Physical Pain From PTSD

[silkleaves]

Oh man, reading through all of this, I feel all y'alls (yes, I got southern lol) pain... It definitely is real, stress can cause so many problems in our bodies. I have the muscle aches, my joints will kill me, I'll feel like I got into a fight the day before or something. The worst really is when my stomach gets so knotted up, I feel like I've been punched in the stomach, and I'm just doubled over in pain and crying because it hurts so badly.

Thankfully, the worst I have dealt with over the past year are the body aches...thats when I know I need to do my meditation and get myself centered. That helps a lot...but its no walk in the park. I just feel like my entire body is twisted and wound up.

 

[nay.elizabeth]

I know this thread is a few years old but I totally relate to the body aches from PTSD induced stress! Right now, my lower back and legs are so sore. One would assume I spent 4 hours straight doing squats uphill by the amount of pain I'm in. I, like many, also have fibromyalgia and it's definitely worsened by stress and ugh. It's not bad enough when PTSD attacks our brains but the body too? :grumpy:

 

[Shellyb]

For the longest time, the physical and mental/emotional components of PTSD had been about equal. As I’ve...

I feel like I wrote wrote this. I'm having the exact same problems w the pain all over. I've said many times " I feel like I'm 80 years old!". EMDR therapy is helping w the PTSD but I need something for the pain. Epsom salt baking soda essential oil bets help a lot but it's temporary. I'm considering accupuncture. I don't do pharmaceuticals. Too many side effects.

 

[Chemgirl]

I can relate to you. I am at the hospital as we speak for left ovary pain. Before I couldn't deal with the emotional pain with ease. Now my physical symptoms are overtaking me. But I can't take any amount of negative behavior or yelling because I go into an anxiety attack. Yes related to PTSD. I pray for you and I'm glad I'm not alone.

 

[ms spock]

Chronic pain is hard going - I am finding.

 

[Joan]

I am really feeling this. I feel I have good coping skills that are helping with the "mental" aspect, but they do not touch the physical component. Each physical pain has a visual reminding me of what causes them....hard to keep coping.

 

[ms spock]

@Joan - keep in the back of your mind Compassionate Body Scans and the such life - if you can be kind to yourself and your pain and you are not interpretating the pain as part of the past resurfacing it is a bit easier. http://self-compassion.org/ This site has the free audio to listen to or download.

 

[Changing4Best]

Different emotions have different pains associated with them I think. Anxiety does have a pain, as does grief or deep grief, which is basically depression. Anger can trigger pains too. Then, one can get ulcers from all kinds of stressful emotions.

 

[Chava]

I feel your frustration. I have chronic pain and I have been taking very good care of myself, doing many helpful things, and also decreasing my amount of meltdowns over the pain itself. But it still intensifies, seemingly out of nowhere, and then I just feel powerless and out of my mind again.

A few days ago I really wondered what the point was of even trying anymore....but at the same time I knew it was the pain talking...and yet, when will it let up?

There are some physiological components to my pain but they don't explain the intensity or the way my body perceives and responds to pain (would connect better to my early childhood traumas). The spasms are like being knifed, and I continue to feel it even on pain meds some days. It's hard to tolerate and is the largest piece of my puzzle trapping me in "survival mode" too often.

Sorry I don't have much to offer other than I know it's tiring. My friends don't understand chronic pain so I tend to not talk about it (and just isolate and try to rest and get through it).

 

[oasis2003]

Hi
Yes I am in physical pain in my lower back and especially my neck and shoulders, I think I am going to visit the doctors and see what they can do (if anything!) It is definitely linked to when my ptsd symptoms are worse. I also get the feeling of being run over by a bus and the flu achy feeling too. I did not realise it could cause such physical pain as well as emotional pain !?:(

 

[Tino]

For the longest time, the physical and mental/emotional components of PTSD had been about equal. As I’ve...

Hi, I know this was a long time ago but I was wondering if and when the physical part of PTSD started to get better for you? My trauma was 3 months ago and I'm responding really well to therapy, but I swear I could have written your question myself. Never knew there was a physical side to PTSD until a week ago. This whole time I thought it was adrenal fatigue or a thyroid problem. Anyway, I hope you've recovered and have some insight/advice for me. Thank you

 

[atomheart]

Hello everyone, I completely relate to all your stories. I have been suffering from unexplainable chronic pain for the past 6 years mainly to do with muscles and joints all over the body. I've been through many doctors, physios, osteos, chiros and any other treatment you can imagine with no effective results. Recently I have managed to get myself to psychotherapy again and within minutes of talking through my CPTSD issues, my whole body flared up in pain. It was something I never experienced before, it was like my whole nervous system created pain everywhere. It was so intense that my body went completely numb and I started shaking. After I calmed down the pain returned to its normal state that I have every day.

I have had my usual areas of pain (elbows, neck, ankles, shoulders) flare up when under stress before but never this whole body pain sensation.

I was wondering whether anybody else has experienced all over body pain flare up like this in conjunction with emotional upset?