Thread by @painphysio

Menopause and persistent pain have some similarities in the journey.

This is aside from the fact that a women going through menopause can experience persistent pain.

Cont.. #thepaincoach #pain #Menopause #thread

I spend time asking about people’s experiences and listening to what they tell me, before helping them make sense of it.

Many talk about how they have described different symptoms that are pigeon-holed rather than seen as a person suffering.

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‘I kept telling them, but they took no notice’

‘For years I was told it was anxiety and depression’

‘I had three different symptoms, but was told I could only be seen for one’

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By compartmentalising and seeing different problems as separate parts, you miss the big picture of the person. And that is the actual picture.

We don’t treat body parts or systems, we help people.

Of course not everyone has this experience, but no-one should.

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There are many problems that are part if the menopause. There are many problems that are part of persistent pain. This can only be appreciated by seeing the whole.

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If someone is only permitted to talk about their increasing anxiety, then what is the most likely diagnosis and treatment?

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If they can also talk about sweats, sleep issues, dryness, and mood, a bigger picture emerges. It doesn’t take long to hear the full story.

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Same in persistent pain. It doesn’t take long to ask about all of the person’s symptoms and note them down.

Then you are starting to know that person and what they are enduring.

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Let’s see the whole.

That will make a difference to the person.

#thepaincoach #pain #Menopause

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