The Pain Psychologist

Yesterday was my appointment with the pain Psychologist. Having had a bad experience with the Sports Psychologist, I was wary. Very wary. Dr T was very pleasant and started by asking me if I understood her function in my treatment. When I said that I didn't she explained that she is part of the pain management team which was made up of the pain management doctor, specialist nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, herself and me.


 "I am not going to try and get into your head. That is not my job. But chronic pain isn't going to go away and it can have an emotional as well as physical impact" We talked about my support system and home and work which is, unfortunately non-existent. Both Hubby and my boss tend to tell me they understand because their knee or wrist hurts. I am expected to just get on with it. That impacts on me. That I don't understand that I need to pace myself. And had I thought about not being able to continue doing the job I do, finding something else that is less tiring on my body. We covered things from employment to relaxation.


She is going to consider what we talked about then I shall be sent another appointment to be assessed by the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist and from there onto the pain management Foundation course. She did say that was a rather grand name for a group where we are taught ways to lessen the strain on our bodies, learning several ways to relax when the pain is too much, to pace ourselves and also to make sure our medications are providing the best level pain control for us. 


I did like the fact that I had choices here. That if I wasn't in the right place mentally to accept this course that I could do it at a later date. Or if I didn't think the approach was right for me, there were other options. I am going to give it a try. If it works for me, brilliant! If it doesn't, then at least I know I have tried it.


The only real downer was when I got home and told hubby all about it, his response was "so your appointment was just a load of B*&& S%!£. :-( . As usual, he isn't interested in it helping me. And as usual, I felt devalued as a person.