Does your neuropathic pain increase with stress?

[quadvet]

Positive stress, negative stress; Does your neuropathic pain increase with stress? Comments appreciated.

ETA: Please, if you would, note if you are referring to "burning butt" syndrome.

Thanks!

Matt

[betheny]

I'm not positive my stress pain is all neuropathic. Stress makes my graves disease flare, making my ankles/feet swell. That, on top of the constant neuropathy, is painful as hell.

[quadvet]

Got the same problem sorting out other pain causing factors, Betheny. Weather and humidity play a role, also.

[AlexAgain]

Yes and so does fatigue and cold temperatures.

[Princess "Leia"]

It does for me big time, also not enough rest, bad night sleep and I feel awful. Too cold weather, rain and low pressure systems make me feel rotten. Other side of coin, the sun rejuevinates me and changes my whole attitude, even the heat of a FL day does wonders.

[skippy13]

Yes stress affects me big time. Physical stress like cold weather turns what is a "normal" baseline of neuro pain from about a five to a nine in short order. I cant keep the A/C in my car up as high as I used to, and forget about going into the cold room of costco. Thats just asking for it.

Emotional or mental stress follows a different course for me, but still ends up in more neuro pain sometimes. It kicks my muscle tension up which then causes more spasms which then causes more physical stress which then leads to more neuro pain. I try to maintain as even an environment and temperament as possible. Not too cold, not too hot, not getting upset.

[quadvet]

Thanks All.

Interesting, can't pull a "No".

Pretty consistent so far regarding stress, And other contributing factors.

I regret not putting a "burning butt" syndrome distinction choice of some sort, that's one of my worst neuropathic pain centers.

[Freedom92]

The neuro pain is like an off and on switch constantly. I've been slowly weening myself off the gabapentin because of the fuzzy head effects. Looking into other alternatives for meds that work. The best reliever so far has been keeping physical and finding a release from the pain.

Stress is always a contributing factor to the pain. It's the domino effect that it causes and it just plain sucks when it sets in. It still amazes me when I speak to others with the same level injury I have and they say there pain isn't that bad. Does it have to do with how traumatic the injury occured or what??? Unfortunatly breaking the back isn't like breaking your arm. If only it was that easy.

[quadvet]

Freedom;
Do you mean "traumatic" as in physical damage, or suffering a traumatic event resulting in SCI? Either way, I know what you mean about same level injured people without neuropathic pain. Haven't seen any surefire indication of the cause; it's just the luck of the draw.

Re: alternatives meds, you might interested in this thread clJanney has going: DPLA - Natural Pain Killing Power (http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?p=834943).

[sjean423]

Stress effects my neuro pain, as well as my "regular" pain, and my spasticity. Not sure actually which it effects worse, I think there is a domino effect here. Weather, fatigue, any ordinary health issues all do as well. :o (Sometimes I find a really GOOD day sort of bittersweet ..... I know it won;t be there tomorrow .....).

[Freedom92]

Thanks for the heads up on the thread Quadvet, totally missed it. Makes sense on implementing something that is already produced in the body. Just need a more concentrated form of it.

When I mentioned traumatic before, I meant it as the physical damage that occures when injury is sustained. Because of the impact that it leaves on everybody differs so much in every case.

[quadvet]

Thanks for all the votes and comments.

Sjean423, I know what you mean by a good day being "bittersweet" because it doesn't last.

Sure, Freedom; It makes sense that differing damage would be why some don't get neuropathic pain. Probably near impossible to discern what nerves are causing it.

I wonder how many spinal cord injured people do not suffer from NP, that'd make an interesting poll.

[QuadMedic]

Well here is my list of Neuropathic pain enhancers:

* Cold weather
* Shitty night sleep
* Stress
* When I get pissed-off (instant reaction)
* Long driving trip
* crazy working day

[Eileen]

I voted that I wasn't sure, but maybe. It is hard to seperate it all out. I know that humid or cold weather makes everything worse for me pain wise. I sometimes feel like it is a viscious circle of not being able to sleep because of pain and then probably feeling even worse for lack of sleep. I can relate to what sjean said about relatively good days being bittersweet, as they are fleeting. As I get older my comfort range seems to diminsh to about a five degree range. I am happiest at 70-75 degrees. Colder than that I am miserable and can feel the cold radiating upwards from my torso. Hotter than that and I am practically lethargic.

