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The psychological affects on pain?

Ive been having some health problems recently (joint/spine/sciatica related). Ive been in physical therapy since December for this and its not getting better. Last night I had to go to the emergency room because I was having chest pain accompanied by pain in my left shoulder neck and jaw. The story on that is that they did an EKG and a CT scan of my lungs and I had neither a heart attack or a blood clot and according to the doctor, everything looks "really good." Now today Im having more "nerve" aching in my left shoulder and further down my arm.

So far Ive been a very healthy person. Ive lost weight, I exercise 4-5 times a week, and I eat right. Ive also never had any kind of major health problems that would require more than a cast for a broken bone.

Im starting to wonder if my health problems are getting worse because Ive become pretty anxious and somewhat preoccupied with them. Am I getting worse because I think there is something seriously wrong with me? If I could convince myself that Im fine (which would be pretty hard to do at this point) would these symptoms go away?

I know there's a physiological word or definition to describe what Im trying to explain, but I dont know what it is. Im interested to hear if anyone has studied anything like this in classes, dealt with it yourself, or come across any information about it.

Sorry so vague and wordy, I guess Im just not sure how to be concise in this case and Id like to open it up for some discussion and "it's not lupus" pictures.



COR version: Im sick and Im not getting better, possibly because I cant convince myself there's nothing wrong. Discuss.

Someone has somatoform disorder!

It's competely possible. However, it hasn't gotten so bad that I'm socially dettached or otherwise unproductive.

Although the use of this forum for advice on the subject would suggest otherwise.

it's your body's way to saying 'get your ass back to chicago'

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Although the use of this forum for advice on the subject would suggest otherwise.

I'm glad you've come to this realization on your own.

Sounds like angina to me...something that can't be always be determined with an ECG.

The reason you feel pain in your neck/arms/jaw is because they share the same nerve pathway.

Is it bad that I giggle every time I hear 'angina'?

quote:

Originally posted by UWM Is it bad that I giggle every time I hear 'angina'?

It's ok, I do too.

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie Sounds like angina to me...something that can't be always be determined with an ECG. The reason you feel pain in your neck/arms/jaw is because they share the same nerve pathway.

Is there anything you can think of offhand that would be causing both the symptoms in my arm and the symptoms in my low back/leg? My spine doctor scheduled a lumbar MRI for March 12, however, after he hears about my recent problem he might schedule a cervical MRI as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Is there anything you can think of offhand that would be causing both the symptoms in my arm and the symptoms in my low back/leg? My spince doctor scheduled a lumbar MRI for March 12, however, after he hears about my recent problem he might schedule a cervical MRI as well.

It could be the fact that you're seeing a spince doctor.

Good call. Fixed.

quote:

Originally posted by UWM Is it bad that I giggle every time I hear 'angina'?

what about "acute angina"?

For nearly two years I had lots of episodes where my heart would race or seem like it was beating arhythmically or too "hard." I had high blood pressure (160 / 120 or so) for a large part of that time. I stopped exercising because I feared for my health and became an Internet hypochondriac, constantly looking into different illnesses and speculating about whether I might have them.

Never had any major health problems before that. I hardly even get sick really; the last time I was sick was at least four years ago.

Anyway, I went to a regular doctor multiple times, probably at least four or five, and they did the basic tests -- EKG, thyroid hormones, blood sugar, electrolytes. Nothing came of that, but I guess it didn't reassure me sufficiently. Eventually a doctor referred me to a cardiologist, who prescribed me a beta-blocker and did a whole bunch of fancy tests on me; nuclear exercise testing, ultrasound, the whole deal. That helped calm me down and the beta-blocker lowered my blood pressure, but sometimes I didn't like the way it made me feel, so I stopped taking it. These days I don't take it anymore, but at a recent doctor visit I found that my blood pressure is apparently just above normal (130/80) even without the beta-blocker, and I don't really get the racing heart anymore, so I guess I'm okay for now.

Back problems are awful. Not too long ago I did something to my sacroiliac joint and I was unable to bend for weeks, basically in constant pain while I wasn't laying down. Sucks.

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Is there anything you can think of offhand that would be causing both the symptoms in my arm and the symptoms in my low back/leg? My spince doctor scheduled a lumbar MRI for March 12, however, after he hears about my recent problem he might schedule a cervical MRI as well.

Well, like I said, for the arm (if it's angina) it's because they share the same nerve pathways.

Lower back and leg? No idea about that...the two things could be completely unrelated.

I'd be interested to know what other assessments they did to rule out angina, if they did any at all...if it were me, I'd want them to look into it if they haven't already.

Im a psychology major... what you are describing sounds like aids



/free diagnosis

I'd just like to add that don't forget I'm still only a student. I'm just going on what I've learned so far, and I'm in no position to be diagnosing anything.

Just saying what it sounds like based on what I've learned so far.

Re: The psychological affects on pain?

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Ive been having some health problems recently (joint/spine/sciatica related). Ive been in physical therapy since December for this and its not getting better. Last night I had to go to the emergency room because I was having chest pain accompanied by pain in my left shoulder neck and jaw. The story on that is that they did an EKG and a CT scan of my lungs and I had neither a heart attack or a blood clot and according to the doctor, everything looks "really good." Now today Im having more "nerve" aching in my left shoulder and further down my arm. So far Ive been a very healthy person. Ive lost weight, I exercise 4-5 times a week, and I eat right. Ive also never had any kind of major health problems that would require more than a cast for a broken bone. Im starting to wonder if my health problems are getting worse because Ive become pretty anxious and somewhat preoccupied with them. Am I getting worse because I think there is something seriously wrong with me? If I could convince myself that Im fine (which would be pretty hard to do at this point) would these symptoms go away? I know there's a physiological word or definition to describe what Im trying to explain, but I dont know what it is. Im interested to hear if anyone has studied anything like this in classes, dealt with it yourself, or come across any information about it. Sorry so vague and wordy, I guess Im just not sure how to be concise in this case and Id like to open it up for some discussion and "it's not lupus" pictures. COR version: Im sick and Im not getting better, possibly because I cant convince myself there's nothing wrong. Discuss.

