Dooley Noted: 10/21/2014
Patient: I hurt most of the day.
Dooley: Do you get any relief?
Patient: Not really.
Dooley: Do you feel it when you’re performing?
Patient: No. Of course not. I’m focusing on performing. Later that night, I feel it.
That fact did not fascinate her as it fascinated me.
In all its complications, pain has this truth behind it:
The only pain you have is the pain your brain allows you to perceive.
This may read like your pain perception is your call.
It actually is.
Not all pain equates to structural damage. In fact, many have structural damage they don’t feel at all.
But for many people, the brain remembers injurious motor pathways. Start treading down those pathways, and the brain sometimes perceives pain.
It’s much like running old software on a computer, failing to perform the updates.
If structural issues were the only root to pain, then my patient would still have pain when she performs, right?
But she is able to distract herself from pain perception. She absolutely can see her way out of it.
I’m not stating that pain should be ignored. After all, we create our pain!
I think it must be acknowledged and respected.
Pain must not be feared. It must be analyzed and understood.
Don’t fear your pain. Learn to get yourself out of it whenever it is possible.
And it typically IS possible.
It may require some challenging software updates.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley