Can stress REALLY cause chronic pain?

[newmummamadness]

Hi all,

Can anxiety really cause chronic and constant pain? Even when relaxed? If so, can any sufferers or those with experience tell me if this sounds like that... my GP and another dr thinks so.

For two years I had sporadic pain in the front of my neck. It would come and go, but became more frequent and then daily. I was on the waiting list for an ultrasound. Physical examination they couldn't feel lumps etc.

After two years of pain I fell pregnant and the pain literally vanished. It didn't come back until I stopped breastfeeding - so just over a year without a single pain, not one time! I cancelled the ultrasound.

A few weeks after I finished breastfeeding it's back, and much worse. Admittedly I've been so so stressed recently, really low at points. The pain is there constantly right now, it doesn't let up. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it.

GP is convinced it's caused by anxiety/stress and can't be sinister given it disappeared for a year. What she says makes sense, but my anxious self tells me she's wrong.

Can you really be in pain constantly due to stress?

Simple answer - yes. When your mind is stressed it sends chemical signals to your body telling it to that it's under threat which fires the fight or flight reaction; handy if there's a sabre toothed tiger in your face, not so much if its a shitty boss, lack of sleep or just life.

This video explains it very well -

The book “the body keeps score” is well worth a read.

Yes. I have atypical trigeminal neuralgia and the biggest trigger is stress. None of the other usual triggers, just stress. I have tramadol for it as it is so painful.

Yes but I would probably want the ultrasound and bloods to check your thyroid, as mine was affected by pregnancy hormones and can cause pain at front of neck.

@GentlyGentlyOhDear did you also have no pain/symptoms during pregnancy?

That's the part I don't understand.

If it is caused by stress - how can I make the pain stop? It's constantly there. I'm throwing everything at trying to relax/distract.

I suffer with chronic pain and I'm sure it's stress . I have never had any mental health issues despite numerous bad things happening and I'm convinced it manifests itself in pain for me ..

Where is it exactly? Is your voice changed? Can swallow easily? Does any of that change if you are stressed?

No globus sensation, no trouble talking/swallowing. Just constant pain in the front of neck. So so strange. She won't re-refer me for an ultrasound based on the fact i didn't have it for a year during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

I guess I'm anxious she's wrong but understand her reason. I just want to get out of pain.

I believe so yes. I’m not a scientist though.

Yes it can, when I escaped from an abusive relationship I had chronic pelvic pain to the point where doc was going to put me on to 2week pathway…but she also thought it was stress so having confirmed it wasn’t anything scary I ignored it, and as life got more bearable day by day it disappeared. Would you consider hypnosis to retain your thinking?

I'd recommend the book The Body Keeps The Score for some really interesting insights into how trauma changes the body.

Retrain your thinking not retain it, you want rid of it!!

Okay I can't advise then. Stress is often held in the larynx, but usually you would have some of the other symptoms too. You could try manipulating the larynx/ voice box gently (from the outside!) Does it move freely,or is it clicking or resistant? Does that change the pain? Probably not as you don't have the other symptoms.

Have bloods and ultrasound, push for it, it could be the hormones released during pregnancy and bf interacted in some way. Thyroid issues a possibility.

@antipodeancanary that's interesting what you've said.

I don't know if it's relevant, but for the past few years very occasionally (once every couple of months) when I yawn something clicks in my throat and I can't swallow without excruciating pain. I've learnt to remain perfectly still and relax and I kind of feel a click after two mins, then I can swallow freely again. Haven't it in ages. Could that be my larynx?

Ps. I mentioned this to GP ages ago and she looked at me like I was crazy and didn't seem fussed so I never raised it again.

Stress definitely can cause pain. I have a feeling like a hair stuck in my throat. It's been gone for 6 months, but due to having palpataions that have now been checked by gp, I have this back again!!
What I found helped was to just say oh there's that hair again, then move on. Don't give anymore thoughts to it. It's really really hard but it helps. If I drink alcohol I totally relax and can't feel it anymore. Obviously I dont do this all the time, but that proved to me it couldn't be serious or I'd feel it all the time.

@Starlight229 I'll try that! I haven't touched a drop since this started.

So when you started having palpitations it went? Then came back once the palpitations stopped? Is that right? Gosh. Sounds very like me.

Yes download the curable app it's neuroplastic pain. Somatic tracking and relaxation techniques helped my back. And I used to be on 8 coedine a day