Beyond the Pain

One of the joys of Fibro is the "pain in the butt" feeling.

Apparently, tender points are the cause. But, what causes tender points?

According to Dr. Stuart Donaldson of Myosymmetries tender points and other pain associated with Fibro is ’caused’ by "bad messaging" between the brain and muscles [my words]. As I understand it, the pain associated with Fibro is due to brain wave slowing. Apparently, some initial cause (often an MVA) will create a bodily disruption which starts flooding the brain with pain signals. Eventually the brain just shuts off — but not really. Cause it becomes super sensitive to stimulation. Hence, pressing a ‘tender point’ creates great pain for the Fibromite.

This site, the home of a massage therapist, suggests that the cause is utimately due to poor nutrition effecting the junction between muscle and myofascial tissue.

My theory?

I suspect it’s complex, as is the condition. And, I think the prime cause is different for different people. I’m one of those lucky Fibromites who experienced many of the most frequent ’causes’ of FMS. I smucked up my neck in a body surfing accident. I had a bad reaction to aneasthetic and nearly died. I had a sinus infection for a year and was treated with massive doses of anitbiotic. And, I was sexually and physically abused as a child. That’s enough to make anyone sick.

I’ve talked to many Fibromites and others who experience chronic pain. One common theme is how the pain impacts us. And, what works to make it better.

I’ve managed to find a simple but powerful way to eliminate the crushing pain I’ve experienced for the last 3 years.

But, this pain in my  butt stymies me.

Any ideas?

My  current newsletter  talks about replacing resolutions with practices.

My morning’s walk is a time for exercise, reflection, dreaming, and planning. This morning it occured to me that what had made a real difference in my pain level were the practices I had instituted. So, I thought to ask my inner guides what the #1 practice for this new year ought to be.

The answer: "Listen to your body" was whispered in a soft, quiet, barely discernable voice — what irony!

Simple answer. Hard to do.

Well, at least for me.

I tend to live in the world of intuition: possiblities, dreams, the future and anything but the here and now. Nothing wrong with that, except when I don’t pay attention to what I need NOW.

Hence, my inner guides advice: Listen.

But how?

One, way to listen is to first ask. So, everym morning, at least, I ask my body  what it needs. It tells me!

Another way to listen is to take a deep breath, move into my body and out of my head, and just move through the parts of me.

This year I know I will find more ways…

And, I will share them with you.