Anyone heard of The Pain Gate Theory? - Fibromyalgia Acti...
Anyone heard of The Pain Gate Theory?
nabd.org.uk/living/paingate... here the theory
Hi NABD! I'm a member myself! I hope others can access this link as it goes a long way to explaining how some of the medical profession view FM and other such pain-based illnesses. Especially those likely to have qualified since 1965 when, I believe, this theory was popularised.
I was told that anyone graduating from med school before a certain year didnt believe in fibro, I think Ive met quite a few of them
Yes, but before 1965 means a doctor would now have been practicing for over 47 years and you would have been seven when they qualified! There are many people who don't recognise FM as a condition, not just doctors! You're not NABD?
I was told it was as late as 1998, Im trying to find my way around this illness in the past 3 yrs ive been dx with CFS, FIBRO, just waiting for them to change their minds again
Some medical textbooks still in use continue to have Fibro listed as an inflammatory or psychological condition, depending on which one you pick up!
found that interesting but already been doing that for years. i once went to a pain cllinic. they were wonderful. they explained pain, showed me how to kick it in the teeth from time to time. told me to hang on to my stupid sense of humour for as long as i can, gave me a tens machine and told me to change my meds as often as possible so i didnt get used to them and they didnt stop working. then i sent a friend to it...... it had all changed. happy clappy 'its all in your heads and you need to get your head round ignoring it' ' youre not trying hard enough' etc... i was soooo embarrassed. in reality we all just try what ever we can when ever we can to close that gate but its always open even if its just a tiny weeny bit today then tomorrow it will have its foot further in and then it will be wide open for a while. we then start again in our attempts to shut it again. its our enemy not our friend but we must not be afraid of it. ok i am going a bit nuts now. just read that back and dont know if i understand it or think someone else wrote it.... but i supose it is a bit true.
Im still being told its pycholoical, so nothings changed
pain gate theory is taught at pain management clinics.
with regard to living with fibro, I say to skeptics "walk a mile in my shoes", then tell me it's all in my head. (wish I could walk a mile!)
I found the two 'Pain Clinics' I attended gave me a number of 'tips and tools'. St Thomas', London were fantastic as, for the first time since diagnosis, they showed me what to do when I (big capital I) didn't feel I could do anything because of the pain. I had a bad, bad spell and no one would help me from the floor. I managed to get myself to a chair and in that moment knew that no matter what the pain did to me, I would cope. After, I simply pulled in my 'boundaries' and did only movement that I could manage. Over the next couple of days, I found I could expand my boundaries again and do more. For the first time, they showed me how to take control of my body. It didn't stop the pain but I did exactly as I (again HUGE capital I) wanted. As for the 'in the head', I still get that now within the same Doctor's practice. I just tell them it's a good job we have access to specialists or consultants and not just 'GENERAL Practitioners'. Doesn't go down too well!! If I'm asked to attend an 'assessment' I ask the specialism of the doctor seeing me. In the main, it seems to me, it's some Doc not doing anything else. The other pain Clinic I attend is at my local hospital and they are superb in giving support and information. Good range of knowledge and skills in the team - and that's what we need. I also had a Tens and gave it away after three days. Set every nerve in my body ringing like a stand of twelve bells!!!
I had the pain gate theory explained to me at a pain management course, it really made alot of sense, however the comments in respect of pacing yourself and listening to your body, all i can say ....IF ONLY... its not always easy to do what your body is telling you when you have a full time job to hold down and a family to raise, i can't ignore the ironing, washing etc....my children deserve better. Its a great theory and I am sure there is alot of truth in it but I just can't always follow the advice, i would say on a positive note that the pain management course brought my partner and I so much closer together as it gave him a thorough understanding of my pain and i understood that i needed to sommunicate with him better and ask for his help because he wanted to do anything he could to help me......the biggest lesson was to communicate with your nearest and dearest and DON'T be afraid to ask for help......good luck..xxxxxxxxxxxx
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