All the yoga in the world can’t make chronic pain disappear

Nothing like the sweet ring of “have you tried yoga?” in the ear of somebody with chronic pain. What these people miss is while yoga is great, it can’t fix chronic pain.

Why? Because pain controls everything. It controls:

-what I do

– what I eat

– when I sleep

– my relationships

– my energy levels

– my weight

-my appearance

– my fun

– my brain and intelligence

– how I relax

– and how much sleep I get

Pain controls my very existence.

All the positive thinking in the world can’t make chronic pain disappear

But Chronic Mom, why aren’t you thinking positively? You need a better attitude!

Now don’t sniff your essential oils, but positive thinking doesn’t make pain go away. It doesn’t make doctors treat me like a human being, it doesn’t make the known treatments available to me, it doesn’t make bone broth a magical cure, and it definitely does not pay my bills. It doesn’t save me the hours and hours of work I have to put into lowering my pain levels enough to function. Do you have any idea how much time all these hot baths, yoga practices, and meditation woo take? Lowering pain levels is basically a full-time job, there’s no time or energy to do anything else. You work and work to lower your pain levels, which is sometimes successful and most often not, then you go to bed and pray to whatever Being you believe in that the pain will let you sleep.

Positive thinking doesn't make pain go away. It doesn't make doctors treat me like a human being, it doesn't make known treatments available (opioids), it doesn't make bone broth a magical cure, and it definitely does not pay my bills. Click To Tweet

Distraction occasionally works during the day, but nighttime is another story. All the distractions are removed, and the pain creeps up on you. You try ignoring it, but the pain demands attention and care. It screams that something is wrong while you cover your ears and hope it slithers away, but it never does. It’s always present as a reminder that there is no escape.*

As John Green says,

Pain demands to be felt

Distraction from pain can work during the day, but nighttime is another story. All the distractions are removed, and the pain creeps up on you. You try ignoring it, but the pain demands attention. Click To Tweet

All the yoga in the world can’t make chronic pain disappear

Now don’t choke on your kale, I love yoga and do it every single day. I find it very helpful in managing the stiffness in my body caused by untreated pain, but it’s not magic. It’s not “THE ONE THING THAT WILL MAKE YOUR PAIN GO AWAY FOREVER” as the internet clickbait articles like pretending. Yoga for chronic pain does wonders for pain-locked muscles, but keep in mind that for every yoga pose that helps my pain, there is a pose that tried to kill me. And once my pain level is up, yoga does nothing for my pain. Yoga instructors like to say they have routines for pain, but then they try to make you do some crazy shit that will leave you in agony for a week.

Yoga for chronic pain does wonders for pain-locked muscles, but once once my pain level is up, yoga does nothing for my pain. Click To Tweet

Being thin can’t make chronic pain disappear

Now don’t gag on your dessert spinach shake, but despite what the fatphobic doctors say, being thin can’t take the pain away. They’ll tell you there’s nothing wrong and you’re just fat all the way to your Stage 5 cancer diagnosis. They’ll completely ignore that you were skinny when you got sick, but all the terrible medications they give you to avoid opioids make you gain weight.

Doctors: You can’t take #opioids for chronic #pain, I’m going to put you in antidepressants

Me: Takes antidepressants which cause weight gain.

Doctor: Your”re in pain because your fat, if you would lose weight you wouldn’t have any pain.

Me: Throws hands in the air

— Chronic Mom (@chronicmom1) April 17, 2021

Gaining weight from these medications is a known side effect, but somehow the weight gain is all the patient’s fault. Sorry I had an apple for breakfast doc. I won’t do it again. (If you struggle with this issue I highly recommend the Maintenace Phase podcast).

Life is never boring when you live with chronic pain, that’s for sure. Every person you’ve ever met (and some you haven’t) has an opinion about your health. Abled people, do not offer suggestions to disabled people and people in pain. We know what we’re doing, probably more so than even our doctor.

 

 

*As long as the politicians have a say in pain care