I think that it’s safe to say that no one likes their chronic pain; if you do please track me down and explain it to me because I couldn’t imagine. Anyone who suffers from chronic pain most likely has some form of anxiety and/or depression. Chronic pain is no joke and it takes a serious toll on a person emotionally and physically. This kind of pain is a joy taker and a life stopper and it’s one of the toughest pills I’ve had to swallow. So why would I say that chronic pain, or even any pain at all, is necessary? People that don’t even suffer from chronic pain pray pain away. Chronic pain is amplified because it will trigger deep emotions. It will remind you to think about how you can’t physically function like you maybe once did, and remind you how one day you may never function as well as you do now. Chronic pain is a reminder. The very raw reality is that chronic pain is important for those of us with chronic illnesses. Imagine having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and not feeling pain at all. You wouldn’t know when to slow down to give your already sick body a break. We would literally run our limited bodies into the ground. When a healthy and normal person dislocates their shoulder, that is an abrupt signal to them to stop what they’re doing immediately before any further damage happens. That’s the exact same with people with chronic illnesses, it’s just that our bodies truly are limited in what we can physically do. Our bodies are constantly sending signals to us that we cannot push ourselves any further and that is why it is important for us to listen. We cannot listen to anyone outside of our own body because they simply do not feel what we feel, therefore cannot tell us what our own limits are. They cannot tell us what our own limits are. That doesn’t mean that they don’t try. I forever have people trying to think for me when in reality they just can’t. Even doctors can’t tell you what your own limits are when it comes to chronic pain. It’s all about learning to balance your physical capabilities and how far your willing to push your limits to accomplish tasks. Pain is a direct message to you straight from your own body, so don’t let anyone else try to interpret it for you.
