Problems with motivation & chronic pain

I have had just a heck of a time with motivation since I started getting sick a couple years ago and it only got worse as the pain persisted and got worse. I still have a hard time even now being on around the clock pain control. I found this article that talks about this problem.

Didn't know if anyone else had seen this, but it is interesting to me and maybe will spark some discussion about the issue.

med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2014/07/study-reveals-brain-mechanism-behind-chronic-pains-sapping-of-mo.html

MarkH,
That was one of the best articles I've read all year. I've been wondering where my mojo went and now I know, it's a lack of galanin hitting the nucleus accumbens. That is the gist of this article, that there is a permanent brain alteration in CPs that saps them of their will to get up and be active. Chronic fatigue was listed as one of the side effects of my cancer therapy along with Chronic pain, now I know a bit more about the mechanism between the two. I still don't feel like taking on the world but at least I know why . . . Q

I'm not sure if I buy it. (please don't hate me! ;))

Mice aren't people. I think as people we have access to resources that mice don't. We can do things to help "exercise" our reward centers like hobbies, spending time with other people, working out (to whatever extent we are able), engaging in meaningful/spiritual activities, helping the needy, etc. I've been in that dark place where I don't want to do much of anything & it takes every ounce of energy I have just to hobble over to wash up in the tub. But I've also had a whole lot of days where my pain level has been at an 8-9 but I am happy and eager to get to work on solving some kind of problem. No, I cannot go out & run a marathon, but I don't usually have difficulty spending long amounts of time in non-physical activities (fighting with insurance, helping people over the phone, making quilts by hand, etc). And on my low-pain-days I really get a LOT done -- sometimes to the point of overdoing.

Yes, pain & depression CAN run on the same circuits. In fact, I think it's pretty likely that initially the do. But I've seen too many people with horrible pain (even cancer pain) that accomplish amazing things all the time. What I find far more discouraging than chronic pain is the obnoxious pity or despise that so many grown people display toward those of us with disabilities. Little kids don't have that kind of prejudice -- which is why I love working with them. You tell a little kid "T. is fine. She's a little slower than other people, but she is smart & hardworking & takes medicine to keep herself healthy" and the little ones will believe it & treat you like a normal human being. It's spending time around too many people that say stupid things like "oh, you poor thing" or "it hurts me just to look at you" ... or they shuffle the kids to the other side of the street/hallway/room as if pain is contagious or their kids will be permanently warped by seeing someone walk with a limp ... that wears me out FAR more than pain ever could. When I am instead surrounded by people who are happy to help on the rare occasion I ask for help, but otherwise don't bring up the fact that I am slow or have a hard time picking stuff up off the floor, on those days I have energy to spare.

So before I see another study come out trying to explain low motivation (and who knows whether the mice were treated differently by other mice due to their disability), I'd really like to see more educational programs put in place that celebrate diverse abilities and teach people that just because someone uses a cane/walker/wheelchair/braces doesn't mean they are less than or to be pitied or to be avoided in any way. Well, that's my 2 cents anyways.

I agree with most of what you are sayin Tirzah, especially on the pity part. I had a good friend, since passed, who was a paraplegic. I was his designated pusher whenever the terrain or circumstances called for it. We would get such looks but Bruce never seemed to care. I learned a lot from his sense of humor and patience.
I do disagree about your view of the study because, Junior Scientist that I am, I saw some good science being done there. Mice are not people but we know that. It's just the idea behind the study that intrigues me, that there might be a neural cause for this horribly pervasive lack of motivation that I've felt since about 4 years after Dx. I've done what I can to shake it but it hasn't worked so I find some comfort in the idea that I am dealing with a physiological problem, not a psychological one. It gives me hope that I can beat this malaise . . . Q

Beachbumcindylou,
You have a great idea there with your dogs! You could share that and your music therapy on our thread...Besides your meds what helps you the most.... 

The things that motivate me are the things it takes to make my family happy. Aside from that, I have no energy left for anything (oh, except a full-time job and the part-time job of being chronically ill).

CindyLou, if you search "besides your meds, what helps the most" you'll find a recent thread where many of us discussed the relaxation techniques and other methods we use to help our pain besides med.