Comments on: A lecture in pain http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/ You'll laugh you ass off. (I did.) Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:02:58 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Headacheslayer http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21046 Headacheslayer Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:27:52 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21046 I'm going on 14 years, 4 1/2 yrs of chronic daily headache. I long for the day when I can get a kick ass cane--and I'm thinking of finding Harley stickers for my wheelchair LOL Pain definitely changes you, in so many ways. I'm relieved to see it has not changed your brilliant writing or your amazing sense of humor and compassion. ((((Hugs))))) I’m going on 14 years, 4 1/2 yrs of chronic daily headache.

I long for the day when I can get a kick ass cane–and I’m thinking of finding Harley stickers for my wheelchair LOL

Pain definitely changes you, in so many ways. I’m relieved to see it has not changed your brilliant writing or your amazing sense of humor and compassion.

((((Hugs)))))

]]> By: Sadie http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21045 Sadie Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:31:21 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21045 I have chronic facial pain from botched dental work, and I have had it for five years. One thing it has really changed about me is my response to other people and to animals: I now understand, as you mentioned, that when people have canes or other support devices, it usually signals that they have some kind of chronic pain. When I hear about animals and suffering, I feel overwhelmed with sadness; I can't stand to watch Animal Planet or other programs about abuse of animals, because I find it so painful to think of them in pain. I have a friend I met at a conference who also has chronic pain, and she said the same thing -- she found herself saving bugs from her windshield because she couldn't bear the thought that they were suffering. It really changes your brain to feel pain all the time. The only good thing to come out of this, at least from the perspective of my cats, is that they are completely indulged at all moments! All they have to do is mew and I leap up, ready to do whatever they want. I started reading your blog out of interest in your weight loss, and I remember the day when you first wrote about pain. As with losing the weight, your attitude toward your pain has been wonderfully pragmatic, and I'm sure it has helped a lot of people to hear about the steps you have taken, like going to this lecture. It certainly inspires me to keep taking steps like that; it is so easy when you have pain to stay home and try not to aggravate it. Thanks a lot for everything. I have chronic facial pain from botched dental work, and I have had it for five years. One thing it has really changed about me is my response to other people and to animals: I now understand, as you mentioned, that when people have canes or other support devices, it usually signals that they have some kind of chronic pain. When I hear about animals and suffering, I feel overwhelmed with sadness; I can’t stand to watch Animal Planet or other programs about abuse of animals, because I find it so painful to think of them in pain. I have a friend I met at a conference who also has chronic pain, and she said the same thing — she found herself saving bugs from her windshield because she couldn’t bear the thought that they were suffering. It really changes your brain to feel pain all the time. The only good thing to come out of this, at least from the perspective of my cats, is that they are completely indulged at all moments! All they have to do is mew and I leap up, ready to do whatever they want. I started reading your blog out of interest in your weight loss, and I remember the day when you first wrote about pain. As with losing the weight, your attitude toward your pain has been wonderfully pragmatic, and I’m sure it has helped a lot of people to hear about the steps you have taken, like going to this lecture. It certainly inspires me to keep taking steps like that; it is so easy when you have pain to stay home and try not to aggravate it. Thanks a lot for everything.

]]> By: psychsarah http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21044 psychsarah Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:22:21 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21044 Kudos on your description.I teach people about pain all the time, and if everyone got that much out of my spiels I would be thrilled!! I actually attended a workshop just yesterday about chronic pain treatment, and there are some promising neuroimaging studies that could really help a lot of people better understand and diagnose chronic pain. I hope it happens quickly in order to benefit you, and the multitude of others out there who experience chronic pain. Kudos on your description.I teach people about pain all the time, and if everyone got that much out of my spiels I would be thrilled!!

I actually attended a workshop just yesterday about chronic pain treatment, and there are some promising neuroimaging studies that could really help a lot of people better understand and diagnose chronic pain. I hope it happens quickly in order to benefit you, and the multitude of others out there who experience chronic pain.

]]> By: anji http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21043 anji Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:42:02 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21043 Actually, reminds me of this article i saw a while back.... <a href="http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081126/pain_brainmatter_081126/20081126?hub=TopStories" rel="nofollow">http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081126/pain_brainmatter_081126/20081126?hub=TopStories</a> Actually, reminds me of this article i saw a while back….

