Being realistic about healthcare and treatment expectations
I have lived with pain most of my life. Prior to the age of 30, when I developed dystonia, it was mainly from sports injuries. Pain from dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, was a whole new world of pain I didn’t know existed. It is hard to put into words how intense it is. I felt helpless and hopeless for years. Especially when many of the treatments didn’t do much to help; at least not what I was expecting, which was often a lot more than may have been possible.
Like many health conditions, dystonia symptoms are highly variable, as are treatments. A treatment that helps one person may not help another, or help as much, and there is no cookie cutter approach, so it is very frustrating. Finding the right treatments and symptom management program can take some trial and error…and asking the right questions. Whatever your treatment of choice, it is important to know beforehand how you will evaluate its usefulness; in other words, your expectations.
When discussing a particular treatment, I often hear people ask, “does it work?” I am never quite sure what this means. “Work” in what way? Reduce specific symptoms, reduce or eliminate pain, eliminate dystonia, pain, tremors (or whatever condition) entirely? I think it would be useful if we were more specific to satisfy our personal definition of the word “work” based on our unique symptoms. It could lead to a lot less emotional suffering, because all suffering of any kind comes from expectation.
Perhaps a better question is, “how does it work?” or “how does it help?” Better yet, asking questions even more specific such as, “does it help reduce pain… or “how much does it help reduce pain”; “does it ease muscle contractions?”; “does it reduce or eliminate tremors?”; “for how long did you do it before you saw results and what were the results?”; “for how long did you benefit from the treatment or therapy?”, etc. These might be more appropriate because they more accurately address what we want to know. This may sound nitpicky, but we all have a different definition of the word “work”, so it is important to be clear, especially since all health conditions are unique to each individual.
We may experience similar symptoms, but what is most significant to us differs. Thus, our questions should pertain to the specific symptom we are most concerned about. “Does it work?” doesn’t fit the bill because it is too vague. Plus, as mentioned, what helps one person may not help someone else (or help as much), so we have to experiment to find what is best for us based on our desired outcome and what the word “work” to us means, which is different for everyone.
Please keep an open mind regarding all treatments and therapies. Just because something doesn’t do much, or anything, to help another person does not mean it won’t help you. Also understand that even if something has not been approved as a treatment for your particular condition does not mean it won’t help. There are plenty of FDA approved treatments that are ineffective for some of us, just as there are treatments not approved that are helpful, so this standard is not absolute.
This being the case, especially with all of the complex disorders people live with, every single thing that may help manage our symptoms deserves our attention. It is just so important to ask the right questions, and ask them in the context of what you, as a unique individual, are experiencing and expecting. This is especially important when speaking with our doctors. Please also keep in mind that suggestions from others based on their experience may or may not result in the same outcome for you.
When it comes to my treatments and self-care to help manage my symptoms, I do so many things that I can’t really point to any one thing that is most significant. Of the dozen or more things that I do every single day, even if something helps a small percentage I do it anyway. 5% to 10% improvement times dozen or more things I do daily is over 60% symptom reduction. I don’t get that 60% or more result every day, but at least by trying all the things I do I give myself a fighting chance.
This is what I want to share most with you because we sometimes go into something and it only helps a little when our expectations were much higher. This can be a very deflating feeling and why I encourage you to do as many things as you can no matter how little they help. If it helps, do it. It all adds up.
I believe effective symptom management must be a lifestyle that involves many things. Please check out my YouTube channel for a video called, Living Well with Dystonia, as well as my dystonia book, to see what options are available that might also help you.
Tom Seaman has lived with dystonia since 2001 and devotes his life to worldwide education and awareness for this life changing disorder. He is the author of 2 books: Diagnosis Dystonia: Navigating the Journey, and Beyond Pain and Suffering: Adapting to Adversity and Life Challenges, as well as hundreds of articles on dystonia, pain, and emotional health topics. Tom is a Certified Professional Life Coach in the area of health and wellness, working directly with people to help them manage their physical, emotional, social, and vocational challenges. He is also a motivational speaker and chronic pain and dystonia awareness advocate. Tom is also a volunteer writer for Chronic Illness Bloggers Network, The Mighty, and Patient Worthy. To learn more about Tom, get a copy of his books, or schedule a free life coaching consult, visit www.tomseamancoaching.com. Follow him on Twitter @Dystoniabook1 and Instagram.
