Pain comes in two phases...
The first phase is mediated by the fast-conducting Aδ fibers and the second part due to (Polymodal) C fibers. The pain associated with the Aδ fibers can be associated to an initial extremely sharp pain. The second phase is a more prolonged and slightly less intense feeling of pain as a result of the damage. If there is massive or prolonged input to a C fiber, there is a progressive build up in the spinal cord dorsal horn; this phenomenon is similar to tetanus in muscles but is called wind-up. If wind-up occurs there is a probability of increased sensitivity to pain. [1]
In mammals, nociceptors are sensory neurons that are found in any area of the body that can sense pain either externally or internally.A nociceptor is a sensory neuron (nerve cell) that responds to potentially damaging stimuli by sending nerve signals to the spinal cord and brain. This process, called nociception, usually causes the perception of pain. Nociceptors, respond only to noxious, high intensity stimuli. At the peripheral end of the nociceptor, noxious stimuli are transduced into currents that, above a given threshold, begin to generate action potentials that travel along the nerve fiber to the spinal cord. The "specificity" (whether it responds to thermal, chemical or mechanical features of its environment) of a nociceptor is determined by which ion channels it expresses at its peripheral end. Dozens of nociceptor transient receptor potential, acid sensing, potassium and ligand-gated ion channels have so far been identified, and their exact functions are still being determined. [2]
At first, you deny it. The act of denial makes you more conscious because if you're asked to think about an orange apple you wouldn't think of a red orange..or would you? Then comes that sinking feeling. We've all felt it. It's not debilitating but it's there. The sky is not so blue anymore, the sunshine not bright enough. But you move on, life goes on. Shit happens. That's what you say to yourself while you spin the cocoon which will keep you from harm, keep you safe. You hope it does. Life does go on....work...commitments....but wait..what's that nagging sensation? "Maybe I should get some coffee". It's still there, it's aching. Then comes anger. Why me? How could they?.What did I do to deserve this? "STOP" that's what you say to yourself and pretend to move on. Well, pretending doesn't quite work when you know you're pretending. The unpleasantness wouldn't go away. Maybe it's time for some medication, gotta stay up and going.
No matter what it takes.
Time flows by. You want it to. It does. And suddenly, without any warning, it descends, crashing upon you. You can't think, it doesn't make sense, why bother? You can't breathe, no amount of air is enough to puff it away. The cocoon has been breached and here it comes. The flood. Unstoppable, undeniable, ravaging you, drowning you. No. Help wouldn't help. You don't want to be helped. You don't care. Let it happen. And it happens. The butterfly enclosed within the cocoon wants to fly. Spread it's wings. And you let it. You can't cry, tears aren't enough. You can't scream and shout, they're not loud enough. You don't wanna talk about it. What would they know? Nothing. Only you know pain. Loss. Suffering. You are the God of your reality, and only you know You don't wanna listen. What can they say that you already not know? And there it is, the beatiful red butterfly, fluttering about under the sky so blue, the sunshine so bright.
Pain comes in two phases...
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