Chronic Pain Patient Experience - Gloria’s Story About Chronic Nerve Pain in the Face

Do you suffer from chronic pain that feels like a burning fire under your skin? Is it so bad that it sometimes feels like a thousand hot needles stabbing you in the face? You are not alone. My pain feels like… (www.mypainfeels...) is collecting a variety of chronic pain patient stories. For example the one of Gloria, a pain patient who is experiencing Chronic Nerve Pain in the Face and who shares her pain story with us. For a while, Gloria thought that she was the only one who suffered from this specific pain in her face. She had problems in describing accurately how the pain felt. One day, Gloria described her pain as a burning fire under her skin. What Gloria didn’t know at the time was that her perceived as unique pain was actually shared by other patients who had a similar diagnosis - Chronic Nerve Pain in the Face.
Pain patients often feel alone in their pain. They may have difficulties in finding the right terms to explain their pain in order to help a doctor to make an early and correct diagnosis. Many pain patients are also misdiagnosed because of lack of communication. My pain feels like… wants to help with the communication and loneliness that pain patients often feel. By raising awareness among patients and helping to find the right words, more patients might feel empowered to play an active part in receiving the right diagnosis and treatment for their pain.
For more information, visit www.mypainfeels... and take the ‘my pain questionnaire’ to prepare your next doctors appointment.
Gloria's story:
My pain started a few years ago - first it was moderate, but then it became more and more severe. Here on the left side of my face: my eye, above my eye and down to my cheek - and then my nose. It was like a burning fire under my skin and thousands of red-hot needles stabbing my face. The pain was so bad I had no idea what to do about it. I went from doctor to doctor, but none of them could help me. Nobody could say what was wrong. I tried everything - even making warm and cold compresses - but nothing worked. The pain I experience is so terrible that I’m unable to do anything. I’m tired and exhausted from it all the time. But my family needs me. We sometimes want to do things together, and my grandchildren need their grandma, but I’m simply not up to it. I feel so exhausted from the pain.
My youngest daughter was so kind and wanted to help me so much, but how? One day she found a questionnaire on the Internet and we completed it together. I took it with me when I saw the doctor and we discussed it together. We had a very useful conversation, and for the first time I felt that someone really understood what I’m going through. Now I think that things are getting better!