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081126/pain_brainmatter_081126/20081126?hub=TopStories

]]> By: Dawn! http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21042 Dawn! Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:09:54 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21042 Well, this mu receptor business explains why my EX-husband is such a pothead. However, this does not explain why men whine more when they're in pain than women. Great site by the way. I intend to let it suck more of my time when I'm not on the clock! Your new fan, Dawn! Well, this mu receptor business explains why my EX-husband is such a pothead. However, this does not explain why men whine more when they’re in pain than women.

Great site by the way. I intend to let it suck more of my time when I’m not on the clock!

Your new fan,

Dawn!

]]> By: Mich http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21041 Mich Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:43:03 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21041 Thank you for this post. It reminded me that I should check out the local medical schools for free science lectures. If you are interested in the subject of neuroplasticity, my favorite book on the subject is "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge. Fascinating and very readable. Thank you for this post. It reminded me that I should check out the local medical schools for free science lectures.

If you are interested in the subject of neuroplasticity, my favorite book on the subject is “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge. Fascinating and very readable.

]]> By: nora http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21040 nora Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:23:03 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21040 great post... it is so difficult sometimes living in a world where many people have never been in pain and just don't understand how unpleasant life can be sometimes when you go through it with a gnawing headache all the time. I spent most of my high school years with migraines... I missed so much school because of them that I was asked to leave... and I pushed myself though so much school while I was in pain. The thing that always shocked me though is how clueless people were about how painful a migraine really is and how it was all I could do to get myself though the day. People who didn't get it treated me like i was making it all up, and like I was a slacker or something and that's why I wasn't in school... but now when I see someone who is in pain or when my children are sick or hurt, I have so much more compassion than when I was younger and didn't really get it. In high school, though, I just wanted to kick some of my teachers in the head repeatedly and then ask them to do their science homework as their head throbbed... see... I wasn't very nice back then great post… it is so difficult sometimes living in a world where many people have never been in pain and just don’t understand how unpleasant life can be sometimes when you go through it with a gnawing headache all the time. I spent most of my high school years with migraines… I missed so much school because of them that I was asked to leave… and I pushed myself though so much school while I was in pain. The thing that always shocked me though is how clueless people were about how painful a migraine really is and how it was all I could do to get myself though the day. People who didn’t get it treated me like i was making it all up, and like I was a slacker or something and that’s why I wasn’t in school… but now when I see someone who is in pain or when my children are sick or hurt, I have so much more compassion than when I was younger and didn’t really get it. In high school, though, I just wanted to kick some of my teachers in the head repeatedly and then ask them to do their science homework as their head throbbed… see… I wasn’t very nice back then

]]> By: anji http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21039 anji Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:27:11 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21039 Amen sistah. I don't think we're crazy... just unfortunate with our pain levels and being able to bear it. I'm six years into my pain (well, 5.5 but who's counting????) ... some days are good, some are bad, some are horrendous. I think I have generally less tolerance to pain now than I used to. What I used to have no problems with, now would take me down. *sigh* Amen sistah.

I don’t think we’re crazy… just unfortunate with our pain levels and being able to bear it. I’m six years into my pain (well, 5.5 but who’s counting????) … some days are good, some are bad, some are horrendous. I think I have generally less tolerance to pain now than I used to. What I used to have no problems with, now would take me down.

*sigh*

]]> By: victoria http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21038 victoria Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:27:06 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21038 Oh, man. That sounds like it was really depressing. I'm sorry, PQ. Oh, man. That sounds like it was really depressing. I’m sorry, PQ.

]]> By: Margalit http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2009/02/a-lecture-in-pain/comment-page-1/#comment-21037 Margalit Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:01:13 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=1043#comment-21037 I hope some day soon Feb 17 gets to be just another mid winter day for you and I thank you so much for this post. The information is not totally new to me but you put it together in such a great and even funny way. I appreciate all your posts but since this one goes to where I live too, it really helps. As one of those people with a cane and the pain that goes with arthritis, I am glad to be reminded that some are thinking empathic thoughts. I'll try to remember that and not worry so much that I am in someone's way. I hope some day soon Feb 17 gets to be just another mid winter day for you and I thank you so much for this post. The information is not totally new to me but you put it together in such a great and even funny way. I appreciate all your posts but since this one goes to where I live too, it really helps. As one of those people with a cane and the pain that goes with arthritis, I am glad to be reminded that some are thinking empathic thoughts. I’ll try to remember that and not worry so much that I am in someone’s way.

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