2021 August 21, 11:37 – 19:24 by Teresa Jade LeYung
Dear Reader,
Three people I care about inspired me to blog about this topic. Do you get pain flare-ups? Your hands, knees, or your back?
Years ago, I injured my right hand - awful pain – radiating from thumb to wrist. Ten months of hand therapy helped reduce pain level – first, from 9 to 7, sometimes to 5, then, pain would climb back to a 7, sometimes down to 3. There the pain stayed. Pain that doesn’t go away completely saps energy. Even mild persistent pain robs other brain functions.
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I was at SFO about to board AirFrance with my pals when I decided to get euros right there at the airport. Mistake! Costly mistake! The part of my brain (for planning and decision making) was too busy sending pain signals. I lost about $100 value because I had forgotten that I would get a much better exchange at ATMs in banks at the destination point.
The morning after we arrived (and I told myself that Parisians would approve the color of my wrist brace – chic black), the pain continued to throb, even while I was eating my first heavenly croissant.
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When I returned to California and went to see my mentor author Lynn Scott … and she saw my brace …. she gave me the name of the Feldenkrais practitioner who had helped her.
Wellness was mine again after two sessions with Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist; she taught me Feldenkrais techniques that would change my life.
What I do when I experience a flare-up and my right hand hurts:
- sit or lie down
- rest my weak hand on my other arm or on my thigh
- then move the other arm or my thigh (slowly) up and down (giving my weak hand “a ride”) – my strong body part is “carrying” the weak hand, telling the weak hand: “I’m here to help you. You CAN move, effortlessly. You ARE moving effortlessly.”)
- also, I could speak out loud or think the words: “No need for pain signals. I am fine. My hand is fine.”
This works every time! Body and Brain need the conversation.
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This blog post is NOT about emergency situations or acute pain.
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After practicing neuroplasticity these past 12 months and remembering that “Pain is our most sophisticated protective device,” says Professor Lorimer Moseley, and, my knowing how to use Feldenkrais techniques… I fully understand why my brain and my body must communicate with each other for optimal benefits.
While a hand therapist (such caring folks they are) uses her/his hands and equipment to talk to my hand… providing brief relief…. my brain would not be convinced that I don’t need pain signals to stop me from re-injuring myself. However, my own body part and my own brain talking to each other is much more convincing, much more effective. Body-Brain communication is immediate. I don’t have to schedule an appointment or wait for insurance approval while suffering chronic / persistent / recurring pain in the meantime.
What I do when I experience out-of-the-blue pain in my knee:
- If I’m already sitting, I remain seated; If I’m out walking and there’s no place to sit down, I remain standing
- I put one or both hands (not straining my wrists) on my knee, applying firm but gentle pressure, using my hand(s) to talk to my knee. Also, I could speak out loud or think the words: “No need for pain signals. I am fine. My knee is fine.”
This works every time! Body and Brain need the conversation.
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You might want to watch Brain/Pain scientist / physiotherapist Professor Lorimer Moseley who delivers fascinating facts about pain with humor -
“TEDxAdelaide – Lorimer Moseley – Why Things Hurt” https://youtu.be/gwd-wLdIHjs 14 minutes, 32 seconds
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Curious about Moshe Feldenkrais and the miraculous techniques?
In the book The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge, M.D
Chapter 5 Moshe Feldenkrais: Physicist, Black Belt, and Healer
Healing Serious Brain Problems Through Mental Awareness of Movement
Chapter 6 A Blind Man Learns to See
Using Feldenkrais, Buddhist, and Other Neuroplastic Methods
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This blog post is NOT about emergency situations or acute pain.
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Learn about what is happening in the brain during acute pain and persistent pain – visit Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s website http://neuroplastix.com Look at the graphics.
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Thank you for reading my blog post “Flare-ups of Pain in Body Parts? Feldenkrais Lets Weak Body Part Listen to Strong Body Part,” says Teresa Jade LeYung
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For my post “Retraining Beautiful Brain By Rewriting My Personal Truths With Wordplay,” says Teresa Jade LeYung
For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity in my blog https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog … If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.
I wish you and your Beautiful Brain safety, kindness, excellent health.
Sincerely,
photo of Teresa Jade LeYung by Mary E. Knippel
