Physical Pains Maybe Somatic?

[ams]

Usually I hear about how psychological problems manifest in the body. Like you get physical pain for no reason, because you've got psychological issues. So I've been having pelvic pains since june, and the doctors can't figure out why. I've been thinking about the chance that they are somatic. But I really don't believe they are.

In June is an anniversary date, and I know I was having a really hard time leading up to it and right after it, but overall I was happy. I was OKAY. And then I started getting pain. The pain would get worse each day and I finally called the doctor and was looked at.

I'm having exploratory surgery on January 7th to see if they will find anything (possible endometriosis) but I'm not sure they will. I really don't want them to cut me open, not find anything, and label me as a problematic patient (a complainer or something).

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[anni]

Hi,

I didn't see your history, but am assuming you have PTSD, or wouldn't be posting? :) Please excuse if I'm a little obtuse in answering, but thought some direction to places here in the forum might be helpful to you.

There are a few threads I've seen where the discussion has been how many and varied the physical manifestations one can suffer because of the PTSD can be. I was genuinely surprised reading through them because had assumed it would be limited to possibly heart and blood pressure issues given the stress factors of PTSD. There are so many more than that, and I saw none which were 'all in one's head'.

I couldn't say whether or not anyone brought up one of your symptoms, but it is possible you'll find some WOW information which will give you direction and comfort. As I said, I was amazed at how many physical symptoms could be linked to, or caused directly by the PTSD!!

Please also don't allow anyone to convince you that your pain is indeed psychosomatic. Pain is an indicator of SOMETHING amiss, and if one professional cannot determine it's genesis then another will have to be found. I think some of 'us' ( PTSD sufferers) can allow ourselves to be bulldozed into not pursuing what we KNOW is correct because we lack the self-esteem to stand up for ourselves properly. You know your own body better than anyone, so please be kind to yourself and make sure you stand firm and demand to be taken seriously.

I hope all is well, and you find some answers!

Anni

 

[Lionheart]

According to Psychiatrists at my local university, my brain channels emotional pain into physical pain. My pain does not get treated, I guess because it is psychologically based, but it is real pain nonetheless. My body doesn't know the difference; if my brain is sending pain signals, I feel real pain. So I guess it is possible to get labeled and to not get appropriate treatment. I hope you have better luck than I have had.

Lionheart

 

[Yumeko-chan]

Heh, pelvic pains (I've been calling them "side pains" since they're on the sides of my pelvis) are exactly what I have been dealing with lately. Surgery seems like an awfully extreme way to try to figure out what's causing the pain. Have you had a pelvic exam, or an ultrasound? Those would at least help to rule out cysts or endo.

 

[ams]

Yumeko-chan, yeah I've had several ultrasounds and repeat ultrasounds, ctscan, bloodwork, urine tests, etc. In June they found one cyst on my ovary but it went away quickly. It was one of the kind that come and go frequently. Not a cause for pain. They didn't find an infection until the end of november when they found a UTI, which was new. They treated it and the pain lessened a bit, but is still there. They're going to do an exploratory laparoscopy.

anni, Thanks for your input. Yes I have PTSD. It just seems like the pain was too out-of-the-blue to be psychosomatic. Like, I wasn't constantly dwelling on my trauma issues at that time, to where I was coming up with problems. Instead, a pain developed and that made me wonder if it was related to past traumas. Which I don't think it is, either.

 

[becvan]

I get severe pelvic pains quite often. They are somatic. I do not have to be thinking, triggered, flashbacking, or anything else to get them. It is simply a different way in which my body remembers a particular trauma.

Mine does feel likes it very out of the blue because I don't know what sets it off, it took me a decade to figure out it was somatic pain. I had to track it to be able to figure it out.

My suggestion is to not rule out somatic. Keep track of it instead and watch it over time. We all react differently and how my body translates trauma into pain can be completely different from the next persons.

Have you spoken with a therapist on this subject?

bec

 

[ams]

becvan, yeah my therapist knows about the pelvic pains. The thing is, there's a constant pain but it's 50x worse when I pee. I've got a ton of legit injuries from sports and from my car accident a year ago, too.

It just doesn't seem to fit. But, you're right. I won't rule it out. I just really want them to find something when they do the surgery, so they can treat it.

 

[becvan]

It would be much simpler if it is something that they can fix. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. :)

bec

 

[anni]

Hi again,

Yes I do not mean to step on anyone's diagnosis. All pain is REAL, no matter what it's genesis.

I think my point is, no matter how badly verbalized, that professionals have historically dismissed women's concerns with respect to their bodies. I'm not ranting about some annoying women's right issue, it's just the way we've been treated in the medical system through the decades. We're much more likely than men to be viewed as hysterical, neurotic, and attention-seeking in the medical community. Given a diagnosis of PTSD, I can see where the situation would occur where the female patient would be told some pain was 'all in their head' if there were no clear and obvious reason for that pain. Also given the PTSD diagnosis, we're much more likely to hesitate insisting on a better look at our own bodies. We definitely can be made to feel like problematic, neurotic patients and could easily allow our instincts to be overridden.

I do just feel that if there is a pain involving the area around the reproductive areas, it is a very good thing to not accept the 'fact' that there's 'nothing wrong' until it is quite simply proven beyond one's own doubt. There's nothing 'wrong' with a 2nd or 3rd opinion, or as many as it takes to feel comfortable with the answers you receive.

I hope you do get peace with this, and certainly did not mean to step on anyone's hard-won personal experiences. :)

Take care,

Anni

Hope your

 

[Mina]

I sometimes get psycho-somatic pains in my hand at the damage sites from the dogbite. Doesn't make the pain any less real :rolleyes:

Have you considered consulting a naturopathic doctor, ams? There are many issues which western medicine just doesn't detect...eg, you might be eating or drinking something seemingly harmless which is in fact irritating your digestive tract, bladder, or urethra.