Most
people don’t think a lot about the words they speak, what they say, how it
comes across or how it may affect the person they are speaking to. The one thing that we do need to consider is
words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. – Kipling,
1923. Think about those words...
Just
prior to my diagnosis with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), I had several
close colleagues that said to me, “You have to get a definite diagnosis because
if this is CRPS or RSD it will end your life as you have known it! We pray we are wrong, but if we are correct
it will be life altering, your life will be forever changed – not in a good
way.” These were physicians that were
speaking to me! They were already
planting the seeds in my head that if I was diagnosed with Complex Regional
Pain Syndrome that it was going to be a train wreck or worse. They were crushing any hope that I had for
remission or for gaining control over the condition before I was even
diagnosed!
In
1923 Kipling spoke some famous words to the Royal College of Surgeons in
London: “Not only do words inflect, egotize,
narcotize, and paralyze, but they enter into the colour the minutest cells of
the brain…” Kipling understood how words
could change the way another person thinks and feels, and influences people to
do things they might not otherwise do.
Similar to drugs.
Other
words that were spoken thousands of years ago still ring in many minds
today: “Do unto others as you would have
others do unto you.” These words, often
attributed to Jesus, are responsible for stirring the conscience of countless
millions.
Words
can heal. Words can have lasting
impact. Words can destroy.
How Words Can Affect
Chronic Pain Patients
Words
retain their power even when they are spoken to a patient when under sedation
or anesthetic. Most people don’t realize
that the medications utilized for sedation or anesthetic for a medical
procedure or surgery are called hypnotics.
They affect your subconscious.
When
I was in the process of getting several Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks for my CRPS,
I had several occasions when they tried to sedate me with Versed and
Fentanyl. Unfortunately, due to other
medications I had been on for some time I was still awake when taken into the
surgical suite. While I was trying to
get the attention of the OR nurses and my Pain Management doctor to let them
know that I was still fully with it, I could hear the nurses talking about how
painful the procedure was going to be, how sorry they were to see me having to
go through this so many times, and many other negative comments about pain, the
procedure and recovery. At the time I
was not thinking about what they were saying, I was more worried about getting
their attention to get more medication on board so I would not have to be awake
during this procedure!
Although
I wasn’t thinking about what was said during this one procedure, everything
that was said was recorded into my subconscious. It was tucked away with the other information
that I was told before my diagnosis, by other healthcare professional and even
my own doctors. As time goes on the
words of caregivers, physicians, nurses, loved ones, friends and even our own
words build up and can become detrimental to us in the long run. Our subconscious is a very powerful tool,
especially when it has been filled with negative comments, words and
suggestions as to our situation and our outcome as Chronic Pain patients.
There
have been many studies at Stanford and Harvard Universities on the power of the
subconscious mind. It can be similar or
related to the placebo effect. I don’t
want to down play any part of the negative comments by stating that, but it is
the easiest way to explain it. If you
are going in for a procedure and the nurse or anesthesiologist tells you when
you come out in the recovery room you will most likely feel nauseous, dizzy,
and have pain… Then you have a very high likelihood that you will experience
all of those exact side effects after the procedure. On the other hand if they think about their
words and tell the patient that everything well go smooth, you will return to
recovery are warm, very comfortable and they will be there to meet your needs. You will have a much better outcome. More and more hospitals, surgical centers,
ambulatory facility and doctor’s offices are looking at these statistics.
Words
do have consequences, it remains a dilemma for many when they realize
this.
As
my journey with CRPS continued I went through many Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks,
Regional Blocks, Physical Therapy, many medication changes, and three Spinal
Cord Stimulators (the last one was taken out as it was causing a build-up of
scar tissue on the Dura of my Spine that would have caused paralysis),
etc… This all occurred over a matter of
three to four years. After my last
Spinal Cord Stimulator was ex-planted (removed) my Pain Management doctor sat
me down and told me he was at a loss. He
had no idea what to do anymore. I had
one of the most aggressive cases of CRPS that he had seen, it was extremely
volatile and everything he had tried only made it worse. He had no words of encouragement, no positive
words, only words of discouragement! I
knew he was frustrated and I even asked him if I was not willing to give up,
how was he willing to give up. He had no
idea what to say or how to react to this comment or question.
By
this time my CRPS had moved from my left foot/ankle up into my calf region, it
had tried to mirror over into my right leg several times, it had moved into my
back and was definitely on the move to other areas of my body. It was apparent from his facial expression,
his mannerisms and more importantly his words that he was throwing in the
towel.
I
refused to give up! I continued to
search for answers, for some way of getting my CRPS into remission. I knew in my heart that there had to be a way
and I was determined to find it.
In
my journey the one big thing that I found out was that all of the negative
words that I had heard from prior to my diagnosis, in my procedures, at home,
in my doctor’s office, from other’s with this condition that felt there was no
cure or chance for remission, etc… that it impacted a part of my brain – the
subconscious. This only continued to
feed my pain and made it worse. It also
lead to a diagnosis of PTSD in addition to my CRPS. A lot of Chronic Pain patients have no idea
that they are also dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in
addition to their Chronic Pain. This is
a common combination that pain patients face, but are not diagnosed with.
Think
of it this way, if someone tells you, you will have an awful headache following
a procedure the odds are you will have that headache! If they would have said you will come out of
this procedure feeling great, pain free, etc… you would have a different
outcome.
Bottom
line is that it is very important for those individual that are around Chronic
Pain patients to pick their words wisely.
This includes the Chronic Pain patient themselves. When we get down and
think negative words or play various negative scenarios through our mind it can
be just as damaging. Physicians, nurses and those in the medical community have
a larger responsibility as their words can change the way the patient thinks
and feels, and influence patients to do things that they may not otherwise do
or feel.
Find Your Voice
Finding
your voice can and will change your life.
If you don’t believe you have the right or the confidence to speak up
when you know you should, you will suffer.
If
you have a physician, nurse or someone in your life that is speaking to you in
a negative manner and affecting your outcome, speak up. This is your life, you have to be your
advocate or no one else will be.
If
you resolve to develop confidence, you’ll change through your words. Learn to speak up for yourself and you will
help define who you are in the long run!
I
hope this short article will help others with Chronic Pain, CRPS or RSD. Should you have any questions or comments
please leave them for me. I enjoy
hearing from you.
No comments:
Post a Comment