[sjean423]

Eileen ..... I have a similar range .... mine is just a little wider. At 70, I need a sweater, but am ok, and 80-82 is the ouside edge of comfort, I am hot but ok. The cold kicks up my pain big time. The heat not so much, just makes me uncomfortable and lethargic.

[alan]

I'm not sure if stress affects my pains, because they are always getting worse with time, anyway, thus I couldn't tell if they're worse because of stress or because more time has passed. :(

[Sue Pendleton]

Matt and Freedom, trust me, non-traumatic SCIs get serious neuro pain too. Personally, mine was pretty bad starting with my right arm and thighs the first year. Cold made my arm that has the contracting hand, while it was going into the contracture, burn like hell. Cold air was fine but anthing cold like the hospital tray table touching me sent me into serious pain. That stopped about 8 or 9 months out. The thigh burn was a sign of my quadriceps coming back. It would be nice if something that hurts so bad you're taking methadone for it the docs could tell you was a 100 percent sure return happening. That still flares up in the cold or high AC areas.

Butt burn? ....hmmm, ok, confession, been spending a lot of time in bed the last 6 months or so. Not exactly burn more like my butt bones hurt when I sit on them. Had a DEXA test and spine if perfect. Hips are osteoporitic but not bad enough to cause stress fractures. Oxycodone helps but does make me sleepy.

And having been to a couple of transverse myelitis symposiums and talked to many who recover a lot to all function..well, where an average person can't tell they ever had a non-traumatic SCI; their pain levels are out of sight. Many are on daily marinol, methadone, pot, morphine, etc.

[momo3]

I put yes because the burning gets worse-also if I am really active my whole body (below T8) is on fire until I lay down. I don't use any meds for it because it is not what you would call pain-just the constent burning, tingling that varies so much.

[ChesBay]

good question , great replies.

Like many I can feel a correlation between rest, quality of sleep and what is going on in my life. It seems I am always experiencing some degree of 'the burns' but the levels and extent are effected by stress and other external factors...

[betheny]

What electrocutes me the absolute worst is being startled. Esp if trying to sleep. A startle probably is a form of stress, I guess.

[cass]

i don't get the weather thing, but everybody's diff. been in all kinds of weather, doesn't affect neuro pain at all. 22 yrs of it. stress, other illness, etc. does.

[quadvet]

What electrocutes me the absolute worst is being startled. Esp if trying to sleep. Exactly, the absolute worst! Maximizes my pain, impossible to shut off the autonomic "fight or flight" response. Keeps me awake for days at a time. Makes it very difficult accomplish anything during hospital stays for lack of sleep because of the "normal" night noises. For that, I got one of these; works pretty good except for the ringing ears in the morning:
http://www.marpac.com/soundscreen.asp

http://healthek.com/sleep-and-snoring/marpac980a-qj.jpg.

Matt and Freedom, trust me, non-traumatic SCIs get serious neuro pain too.
For sure, Sue, I didn't mean to say otherwise.

[Sue Pendleton]

For sure, Sue, I didn't mean to say otherwise.

I didn't mean me. I think I've gotten off light, well, my feet lately burn like hell. But those who get TM and are like C3s and then recover near complete function with only B and B problems talk about walking around in burning oil all day. Many find sitting or staying in one place for any length of time unbearable. There are quite a few at symposiums that are always wandering around the edges of the conference rooms.

[Shana]

stress effects my pain alot.. I get more spasms when I'm stressed to the point that I've almost fell out of my chair.. it's funny that you mentioned burning butt.. I feel like I'm setting on a heating pad. Plus I get those tingling and pin and needle feelings. It drives me crazy. I just got a new seat cushion it helps a little. I was told it's because my butt is to bony I'm 5'7 and weigh 113lbs. regardless it sucks..

[Bspill1]

Yes, burning butt, legs, hands, feet. Stress along with cold, lack of sleep, and cigarettes, especially. I do think some of this has to do with my own awareness of it. Cause when I'm drunk, I don't feel nothing.