Constant discomfort may halt neuron growth in the hippocampus

You know I love a good pun! And in my opinion, the article “Chronic Pain Affects Memory and Mood” (read by clicking here, or on the above headline) - while indeed scientific - may be ‘disproven’ simply by the Chronic Pain Patient taking a ‘Mind over Matter’ approach, per say. 

Am I claiming that Chronic Pain does not affect memory and mood? Absolutely not. As a patient myself, I know firsthand how frustratingly fuzzy life can at times seem. Instead, I’m claiming that Chronic Pain does not necessarily have to permanently and negatively affect memory and mood.

Of course, education is key, and it’s only responsible that we learn as much as we can about our conditions. However, I believe that should we entirely believe in this science, should we base our entire existence as Chronic Pain patients on these studies - especially those based on the brain, an organ we ultimately know so little about (who knows what unknown realm is compensating up there!) - we run the risk of ‘embodying the rat’, so to speak. 

What I mean is… suppose that you’re an ‘adult’ Chronic Pain sufferer in your very exciting first year of university! You work really hard, but with your pain condition - as is to be expected - some days are tougher than others. You’re smart. You’re organized. You do what you can to stay on top of your game. BUT… at times you’re foggy. In addition to this, the constant pain wears down on you and negatively affects your mood. As I said, some days are tougher than others. 

You can choose to define yourself by this study. Or you can choose to do what it takes. 

Would it really be wise to tell an ‘adult’ Chronic Pain sufferer about to begin university that they have an impaired memory? That it’s not to be regained? Not by my books. No, thank you. How could we ever expect any progress? 

Pain doesn’t make you any less of a person! In fact, I’m actually appreciative of my tough days. Before I have you asking, “Wait, what - is she a nut job?!” let me explain myself…

I feel as though - through all of my fuzziness and emotional wear and tear - I’ve been lucky enough to learn at a young age, that to keep on keeping on, the added value of a little extra hard work and some good organizational skills never hurt anyone. As things thankfully start to look up with my new treatment, so does my work. 

Maybe they need to test some new mice. There’s no impairment here, thanks. 

Be well, everyone! - Danielle xx

(Ps: this is my opinion. I’m not a scientist. But then again, they aren’t patients…)