Enduring the pain

Extract from the book "Enduring the pain" ISBN 9781291760576
"Pain is often described as experience associated with injury or damage to the body. Now scientists know much about its anatomical and physiological bases. Pain in adults often occurs due to psychological reasons and apparently most people feel pain not because of physical injury, but rather because of psychological and emotional factors. Prior to the 19th century it was thought that pain was an emotion rather than a sensory experience. Anatomical and neurophysiologic discoveries showed that pain is a sensory activity. Recent research, however, does not sustain such a limited sensory classification of pain. It has been shown that a substantial proportion of people with pain have their pain not because of any physical disease but because of emotional disorder. An emotion often can enhance pain that arise from physical sources. Sigmund Freud, the psychoanalyst, mentioned the case of a man who was present during an operation in which his brother’s hip joint was to be straightened while he was under anaesthesia. The joint was frozen in place by some abnormal adhesions that had to be broken. When a loud crack was heard, the man felt a pain in his own hip at the same time. This was interpreted as sympathetic identification. People who are severely depressed can feel emotion pain which might turn into physical pain somewhere in their system. Unless the cause of depression becomes known and handled somehow, the result would be catastrophic. Pain can be alleviated by drugs and psychiatric techniques designed to reduce anxiety. A drug’s effect is partly attributable to the expectation that relief will occur. The abolition of pain by trance states, including hypnosis, has been practiced and accepted, though it might be less effective for severe pain. Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) is becoming more popular in relieving pain. CAM like Warmth therapy helps sooth, comfort, relax and increase circulation so pain is often quickly reduced. Also cold therapy may be applied to relieve pain. Pure Essential Oils and Aromatherapy have properties that relax and reduce pain. Drops of these types of oil in the bathtub may reduce pain. Massage therapy increases relaxation and circulation, reduces tension, improves sleep. Massage provides positive effects for those with depression, anxiety or grief. Even, comforting music that can affect attitude, mood and thoughts, has been suggested. It has been demonstrated that, some people, just thinking that medicine relief or make pain go away prompts their brain to release its own natural painkillers; proved to be less effective for severe pain. The enlargement of the prostate gland causes pressure on the urethra resulting in urine retention (the sudden inability to urinate) followed by a severe pain. Acute urinary retention causes severe lower abdominal pain. Most of acute urinary retention cases occur as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Catheterization relieves such pain. This involves inserting a small tube (catheter) into the bladder through the urethra to drain the urine.
One of the most devastating pains that could be inflicted upon a person was related in a story told by a friend of his when they brought up the subject of pain in casual conversation. His friend had given help to one of his relatives, who had requested him to help his son financially and academically through his under graduate education in a foreign country. Several years passed and the son was doing very well in his studies. When suddenly, and to his surprise, during a gathering of relatives and friends that relative denied the help he had given and told him that his son never received a penny from him. He was stunned, hearing the unkind words, and could not utter a word as he swallowed the bitter remarks. He recalled that he never talked about the favour he had done, for he considered it to be obvious. Since that day, he never recovered from his pain. This was the unkindest cut of all. Nevertheless, he continued his help until that son graduated and secured a job. Fend the evil of those you helped. Recalling a similar situation, the agony and pain travelled through his system with overwhelming sadness. Despite the pain, he never regretted the help he had offered. "

(Edited by Mohamed Yousif on 12-31-2014, 12:12 PM)

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