Just lock up your rigatoni then he can't steal it, and you won't get so stressed.

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie I'd be interested to know what other assessments they did to rule out angina, if they did any at all...if it were me, I'd want them to look into it if they haven't already.

He didnt directly address it, however, the CT scan was of my heart, too, which he said was totally normal and healthy. I dont know what "test" you do for that.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Back problems are awful. Not too long ago I did something to my sacroiliac joint and I was unable to bend for weeks, basically in constant pain while I wasn't laying down. Sucks.

Interestingly enough, SI joint instability is what the physical therapists are now treating me for, and it's what the spine doctor thinks it is.

Re: The psychological affects on pain?

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie COR version: Im sick and Im not getting better, possibly because I cant convince myself there's nothing wrong. Discuss.

All those losses in the national championship game... I'd need a doctor too...

(i hope you are well and can take some OSU beat downs)

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles For nearly two years I had lots of episodes where my heart would race or seem like it was beating arhythmically or too "hard." I had high blood pressure (160 / 120 or so) for a large part of that time. I stopped exercising because I feared for my health and became an Internet hypochondriac, constantly looking into different illnesses and speculating about whether I might have them. Never had any major health problems before that. I hardly even get sick really; the last time I was sick was at least four years ago. Anyway, I went to a regular doctor multiple times, probably at least four or five, and they did the basic tests -- EKG, thyroid hormones, blood sugar, electrolytes. Nothing came of that, but I guess it didn't reassure me sufficiently. Eventually a doctor referred me to a cardiologist, who prescribed me a beta-blocker and did a whole bunch of fancy tests on me; nuclear exercise testing, ultrasound, the whole deal. That helped calm me down and the beta-blocker lowered my blood pressure, but sometimes I didn't like the way it made me feel, so I stopped taking it. These days I don't take it anymore, but at a recent doctor visit I found that my blood pressure is apparently just above normal (130/80) even without the beta-blocker, and I don't really get the racing heart anymore, so I guess I'm okay for now. Back problems are awful. Not too long ago I did something to my sacroiliac joint and I was unable to bend for weeks, basically in constant pain while I wasn't laying down. Sucks.

I had the racing heart episode happen to me twice, both after playing sports or something. One lasted for almost an hour! A few years later during a medical examination it turned up that I have some heart murmur. Are these two things connected?

Re: The psychological affects on pain?

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Ive been having some health problems recently (joint/spine/sciatica related). Ive been in physical therapy since December for this and its not getting better. Last night I had to go to the emergency room because I was having chest pain accompanied by pain in my left shoulder neck and jaw. The story on that is that they did an EKG and a CT scan of my lungs and I had neither a heart attack or a blood clot and according to the doctor, everything looks "really good." Now today Im having more "nerve" aching in my left shoulder and further down my arm. So far Ive been a very healthy person. Ive lost weight, I exercise 4-5 times a week, and I eat right. Ive also never had any kind of major health problems that would require more than a cast for a broken bone. Im starting to wonder if my health problems are getting worse because Ive become pretty anxious and somewhat preoccupied with them. Am I getting worse because I think there is something seriously wrong with me? If I could convince myself that Im fine (which would be pretty hard to do at this point) would these symptoms go away? I know there's a physiological word or definition to describe what Im trying to explain, but I dont know what it is. Im interested to hear if anyone has studied anything like this in classes, dealt with it yourself, or come across any information about it. Sorry so vague and wordy, I guess Im just not sure how to be concise in this case and Id like to open it up for some discussion and "it's not lupus" pictures. COR version: Im sick and Im not getting better, possibly because I cant convince myself there's nothing wrong. Discuss.

looks like you have Cyberchondria

Re: The psychological affects on pain?

quote:

Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie Ive been having some health problems recently (joint/spine/sciatica related). Ive been in physical therapy since December for this and its not getting better. Last night I had to go to the emergency room because I was having chest pain accompanied by pain in my left shoulder neck and jaw. The story on that is that they did an EKG and a CT scan of my lungs and I had neither a heart attack or a blood clot and according to the doctor, everything looks "really good." Now today Im having more "nerve" aching in my left shoulder and further down my arm. So far Ive been a very healthy person. Ive lost weight, I exercise 4-5 times a week, and I eat right. Ive also never had any kind of major health problems that would require more than a cast for a broken bone. Im starting to wonder if my health problems are getting worse because Ive become pretty anxious and somewhat preoccupied with them. Am I getting worse because I think there is something seriously wrong with me? If I could convince myself that Im fine (which would be pretty hard to do at this point) would these symptoms go away? I know there's a physiological word or definition to describe what Im trying to explain, but I dont know what it is. Im interested to hear if anyone has studied anything like this in classes, dealt with it yourself, or come across any information about it. Sorry so vague and wordy, I guess Im just not sure how to be concise in this case and Id like to open it up for some discussion and "it's not lupus" pictures. COR version: Im sick and Im not getting better, possibly because I cant convince myself there's nothing wrong. Discuss.

Well, coming from someone with a severely damaged back, I can say the the psychological side of crippling pain is HUGE, I do believe that the healing process involves the right mindst.

Angela the word you're looking for is perhaps "psychosomatic".

pain can cause depression. depression can cause pain.

awful cycle of lose/lose situation

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