Let's paint word pictures
 

My SFPN is relatively new and I haven't scared away all my friends yet by talking about it incessantly :eek: :D It's hard to describe what it feels like though.

Here's what I came up with, but want to hear YOUR descriptions.

• At my best: the pain in my arms feels as if I tangled with a cactus and was then randomly splashed with lemon juice.
  
• Most of the time: the skin on my arms feels one size too small, as if it were exfoliated with coarse sandpaper & doused with lemon juice, PLUS my wrists and inner elbows were badly bruised.
  
• At my worst: I've dipped my arms up to my armpit into bottles of battery acid.

What would you say?

my feet feel like im being stepped on by a horse from underneath every step i take

When I take a shower for about 3 hrs afterwards it feels like I'm walking through a cactus patch - this is the description I use when trying to get across to the doctors what it feels like.

I sometimes have allodynia which I describe as being hit by a hammer when I just lightly touch my arm.

I've stopped trying to describe it to friends and family as I know they just don't get it.

Allodynia sucks
 

Echos & Bluesfan

You're both quite descriptive. Even though I don't experience foot pain, I can empathize based on your descriptions. Bluesfan - I'm sorry your F&F don't get it. I guess we are grateful they don't, right.


I've got that on the right arm. It's miserable.

I have desensitized it just enough to where I can wear loose 3/4 sleeves. So generally I'm freezing in the winter or in air conditioned places.

I feel like I am being electrocuted while on fire.

I get what you are all describing...unfortunately I have it on my hands, arms,legs and feet...I once described it to a friend as someone pouring hot molten lead on my hands...and several months later on my feet...that is at its worse...when I saw the look on his face I quit sharing...no one needs to imagine that event let alone live it.

This conversation depresses me...can we describe the feelings of long walks on a beach in Kauai? Now I am feeling better....

I'm sorry. :hug:

I think it's interesting how our brains try to make sense of what we're feeling, and come up with something that we've never actually ever experienced. My burning feet feel like I'm standing on hot coals and cactus at the same time.

I generally say--
 

--"imagine you've got a real bad sunburn (in my case body-wide) that someone is rubbing with steel wool. And then add to that the safety pins pricking you all at once."

Of course, this does tend to make people recoil . . .

Morning in Kauai
 

You open your blinds after a peaceful night and look out. The mist that rolls down from the mountain at night is still clearing. A rainbow has formed on the other side of the bay, promising another day of beauty and restoration. A little catamaran is anchored nearby. Later it will go out on a sail to look for flying fish and turtles beyond the reef.

You make your way down to the shore. It is early and the beach is empty. Your feet are hardly bothering you at all. Just a touch, but as soon as they hit the soft dry sand you forget all about it. The sand is very fine and sticks in between your toes. Your feet sink as you walk until you get to the harder pack. Here it is cool and easy to walk. The grains feel good on the bottom of your feet. The surf is coming in gently from low tide and the waves come up and kiss your toes. You walk further into the water and the coolness of it is perfect bliss. The gentle salt water keeps away any swelling and any pain and you are free to just enjoy.

Tide pools are exposed at this early hour and the majesty of the planet is revealed in an abundance of creatures. Tiny hermit crabs, no larger than a grain of rice can be seen moving at the bottom, a black and white cone snail makes its way across a rock, a baby cornet fish, looking like some strange alien, has become trapped in the shallows but skittles out to sea when you startle it. Pink and yellow corals shelter small colorful fish.

You look out over the water as the sun breaks through the clouds and light dances on the waves. An early paddle boarder is out past the reef getting ready to catch a small wave to the mouth of the river where they will go explore upstream. In the distance the shoreline of the Na Pali coast rises dramatically out of the water in razor sharp crests, reminding you how very small we are and powerful the planet truly is. You sit idly at the shore a while longer, searching for small shells when a rumble reminds you that it is time for breakfast and you head back in to search for mangos....

Have a beautiful day.

Thanks Debi!

Sven sounded in need of a pick-me-up and it seemed just the thing. I was glad for the reminder to think on beautiful places. :)

mmmm...that was nice...just got back from 12 days there and it was perfect...Hanalei is my Bae

sven

Sven, no wonder you are feeling bummed. It is always hard leaving paradise...

Sorry guys, I couldn't resist going a bit off topic with that beach post. It did say to paint word pictures...and Sven here is at fault for bringing up Kauai. ;)

At any rate it reminds me how effective a little positive visualization is for giving oneself a change of focus. :)

WOW!!! Littlepaw that was an amazing visual. Thank you for taking us away from the pain on that imaginary vacation. I really needed it today. I will be looking for my Trip to the beach relaxation tape and putting it back in use.
:-)
gratefully,
zinnia

Obviously--
 

--Littlepaw frequents much nicer locales than I do.

Mine would more likely start:

"You step outside the door and notice the trash bags have been ripped open again. The pile shows definite signs of either raccoons or opossums or both having climbed to the top, drawn by the smell of decaying vegetables. You wonder when the co-op staff is going to purchase those metal bins that had been budgeted for last spring . . ." :D

That was great!
 

Thanks for the badly needed chuckle I got when I read your post. I'm not making light of how annoying that situation is, but the way you described it was poetry to my ears.

Burning too - this is exactly it
 

I used the same picture but said a sand paper wash cloth. 2013 had 2 discs in neck replaced. I was fine. A year later some symptoms came back. I had some neuropathy in my feet post surgery which was new. I figured the burning in my upper body neck arms shoulders face was just life now post surgery. One day my pain and burning usually level 5 went to level infinity head to toe - I showed up in the ER in tears. They admitted my BP was thru the roof from the pain. I was there 3 days - ct scans , MRI my entire spine , blood panels , they gave me gabagetin ( well more of it I was already on it and added topomax ) I am now taking 100 of that it was upped from 50 today because the burning it flaring up more again - I work full time in a Corp job , I have a standing desk due to my neck to fight poor posture , I hate taking narcotics but sometimes have to to sleep or just deal/ I'm scared what the future holds - I'm 45 with 2 kids - this is effecting me terribly - not active - overweight ( not diabetic ) just feel burning and my limbs feel heavy like a child is hanging on to my ankle trying to keep me from leaving - it's a miserable existence and the chronic pain is leading to depression. My neuro has no clue is recommending I go to Mayo. I just don't know how I got here and sure as heck don't want to stay here - tortured existence

Powerful Illustration!
 

Thanks so much for starting this thread.
For me, it truly illustrates how much influence our thoughts, our imagery, can have an effect upon us.

Our conditions involve some serious discomfort (an understatement, for sure).
I have often used imagery to relate the sensations so others, especially doctors, can understand. I have found this approach helpful with some friends and family, as well.

I was reading along and was very interested in everyone's responses.
Before I was reading, I was in some pain I'd rate at a 4 on a scale of 0-10.
As I read along with the responses, I became much more aware of my own pain and my pain level felt it had increased to a 7-8. I then read Littlepaw's imagery, which was very different, and the awareness of my pain then dropped back down to a 5 or so.

I am grateful for this thread and for all of the great responses.
It's been an important reminder to me. We can, at least some of the time, have some impact upon our perception of pain using powerful imagery.

Love All Around,
:grouphug: