by Terri Lechnyr,Ph.D.,L.C.S.W.
“Just as my pain belongs in a unique way only to me,so I am utterly alone with it. I cannot share it. I have no doubt about the reality of the pain experience,but I cannot tell anybody about that experience. I surmise that others have their own pain experience,even though I cannot perceive what they mean when they tell me about it. I am certain about the existence of their pain only in the sense that I am certain of my compassion for them. And yet,the deeper my compassion,the deeper is my certitude about the person’s utter loneliness in relation to his experience.” (Illich,1976).
Physical pain and other health care symptoms change self-image and life goals. Having sleep issues,memory loss,fatigue and unknown physical sensations are distressing. Pain and sleep disorders are not understood or accepted by many individuals,and the person can be judged harshly. Many report feeling angry that their health hinders them from the things they love to do. Many people I see talk about how they used to ski,hike,bike or just enjoy the energy of being alive,but now they wake up with fatigue,pain and have to consider how each activity will affect their health. Life has changed. Since physical health problems,like pain and fatigue,tend to ebb and flow,family members and friends sometimes struggle with understanding how their loved one can be so impaired one day and able to do things the next day. All of this becomes the mystery of living in a “strange and new” world. Understanding how chronic health issues impact day to day life will better help one cope and manage.
If you are reading this page…. you have probably been on a very long journey. Many of my patients have been through multiple surgeries,are on a number of medications,have seen numerous providers,have had extensive diagnostic testing,and have been told that they have to live with the pain. This is so hard since we live in a world that feeds on “instant gratification” and always on the search for the “latest cure.”We can’t believe that health care providers are not able to “figure out”how to fix our health concerns. Medical science has come a long way in understanding how the body and brain processes pain and other symptoms, but there are still many conditions that we do not have cures for yet;Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome;Auto-Immune Disorders;Lyme Disease;Myofascial Disorder;Migraines;RSD/Complex Regional Pain Disorder;Sleep Disorders,and more. But there is hope! Exciting new research called Neuroplasticity has mapped out with the help of fMRIs where pain is processed in the brain,the “pain matrix.” With these new findings,there are specific things one can do to help alleviate the suffering of living with chronic pain. It will be important that every chronic pain patient understand how to predict,prevent,and alleviate the pain experience with brain based activities.
In addition,being in pain and/or experiencing fatigue can be very stressful and lonely, and understanding and treating the anxiety or depression that chronic health problems create are important. You are not alone,and there is hope! Psychologists can help teach skills to manage physical and emotional symptoms. When one has an injury or health concern,it is conventional wisdom that,with time,everything will return to normal. While this is usually the case,the person with a chronic condition starts to find that the hopes of being “normal” may never return. As with all grief and loss reactions,we all go through stages identified by Kubler-Ross:1. Denial;2. Anger;3. Bargaining;4. Depression;5. Acceptance. We can help with the acceptance process and get you back to your life. We help provide support,a listening ear,and problem-solving. We will discuss the role of neuroplasticity and the role of your brain with chronic pain. We are an important piece of the puzzle with managing your health care concerns. Therapy can also go above and beyond learning pain and sleep management skills and can include traditional talk therapy,if you desire. Your first appointment will clarify your wants,needs,desires and goals.
Terri Lechnyr,Ph.D.,L.C.S.W.,is a Licensed Psychologist with a clinical expertise in treating complex health care patients with co-morbid mental health symptoms. Emphasis on individual out-patient comprehensive evaluations,cognitive behavioral therapy,relaxation techniques,biofeedback,and coordination of care. Special emphasis given to the new research on neuroplasticity in the role of chronic pain and ways patients can implement self-care strategies to alter the pain experience to alleviate suffering. I am the President of the Lane County Psychologists’Association 2011-2012. My practice is located at 1000 Willagillespie Rd. #325,Eugene,OR 97404. 541-344- CALM (2256). Read more about me on the “Providers”page. For new patients,please email terri@drterrilechnyr.com or call our office for a new patient packet. Thank you!