I recently found this bit in the New York Times that helps explain why this new type of pain (neuropathic) hurts so much more than all the other types (somatic pain) I've experience over the years (playing rugby w/broken bones, having two older brothers that mistook me for a punching bag, numerous other sports injuries and breaks, and the great luck of moving to Los Angeles were the gang handshake leaves you stabbed and shot.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/26/nyreg ... tions.html
"What would hurt more: getting run over by a car or getting stung by a jellyfish?"
Dr. Sudhir Diwan, director of the Division of Pain Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center:
"These two things are totally different: one is called somatic pain — the run-over injury — that means it's coming from the tissues, from the bones, from the cartilage, from the skin, from the muscles. The pain secondary to injection of the venom of a jellyfish is most likely called neuropathic pain. That means the pain is coming because of the irritation of the nerve, and that could be generalized all over the body where the nerves are. That pain itself could be reason for shock and death. I would imagine the jellyfish pain would be stronger than the run-over pain."
Answer to why Neuropathic pain hurts so much...
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Christopher
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02
Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed
BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.
Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt - Location: Los Angeles, California USA
Re: Answer to why Neuropathic pain hurts so much...
Chris,
Per your post, remind me not to shake hands with you. I'm allergic to lead. Later SOCal.
Mike
Per your post, remind me not to shake hands with you. I'm allergic to lead. Later SOCal.
Mike
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jennyb
- Posts: 1183
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.
Re: Answer to why Neuropathic pain hurts so much...
I've had 3 babies, with no pain relief in any of my labours. The bpi pain is 10 times worse than labour pain. Last week, I suddenly had tremendous searing spasms in my bpi hand, they were bad enough to make me scream out loud. I have no idea why it suddenly happens sometimes. When I did my bpi I also had 6 breaks in my arm, including my whole hand and fingers. The pain from that didn't even register compared to the bpi pain! I am 26 years post injury, and although these sudden bandit pain ambushes are thankfully rarer now for me, it's a constant reminder of the pain that newbies have ALL THE TIME.
How's the pain relief without drugs course going Chris? I honestly feel my breakthrough away from permanent pain was getting off the drugs.
Cheers Jen NZ
How's the pain relief without drugs course going Chris? I honestly feel my breakthrough away from permanent pain was getting off the drugs.
Cheers Jen NZ