Board index › General Discussion › General Autism Discussion

A lot of my autistic traits are caused by chronic pain

Page 2 of 2 [ 21 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

Previous topic | Next topic

DevilKisses
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 3 Jul 2010
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,067
Location: Canada

13 Jun 2016, 8:07 pm

plainjain wrote:
Hi, DevilKisses. Hypermobile type is only one type of Ehlers-Danlos. There are lots of variations, 6 or 10, I think. But it is a genetic disorder that "runs true" in families. So if your sister is ever diagnosed with the hypermobile type, then there is little chance that you would have a different type. The main thing to remember about Ehlers-Danlos is that the ligaments and tendons tend to be rubbery, when they should be holding the bones together, and the muscles tend to be tense, to compensate for the lack of support normally offered by the ligaments and tendons. So it's quite possible, as people age, that they don't 'seem' hypermobile, because the muscles have learned to be constantly contracted to one degree or another, by adulthood.

This is one source of the pain in Ehlers-Danlos. The muscles, which are in spasm, are constantly suffering from micro-tears . . . very small tears in the muscle fibers. This would feel like pain in the muscles.

If a person is hypermobile, then the muscles are probably not in spasm, and a source of pain would be more in the joints, as bones pop out of place, or rub against cartilage in ways they're not supposed to. That would probably feel more like joint pain . . . like arthritis, maybe.

I have spastic muscles, and I don't have hypermobility to the degree that I would be diagnosed as having the hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos, even though I have a little hypermobility. I fit much more closely with another type of Ehlers-Danlos, so that's the one I'm going to be tested for.

I'm sorry that you have pain! I can very much relate to your post . . . chronic pain affects every minute of your life! I hope that you're able to find some relief!

I definitely do have very tense muscles. I'm also slightly more flexible than average, just not hypermobile. In a way chronic pain isn't too bad for me because I'm used to it. It just doesn't register as pain to me. I only really notice it exists when I take painkillers and it goes away. Painkillers have always calmed me down and made me feel nice. Maybe that nice feeling is what normal people feel.


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 82 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 124 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical


kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

13 Jun 2016, 8:14 pm

I don't have chronic pain--but I don't feel that great.

I feel okay. I'm getting a little older and a little heavier--so I get tired a little quicker than I used to.



Jensen
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 15 Feb 2013
Age: 71
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,018
Location: Denmark

14 Jun 2016, 1:31 pm

Have you ever had anyone look at your hormones? Thyroid problems - even ever so slight - can give symptoms like that - pains in muscles and joints, slightly or more heightened inflammation and more of the things, you mention.
You could try an endocrinologist for a hormonal status.


_________________
Femaline
Special Interest: Beethoven


DevilKisses
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 3 Jul 2010
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,067
Location: Canada

14 Jun 2016, 2:50 pm

Jensen wrote:
Have you ever had anyone look at your hormones? Thyroid problems - even ever so slight - can give symptoms like that - pains in muscles and joints, slightly or more heightened inflammation and more of the things, you mention.
You could try an endocrinologist for a hormonal status.

I've been like this since I was a kid. I'm not sure if you can have hormone problems for that long.


_________________
Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 82 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 124 of 200
You are very likely neurotypical


plainjain
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 8 Nov 2015
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 156
Location: Upstate New York

14 Jun 2016, 5:21 pm

I understand what you mean when you say that you're used to it. One of my problems is that I can tell a doctor that I'm in pain, but they don't understand why I don't show the visible signs they are looking for - like grimacing or being unable to move a certain way. I am able to move and don't grimace because I'm accustomed to feeling these particular pains, and I expect them. That doesn't mean that the pain isn't there, though.

I can very much relate to your experience of noticing when you take pain killers. The first thing that ever got rid of some of my pain is an herb called Burdock root. I had known my whole life that I had pain in my feet and tailbone, but I just went through life not knowing how bad the pain was, until I took the Burdock root, and it went away. All of the sudden, I was able to assess my pain, and I concluded that if I had only known how bad the pain really was, I would have used a wheelchair all of those years. It was my ignorance of what it was like to be pain free that kept me up on my feet for so long.

I think it's very difficult for people to understand chronic pain, without experiencing it themselves. Last year my husband somehow injured his back, which is something that has happened to him before. But usually it clears up in a week or two, and that time it took several months to feel better. He told me that he finally understood what it must be like to have chronic pain. Not only do you experience the pain, but also some depression and anxiety due to thinking the pain might never go away.

I'm glad you've found some pain relief! It's amazing how much more I can do with a little pain relief!