High Threshold for Pain???

[LVRebGirl]

Is there really such a thing? I'm preparing for wrist surgery within the next month or so and am trying to estimate how much time off from work I'll need to take. My doc says most people are on pain meds for 7-12 days post surgery, during which time I won't be able to work. A couple doctors in the past have said I have a high threshold for pain and so I'm taking that to mean that I can probably go with the low estimate on how long I'll need the pain medicine. My husband made fun of me when I said that, though. He thinks there's no such thing.

[Jean-Paul]

I don't know anything about the science of this, but I do know that people do have much different tolerances to pain. A clear case is watching competitors in an adventure race. We ALL get huge, raw blisters that would make most people quit. Anywhere from a third to half of the competitors half to stop because of them, but others just tune it out and keep going.

You know why women get to carry the babies? Because men couldn't handle the pain of carrying and delivering a baby. Our threshold is much easier to reach than yours.

I have seen people who were literally just more sensitive than others. Up till I was 6, I couldn't stand to have anyone comb my hair because my scalp was so sensitive.

How's that for some science for ya? Hopefully Russ or Bryan will chime in here with some real research.

[wauhawk]

IMO it's all mental. We all feel pain the same way it's just how our brain "sees" the signal being sent by the nerve. Example if you have chronic pain you may grow a tolorance or your brain may get confused and think a normal movement hurts when really it's just normal. Since we can't control how our brain sees these feelings some can stand more than others.