Category Archives: pain and the brain

Fibromyalgia and unnecessary tests: more care is not better care

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“He’s (sic) the best physician that knows the worthlessness of most medicines”, Benjamin Franklin

This is not a blog about doctor bashing. I have been so fortunate for many decades to have a physician who does not suggest unnecessary tests, is sympathetic , highly intelligent and comforting. Rather it is about the run around that many people with chronic pain experience as they ‘doctor shop’. Physicians do not want their patients to suffer. However, often they are stymied by the host of symptoms presented to them which cannot be explained. For that reason many people are burdened with a deluge of medical tests without receiving any concrete explanation about their condition.

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On Being Parented and Parenting: Overcoming Past Experiences Through Understanding Pain of Fibromyalgia

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“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people”, Thich Nhat Hanh

Since I am convinced that fibromyalgia is the result of a hyper-aroused nervous system, I wish I knew for certain if it is caused by early inadequate parenting by our parents and/or difficult childhood experiences in highly sensitive persons, or if we are born with highly sensitive nervous systems. I have my hunches, built upon numerous interviews and talks with many people (mostly women) over many years. In particular, my view is built upon my own experiences. Therefore, I will go out on a limb and suggest that we are not born with an easily aroused nervous system, but rather it slowly develops over many years as a result of our early socialization . Yet, even saying such a thing brings up the issue of children with fibromyalgia. Maybe, just maybe, they were born with the pre-disposition to this condition. What a dilemma! More questions than answers once again. Maybe it can be both nature and nurture. Parent blaming has become something of a modern day occupation. That is certainly not my intent. Who among us had perfect parents or are ourselves perfect parents?

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