone can never improve or get better. The body is complex and everyone really is different. I have had two other medical conditions that most people don't improve with, and I did. Yes, there is no guarantee either way, but keeping hope alive like you is vital to me as well....

[Hope15]

Originally Posted by Kitt

My PN will never get better. It will only get worse. Just the nature of the beast.

Kitt, I am thinking positive thoughts for you.

[Hope15]

Originally Posted by jsrail

I find that I am mostly angry and frustrated, though after seeing a shrink years earlier after relationship issues, I've learned how to cope with this and not let it effect my family. My SFN will not ever cure, and at 46, this makes me very upset at the extreme levels of pain, balance issues, (and too many to mention) etc. I am now beginning the SSDI filing, another soon to be frustrating project! :-). I take large volumes of nerve and pain drugs which only partially allows me to function. We are not financially great right now.

But with it all, I enjoy my time with my 6 year old son. This always gives me a renewed prospective on my situation. And how unfair it would be to let my anger and frustration negatively effect my son's life (as well as my wonderful wife, whom I owe everything to). With this, people have commented on my realistic, positive, and non-negative view of my life as something they find refreshing and unexpected, considering my serious condition. I do this without religion or hope, but everyone has to find their own way to cope. But I tell people "just find a way", whatever it is, to find those good things in your life that you can reflect and spend time on. Too much free time can lead us to feel too sorry for yourselves and dwell on our pain. If a god, dog, or your kids work for you, go for it! It will only make you feel a bit better, but never worse. :-)

I am trying to find a pain management doc now and hope he'll bump my meds up a bit. Best of luck with your situation, and know that there are many of us here who know what you're going through.

Jay

Jay, I can certainly understand the anger and frustration. In fact, I am plain ****** off that neuropathy struck me after suffering from two other torturous medical conditions. After suffering for years with those conditions, I finally reached a point last fall where I felt a little better. I then made plans to go to school to be a veterinary assistant, something I have always wanted to do. Then the neuropathy came on in full force. It's crushed me. Like you however, I am going into pain management and hopefully can find that right combo of drugs that will help me. I agree about keeping busy, it really does help. Keep us posted on how the pain management works out...

[dahlek]

Read any post here and you can see frustration and hurt throughout.
Yes hope is a lifeline. But as one who went thru the whole Neuropathy food processor and had thought I was doing well? I got whammied also and again with cancer. I don't think I'm the only one here, but most of us 'older-timers' have sort of gotten past the anger parts and get on with what we HAVE and work hard to keep that.
Getting this, like getting cancer or other chronic illnesses or major physical/mental traumas is the need to go through someing like a mourning process. Your life is very different now? What you've known as 'Normal' is a thing of the past. So, make a new one! Often isolated and 'folks just don't get it'! Besides? It's never really OVER! You don't wake up one morning and find it all gone. Wish it were so-truly.
We create our own NEW normals and make the best with what all we have. What other choice is there?
What's that old saying?: 'Been down so long, looks like up to me!' Is apt for many occasions. Don't be afraid of the worst or even more worse, the only way to go is UP! Hugs and hope 's - j