Pain Management

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My girlfriend has AS and has had a very hard time with some recent dental procedures. I feel like AS is partially involved. I am NT, and I am usually able to shift my focus away from physical pain, but it appears that she is not. She cannot focus on a conversation or even walking because she is so completely engrossed in her teeth.

She will also constantly poke at a painful area on her gums using her tongue or finger, causing the pain. She says it hurts when she touches it, but she cannot stop. Is this some kind of stimming behavior? Can stimming include painful things?

I've read some research about people on the spectrum experiencing pain differently from NT people. I would like to hear people's thoughts about this and any tips regarding pain management with AS. Thanks!

I admitted to my bf that when I was little I used to stick paper or little things in the gum line behind my two front teeth and I'd poke at it to feel the pain I guess. I'd push paper into areas where my teeth may have fallen out too. I can't say if this is an AS trait, I have not been diagnosed. But I did wonder if there were other ppl who did it to. I actually enjoy the dentist poking in my mouth and when my gums are tender and she pokes them. I have also caught myself pushing on a bruise or cut and maybe complaint it hurts for some attention and ooh poor you but sometimes it actually felt ticklish when doing this that's why I'd do it.

I don't know if I've heard of stimming in ways which result in direct pain, but many of us do things which we know can & will result in pain or minor injury. I have always picked at the skin around my thumb nails, and I am 100% aware that on a regular basis, it will cause the nails to hurt like ingrown toe nails. I can't help it. But I don't do it in anticipation of the soreness; I do it despite the soreness.

My guess is that the "obsession" with the gum soreness, isn't about causing the pain or further injury.

Charles