This post is not just for women, but it addresses a women's issue, a pain "gender gap." This will come as no surprise to most women. At any given time, approximately one in four Americans suffers chronic pain. Women, however, are at much greater risk for developing conditions involving chronic pain. Diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, strike women at least twice as often as men (in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, closer to three times as often.) Chronic fatigue syndrom affects four times more women than men. Three times more patients suffering autoimmune diseases associated with extreme pain are female. Fibromyalgia, in addition to being poorly understood, is nine times more prevalent in women.
What, besides the incidence of painful conditions, is bad news for women? Clearly, addressing pain in women would not be the same as addressing pain in men ... right? We weigh less and have smaller frames and organs than men. We have a different body fat ratio. Our hormones, besides operating differently from those of men, operate cyclicly. There are differences in the female gene expression. Why point all of this out? After all, most of it is well-established science! Simply put, it translates to side effects and the efficacy of drugs. In spite of legislation meant to include women equally with men in drug studies, too often, it does not happen. In addition there is a substantial delay between the publication of results and changes in what is prescribed for women. In some cases the side effects women experience are lethal.
A separate problem is the attitude of medical providers (yes, even women) toward female patients. A 2011 study by the Institute of Medicine found that, not only are women more likely to suffer from pain, when they report pain, their complaints are more likely to be dismissed. So, if you think you don't listen to your body, your doctor may not be listening, either. Indeed your physician and his medical staff may be biased. Here is a link to an excellent article from the "New York Times Sunday Review" by a woman who has experienced long-term, chronic pain:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/opinion/sunday/women-and-the-treatment-of-pain.html?pagewanted=all
Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself. -Walter Anderson
For those who battle chronic pain, there are meetup groups in many U.S. cities, as well as courses to take. Excellent pain management programs are available from a variety of publishers. In addition, this is an area, in which pain management methods, such as acupressure, acupuncture, massage, meditation, and Yoga, sometimes characterized as "alternative," are highly effective. A Yoga program can be tailored to specific injuries or ailments. People who suffer from osteoarthritis often find relief from alternating applications of hot and cold compresses, in addition to hydrotherapy and exercise programs, like aquatic aerobics. There are also diets to address chronic inflammatory conditions.
Sounds True is a good resource for alternative pain management publications. Some are on cd or dvd. I have found these programs very helpful. Pain has changed me, personally, in positive ways. It has also made living day-to-day infinitely more difficult. Living with and managing chronic pain is an unrelenting challenge. As the experiences of others may lead to helpful insights and referrals, I recommend finding a support group. Many U.S. cities have meetup groups, specifically for people suffering from chronic pain. Here is a link to some of these:
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