Overreaction to Pain...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Overreaction to Pain...
5
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 2:38am

Does anyone else here have overreactions to pain? Since I was assaulted 4 years ago, it seems that something changed. I used to be able to handle pain very well. I never got nervous for shots, or dental work... I was a "great patient". Now it seems that I get freaked out very badly over anything like that. Once it's all over with I notice my body will shake if it's been really trying (like when I had some Cervical Vetebrae Nerve Blocks done, or if it's hard for a nurse to get my IV's in)...

It's gotten to the point where I've actually passed out in reaction to pain... And this isn't like horrid pain, either. Once it was in reaction to stubbing a pinky toe that I had broken years earlier - granted I stubbed it very hard and it broke skin, but I've had natural childbirth, and a dislocated shoulder before and I never passed out! Another time was when I hit a nerve in my hand at work. I was trying not to cry in front of my customers and my ears started ringing and the pain was unbelievable (I think I hit a nerve that time), and when I walked over to my co-worker I ended up fainting in her arms -- she said I was white as a sheet... Now last night I stepped on one of my child's toys and I almost passed out again, I was able to lie down and managed to settle my heart and my breathing before I blacked out, but it was very close... The cut was not serious, not bleeding profusely or anything, but it did hurt like heck - the side of the toy gouged my foot in the arch.

I did notice I was breathing too fast, and I get really scared -- is this like a panic attack in response to pain or something? I've had a complete physical along with all sorts of various tests and such over the last year for several medical problems, and I do have migraines, and I take Blood Pressure meds for headaches, and I started Zoloft two weeks ago, but the other two instances happened several years ago, before I was on any of these meds or had medical problems besides migraines.

Just wondering if an anxiety disorder can cause these types of reactions to pain, or is it more of a psychological thing (like some issue rearing it's little head at those times?). Could these be panic attacks? I don't get tingling in my hands, just in my head and ringing in my ears before I black out...

Thanks for anyone's input on this. I will talk to my pdoc about this during my appt. Wednesday, just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this. It's kinda bothersome as I used to be so "strong" when it came to these things, and now I feel like a "big baby" sometimes...

Take care everyone!
~*~ Tangeloper ~*~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 11:29am

I betcha I'm a bigger baby than you, tangeloper! LOL I have a great fear of any sort of messing around with my body. I'm not afraid of needles, but having blood drawn is a big deal for me. I imagine all sorts of ways that a simple blood draw could harm me. I know this is a part of me & don't get angry with myself like I did in the past.


It's highly likely that stress

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 07-18-2006 - 9:44pm

I have no idea what is causing this.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 10:28pm

UPDATE:

I thought I'd post an update. Thank you Sheri Ann, and Janis, I appreciate your input. I saw my primary doc and my psychologist last week and they believe it's either a triggered panic attack, or myself attempting to recover from dissociation from pain (a learned coping behavior from my childhood). It's good news and bad news, I guess. Good because it means I'm healing, bad because it means I'm more of a baby for the time being until I learn how to deal with pain in a "normal" way...

I'm also going to discuss this issue with my physiatrist that I see for my neck pain, and tell him what the other docs said, and see what he thinks about all of it. I'm also going to ask his advice on whether I should also get a checkup at a neurologist given my anxiety, and that some of my physical problems are caused by veins and nerves in my head. I guess it might be good to further rule out other physical things that may be contributing to my depression & anxiety.

Thanks again for everyone's suggestions! I'll let you all know what the other doctor says, I have an appointment with him tomorrow.

Take care!
~*~ Tangeloper ~*~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 10:30am

Thanks for the update!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2006
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 11:15am

Don't feel bad. I faint whenever I have blood drawn or get an IV. When I had the hysterectomy on June 2, I passed out when the put in the IV. My doctor said he'd never seen anyone turn that white! I guess I have a low tolerance to pain. Once, I fainted after getting my ear pierced by a friend with a needle!

Candace