10 Interesting Facts About Chronic Pain

This post was originally posted on Blogger July 23, 2024.

It's been a short while since I last wrote about living with chronic pain. That's because it's been kinda kicking my butt and knocking me off my routine these last few weeks. Last week with a lot of hard work, it began to taper off as the days progressed. 

Despite my best efforts to pace myself this summer, between household projects I'm keen to accomplish, and my latest creative and online pursuits, I've overdone it a few times. Each time I overdo things, it takes time for me to get back to my "normal". 

Currently I've been battling a severe flare-up triggered by a combination of poor weather, barometric pressure changes, and doing more than I normally am able to do. This lead me to doing more than I should have, and causing what I call a "crash". When this happens, when I've overdone things, my body and mind go into survival mode, and I must prioritize rest, self-care, and recovery. A crash for me is when my body and mind are too exhausted to function, and even simple tasks become overwhelming and too much to do. When the pain is that blinding, it makes things most people take for granted, like watching TV or talking to someone, very difficult. My brain cannot process all these thoughts and sounds while my brain is in a frenzy with all the pain signals. My brain doesn't know what to focus on when there are 2 or more competing noises and pain sensations going on at the same time. It's crazy making and makes conversations with others difficult, as well as things like watching TV,  more difficult because I am not truly able to really absorb and process what I am seeing, hearing and saying because the pain makes it difficult to retain it all. When focusing on what's on TV or the conversation I am having, my brain's cognitive ability is under attack by the barrage of varying pain signals assaulting my brain. It's meant that I am really only able to focus on doing one thing at a time. My brain simply cannot do two or more things at once or I get very flustered.

What does all of this mean? It means that when I crash, I need a day or 2 of mostly quiet and to sleep as much as I can. Chronic pain often makes it difficult to recognize when you're pushing your limits until it's too late, and I still get caught doing too much and it often takes me days to recover.

To recover from this latest flare-up, last week I dedicated one day to complete rest and sleep, and several more to refuel my energy, which meant I was getting some bandwidth back. I also used this time to brainstorm ways to manage my condition more effectively, including pacing strategies for flare-ups and finding fresh motivation for new challenges. Household chores and tasks are particularly challenging as I can only stand for short periods before my pain intensifies to the point I need to sit down. This necessitates frequent breaks and plenty of rest, which is not very productive. Where I get caught, is not taking enough breaks, or long enough breaks in between tasks or steps to a task.

While going through this, I was reminded of some interesting facts about pain that I learned over the years. This recent flare-up, influenced by both weather and overexertion, made me curious to know if there were other facts about pain-related information that I didn’t know. So I went digging online, and not only visited websites from Canada, British Columbia, and locally, but Britain and Australia too. At a first glance I was impressed with their chronic pain resources. Some facts were familiar, while others were new discoveries. I've compiled a list of ten interesting pain facts to share with you:

1. Contrary to popular belief, the brain doesn’t actually feel pain; it processes it. For example, migraines often feel like they originate in the brain, but the pain is actually generated elsewhere. The brain acts as a control center, interpreting signals sent from nerve fibers. When you break your leg, these fibers transmit messages to the brain, which then perceives them as pain. 
2. Redheads often have a lower pain tolerance due to the same genes that determine their hair color also influencing pain perception. Research indicates that redheads typically require higher doses of anesthesia during surgery and may metabolize pain medication less efficiently. 
3. Chronic pain can lead to physical changes in the brain over time. Studies have shown that individuals with chronic pain may experience an average of 11% brain shrinkage compared to those without. While the exact cause of this brain atrophy is unknown, stress, a common companion of chronic pain, is a prime suspect.
4. Weather can significantly impact pain levels. I've experienced this firsthand. If your discomfort intensifies during cold, rainy conditions or when the barometric pressure changes, you’re not alone. While research on the subject is inconclusive, my personal experience is clear: cold, damp weather and fluctuating barometric pressure dramatically worsen my pain. Years ago, a specialist explained that spinal cord fluid expands and contracts with barometric changes. Given that CRPS is a central nervous system disorder, this fluctuation can exacerbate pain signals. A notable study titled "Cloudy with a Chance of Pain" explored weather's influence on various symptoms, including pain, fatigue, stiffness, and mood. The research found a correlation between increased humidity, lower wind speed, and decreased atmospheric pressure with heightened pain severity in chronic pain sufferers.
5. Research suggests that between 10% and 30% of Canadians live with chronic pain, affecting an estimated eight million people. This widespread condition has a profound impact on both physical and mental health, hindering work, leisure, relationships, and overall quality of life. The economic burden is substantial, with direct and indirect costs reaching into the billions of dollars annually. 
6. You can feel pain without physical injury. The human nervous system is so sensitive that it can trigger pain responses in the absence of actual harm. 
7. Even simple chores can be exhausting when living with chronic pain. It's challenging to accept that daily to-do lists need to be scaled back. Often, we push ourselves to accomplish too much too quickly, only to crash and burn in pain. Determining personal limits varies from day to day, even moment to moment. I might feel capable of high productivity for a couple of days, only to experience a severe setback. Finding that balance has been a significant focus this year.

I've made progress by incorporating healthy habits and routines into my life. Using apps like Fabulous for habit tracking and Clearful and Clarity for CBT has been beneficial. Starting my day with these tools helps me plan my to do list and prioritize tasks while tracking my progress throughout the day. Short breaks allow for additional CBT exercises, which aid in managing the emotional toll of chronic pain.

It's common to experience fluctuations in energy levels, leading to overexertion and flare-ups. By carefully pacing ourselves, and listening to our bodies, we can reduce the frequency and severity of these setbacks, .

8. On average, chronic pain sufferers experience only a 30% reduction in pain from their treatments. This aligns with my personal experience. Using a multidisciplinary approach, I consider a day with pain levels at or below seven out of ten to be a significant improvement.
9. While chronic pain is generally defined as pain experienced most or every day for at least three months, its impact varies widely between individuals. High-Impact Chronic Pain (HICP) is a severe form that significantly disrupts daily life, including work, social interactions, and self-care. Recognizing HICP is crucial as it often correlates with a range of emotional and social challenges, necessitating distinct treatment approaches compared to lower-impact chronic pain. People with HICP frequently report poorer physical and mental health, heightened pain levels, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties than those with less severe chronic pain.
10. Pain can originate in either the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the central nervous system).

Neuropathic pain, specifically, arises from damage or dysfunction in the nervous system. Symptoms can include shooting, tingling, burning, throbbing, stabbing, or numbness. Additionally, sensations like heat, cold, or electric shocks might be felt. Unlike typical pain, neuropathic pain can be triggered by normally innocuous stimuli, such as a gentle breeze or a light touch. This hypersensitivity is why I wear pants in summer – even the slightest breeze feels like hundreds pins pricking my skin. It also makes things like showering and getting dressed a traumatic experience. 

Living with chronic pain is a complex journey filled with many ups and downs. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, understanding the subtleties of pain can empower individuals to manage their condition more effectively. By recognizing the impact of factors like weather, stress, and overexertion, we can develop strategies to minimize flare-ups and improve overall quality of life.

It's essential to remember that chronic pain is a multifaceted condition that affects people differently. What works for one person may not work for another. Open communication with healthcare providers and exploring various treatment options are crucial steps towards finding relief.

While the road to managing chronic pain can be challenging, knowledge and self-awareness are powerful tools. By sharing experiences and information, we can create a stronger support network and foster a better understanding of this often invisible condition.