(In)consciousness and education for pain

Concepts of how pain itself can sabotage your healing

Pain, and in this case I speak of physical pain, is a sensitive subject (even in a broad sense). In addition to pharmacological analgesics, which are the best known and quickest pain suppressants in relieving symptoms, there are several ways that are equally effective and that help to reduce suffering. One such way is education. It is true that everyone has experienced pain (with the exception of people who have congenital insensitivity) and knows what it is and where it is. In most cases, the cause and treatment are identified. But there are others, where one pain can hide another; other pains that appear during or after treatment; chronic pain that requires more regular follow-up; and "mysterious" pain. That's why it's important to help understand what causes the pain, how to work on that cause and how the person lives with the pain when it appears. In the latter case, the patient leaves the clinical environment a little and moves on to education, allowing the person to learn to communicate about and with pain in another way: either through the perception of movements, posture, body tensions or other sensations. Let's call it forced coexistence with pain instead of war against pain. It won't be a pleasant relationship, but maybe some points can be scored through diplomatic channels.

In the case of so-called chronic pain, this is of greater importance, as they are pathologies that sometimes persist throughout life, and if you cannot make them disappear, you will have to be able to live with them, without letting them assume the main role. And the dialogue between the body and the mind helps, on the one hand, to minimize pain through its perception and what can or cannot be done: for example, someone who cannot run can walk; an improvement in mood can anesthetize some sensitivity, even if the person forgets the pain because they are focused on another situation (relaxation effects that alleviate tensions).

And here the therapist can also help, by sharing some of their energy through touch and motivation. And symbiosis happens, because both learn from this relationship.

References: https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/home/conference-highlights/painweek-2016/pain-education-puts-patients-on-the-path-to-successful-outcomes/

As lentas lições do corpo - Luis Fernandes