What Do You Do? podcast
Narinder Sheena | Chronic Pain Coach | Mapcoach
If we break an ankle, there’s pain and physical evidence of the break in the x-ray. But what happens if we’re in pain and there’s no injury? If there’s no evidence, and no clear explanation? How can we convince a GP that there’s even anything wrong at all?
That’s what it’s like to live with chronic pain.
Key Takeaways
- Chronic pain lasts longer than three months and can exist without physical evidence.
- The mind plays a crucial role in the perception of pain, highlighting the need for mental and emotional support.
- Personal experiences and emotional trauma can significantly impact chronic pain.
The Role of a Chronic Pain Coach
Living with Chronic Pain
Narinder was experiencing debilitating migraines, which eventually turned into severe back pain. The medical diagnosis was a suspected herniated disc, but there was no sign of it on any tests. Narinder was given physical therapy, but the exercises only made things worse. Finally she was offered invasive surgery, but she refused.
Not only had she lost faith that the clinicians could help her, but she’d started to believe that the pain was caused by internalised people pleasing behaviour from witnessing a traumatic event in her childhood. She’d subjected herself to years of unnecessary stress, and her body was finally showing warning signs.
How the Mind-Body Connection Affects Chronic Pain
Headaches, muscle pain, fatigue and a tight chest are all physical and diagnosable symptoms of stress, but when we start talking about changing your mindset as a ‘cure’ over medical advice, it starts to sound a bit woo-woo. But the mind-body connection is real, and it’s based in the idea of neuroplasticity.
If we’ve only thought a certain way for our entire lives, then that becomes the only way we can think. Neuroplasticity is when we start challenging our ingrained thought processes, and find new ways to think. This is what allows us to process the thoughts and feelings that are causing us physical pain.
After processing her own trauma, Narinder now shares her experience as a chronic pain coach, helping others to adjust their mindsets and heal.