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[cold_dry_pieces]

Pain is something I inflict, something I don't often experience. It doesn't matter so much, whether they suffer, just that they bleed the right way.

A number of people have discussed the basic function of pain, as (to oversimplify the matter) a reaction to unpleasant stimuli. I figured maybe I could save some repetition by talking about a different take on the topic.

Though of course a certain amount of discomfort is to be expected in my line of work-- manufacturing and fitting prosthetics-- due to the inherent difficulties of replacing a lost limb with artificial materials. Chafing, pinching; obvious physical sensations with obvious physical causes. But I hear a lot of reports of something a little stranger, too.

It's not the most well-known or well-understood phenomenon, but reports of phantom limb sensations and pains have been documented for hundreds of years. Any number of patients I've treated, usually soon after their amputations, have complained of being able to feel the part they've lost; invisible, intangible, but somehow not insensate. The cause is not entirely clear; it's not merely a matter of damaged nerves at the site of the amputation, though that plays a part. It's a deeper problem. Some part of our brain can't quite fathom the loss; it imagines the piece is still there, the puzzle intact. The ghosts stay with you. And because it isn't there, it's not a simple matter of waiting for the injury to heal.


|[ooc; lifted and adapted from wikipedia, because i am not my character :X if I got something wrong please attribute it to out of character error rather than in-character, and feel free to contact me to let me know but uh. he ought to know what he's talking about. ^^;; i did my best to make it correct and coherent. /disclaimerrr ALSO pardon slow tags since notifs are dead ><]|

Comments

[cold_dry_pieces]

It's a good point. Pain can certainly be created or augmented by the mind... Though interestingly we're also nearly incapable of remembering it accurately.

In this case, the going theory is that the brain carries a pattern of the body, and when you amputate a limb that pattern doesn't know how to react to the absence of sensory data.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

We can't remember it? ...I guess I've never tried to remember pain before.

So the brain just fills in the blanks and says there's a limb where there isn't?

[cold_dry_pieces]

It's a survival of the species thing. If we could really, vividly remember physical pain, no one would ever have a second child. Or so they say.

Loosely, that's the idea. Or at least part of it. Sometimes you can alleviate the pain by tricking the brain with mirrors to think there's still another hand, so it can unclench the muscles. It's fascinating, really.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

You really know a lot about this stuff. Did you do more than make and attach fake limbs? Like, did you work with people to help them get used to their situations and cope with any phantom pains?

[cold_dry_pieces]

Well, I do a little basic PT with my patients, mostly helping them learn how to work the limb-- that way I've got a better idea of what adjustments might need to be made, and they have the benefit of someone who knows the piece inside and out showing them how to use it. Pain management is a little outside my area, but I can recommend them to specialists. I try to do a little counseling, too-- I'm not trained for it or anything, but I'm a good listener and half the time that's what they really need, you know?

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

It is... someone who can listen and knows what's going on. Sounds like you've helped a lot of people through something really tough.

[cold_dry_pieces]

I do my best. I'd like to think I make a difference, helping them find the pieces they've lost.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

That's really nice--I like that. Finding pieces they lost.

Essays aside, how's it going with you, Rudy? The curses've been pretty mellow this month, I think.

[cold_dry_pieces]

I like it, too.

I've been getting by. Curses have been strange, but you're right-- pretty mild, especially compared to the past few months. How's by you? Still tending all the sheep?

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

I'm so, so glad that we haven't had anything as bad as the sheep since then. ...Oh, the--no, not so much. Freckles and I found a nice place in the gardens for them. The zoo was kind of full.

[cold_dry_pieces]

Well, as long as they have room to graze I'm sure they're happy.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

They have plenty of room, and Freckles and I plan on checking up on them sometimes. So now we're down to two dogs, a guinea pig, a rabbit, and a duck. Not bad at all.

[cold_dry_pieces]

Still a bit of a zoo. But you're right, not bad. The dogs don't try to eat the duck, though?

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

Neither one seems to care about Doris. Tiger's known her since he was a pup, though, and John's just... different. I don't know. He's not the duck-eating type.

[cold_dry_pieces]

I didn't realize that was a type.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

Okay, maybe not. But what's important is that he's not eating anyone.

[cold_dry_pieces]

Hey, if it's working out who am I to judge.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

You should come over and visit sometime, Rudy. It's not as zoo-like as you'd think, and I bet you and John would get along really well.

[cold_dry_pieces]

All right. Though, don't be too sure of it-- dogs don't tend to like me, for some reason.

[horrible-penny.livejournal.com]

Maybe you just haven't met the right dogs.