neuroplasticity - a possible cure to chronic pain??
 

Having had the all clear regarding all the testing ive been through in the last year, there is currently no known cause to my neuropathy.

So, in order to push forward i have started looking into other areas of science to try to help me out, and have recently stumbled upon an area called neuroplasticity. *To clarify though, this isnt new research!*

Neuroplasticity is where the brain essentially ends up rewiring itself after trauma and, as a result, the pain/ damage signal is never switched off, even after the initial body trauma is resolved and the result is chronic pain.

The outcome of this is essentially that you have to retrain your brain to switch off that pain signal, and research has shown this can be done via several techniques. For example: using visualisation to help the brain change its perceptions of the body, and thus turn off that signal.

This is early doors for me, but i am very keen to start out trying this technique.

Feel free to research more online if this is something that interests you :)

Hi, JimJam,

You're right, this isn't new. I don't know how much success individuals have had with rewiring the pain loop in their brain.

All pain is perceived ONLY in the brain. For example, people who have had amputations often perceive what is called phantom pain: pain from a limb that is no longer there.

The pain message appears in the brain, and yet there is NO possible source of the pain.

I would only suggest that neuropathic pain is probably not (only) the problem of 'learned pain'.

Learned pain, a I understand it, happens when the brain remembers (and senses) pain long after the source (in nerve stimulation)is gone.

In my neuropathic pain, the small nerve fibers in my upper body are 'broken' and send a constant signal of burning, stabbing, itching pain. The signal is being sent. My brain gets the signal so I feel the misery.

Do keep us posted on how you are progressing.

Regards, ElaineD

The RSD/CRPS crowd sometimes has success with this. Research mirror box therapy. Interesting stuff.

SFSN want your advise PLEASE
 

I would love to chat with you! 2 weeks into my treatment of my BRAND new diagnosis of ulcerative Colitis I developed burning palms and soles (early June) now I have full body neuropathy (confirmed it to be small fiber with Neuro). I also have other issues/symptoms developing and want your advice PLEASE. I see you’ve been dealing with this a LONG time! I joined this site for this reason...you. I got the ANA test and it was negative. Awaiting the cancer test results for immune response neuropathy antibodies from tumors. Can we email on this site? Help please! I’m Lisa from Oregon

Other symptoms:
Bubbles in urine (started same week as my burning palms/soles)
Pressure problem in right ear and head (started about 6 weeks ago)and now have devolved a roaring in same ear (had a few times since SFN began but has been lasting long times since last week..had over 24 hours now) ENT doc said sees nothing
Head MRI normal
Bloodwork normal

Just making sure I did this right..this comment is for Madisongirl

I would love to chat with you! 2 weeks into my treatment of my BRAND new diagnosis of ulcerative Colitis I developed burning palms and soles (early June) now I have full body neuropathy (confirmed it to be small fiber with Neuro). I also have other issues/symptoms developing and want your advice PLEASE. I see you’ve been dealing with this a LONG time! I joined this site for this reason...you. I got the ANA test and it was negative. Awaiting the cancer test results for immune response neuropathy antibodies from tumors. Can we email on this site? Help please! I’m Lisa from Oregon

Other symptoms:
Bubbles in urine (started same week as my burning palms/soles)
Pressure problem in right ear and head (started about 6 weeks ago)and now have devolved a roaring in same ear (had a few times since SFN began but has been lasting long times since last week..had over 24 hours now) ENT doc said sees nothing
Head MRI normal
Bloodwork normal