Genital Pain Not In Your Head
Dean
The University of Michigan has released a study showing evidence that some women have a real problem with increased pain sensitivity due to vulvodynia, that this condition is real and not psychological, and is also linked to increased pain sensitivity in much of the rest of the body, including the shins and the thumbs.
No word on suggested treatment, but I find it interesting that we're still finding cases where patients complaining of chronic pain are told that it's just in their heads and then having that turn out not to be the case.
I'm sure you're just imagining that, Dean.
It seems that the authors of the article (not the study) are conflating "pain being in your head" with psychological components of chronic pain. Curiously, even after the writers said this, they went on to say article that chronic pain oftens requires treatment with antidepressants and other medications that affect the central nervous system. (That would be the things in your head).
Since pain is primarily processed at the level of the spinal cord, with two way interactions between the spinal cord and brain, it's clear to see that functions of the mind have a huge impact on pain. It may be thoughtless and rude to say pain is "all in your head," but it is technically not that far from the truth for some kinds of pain. To scoff at this link is to ignore important treament options. For example, this is why hypnosis is effective for treating labor pains in highly motivated women; and why amputees still feel pain in missing limbs. Oliver Sacks wrote a fascinating vignette about a man who couldn't use a leg prosthesis first thing in the morning, until he slapped it and "wiggled his toes".
Still, it takes a huge amount of education for people to not feel insulted if a doctor offers a psychoactive medication for chronic pain. Pain management as a special field is relatively new, and some doctors may not possess the necessary knowledge or communication skills, either.
I wish I'd known about this ten years ago when I had a lovely older lady with terrible vulvudynia refractory to all modes of treatment, including surgery. It was tough because she was caring for her very ill husband and could not afford to be sick. However, after he passed away, she was suddenly better. In retrospect, I think her body was just trying to get some rest and care for her, which she would not allow herself.
To me, pain is "real" no matter where it originates. Trying to divide it into "psychogenic" and "physical" is an impediment. When someone has a chronic pain condition, they need all the treatment modalities they can get.
But the fact that they're able to pinpoint this to specific areas of the body, vulva shins thumbs etc., seems to point to a neurological pathology first and foremost to me.
Of course when you get right down to it you're right, the difference between what's "psychological" and what's "physical" is certainly dwindling quickly....
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.