Internal vs external pain and update on latest doc visit

This may seem like a stupid question, but does anyone know the difference between internal and external pain??? I'm going back to Doc Cutie today to have him check out the bulge on my left side ( on the advice of my gp) and I plan to let him know how bad the pain has gotten. In the past he has asked me if the pain was internal or external. I've always just kind of looked at him with a stupid look at my face and said "I HURT". Anyways, I was wondering if someone may know of an explanation of the difference so that maybe I can sound somewhat intelligent

I'm wondering if it's like this. External pain - you know when you are doing dishes and your ab brushes up agains the counter ever so gently but it really truly hurts....almost feels as if the outside is bruised, but it isn't, just ver tender?!

Internal pain....well I think we all know about this one. It's the deep ache whether it be sharp or dull that seems to be deep inside.

I know it is soooo hard to differentiate our pain(s) to the docs...when they ask "does it hurt here....how about here." Well yeah....it hurts everywhere

((((Kim)))) I wish you all the best today seeing Dr. Cutie. I hope and pray he is able to help you out with your left sided bulge. Please let us know how everything goes....

(((Kim))))) Don't you hate it when docs ask this type of question? As if we know the answer

Jude did an excellent job of describing it. As she says, I think we all know what internal pain is: it's that deep rooted pain that we feel and can't really point to when asked.

I think external pain is that pain that you can easily pin-point... like my arthritis in my wrists/ankles: I can touch it.

Thanks Dany and Judester
I was kind of figuring it had to be something like that. Sometimes when he would ask me that I would go like "eenie meanie minie mo" internal!

I'm really nervous for today's visit. I just don't know that I can take another "can't find anything, don't know what to do with you visit". I'm even hoping that my pain flares really bad this afternoon, as it usually does. Sure wish my appt was at 7pm as that's when it's the worse.

Sigh, this Road sure isn't easy.

P.S. I did a search on google for "internal pain" and the whole first page was about some stupid video game.

Kim, I don't want to know what kind of video game that was

I just wanted to wish you luck with your appointment. I know what you mean about hoping that your pain flares up, just for that visit

I think I have something I can email you on this Kim....I get asked this alot too but my doc asks if it feels "deep" or "surface" pain....that is how they tell if it's just in the muscle layer or more visceral, like in your organs I guess.....I get both.....the right end of my incision gets surface and deep pain depending on how bad it gets.

I will dig around for an explanation of this test that doc's do....the press on a area and then ask you to do a sit up and I think (I have to check this yet so I'm not sure if I"m remembering correctly or not) if it stops hurting when you do the sit up it means it is a deep pain and your muscles are protecting it when you are in the sit up...if it gets worse it means that it's in the muscle layer (like a neuroma I guess?)

now that I"ve confused everyone I will go look for that thing

best of luck at the appt please let us know how it went!!! 's

Wouldn't you know, he didn't ask me this time!

Here's the scoop, I actually got to see him before the appt! I met him in the elevator going up.

As always he spent alot of time with me and I didn't feel rushed. He went over the stuff from the Osteo doc and was really impressed. Although he did say he didn't understand why she had me on the thyroid supplement as the thyroid test results looked fine to him. I may just stop taking that.

We chatted a bit about the Osteo doc and what's going on with that. He actually did take the time to read thru ALL of it.

He felt the bulge, and oh my gosh it hurt so bad when he pressed on it. I was wincing the whole time. I thought I was going to hyperventilate. I was like "yep, that's where it hurts". Than when he was done, it took awhile for me to regain my composure. He did a pretty thorough check. He doesn't think it's a hernia, he thinks it's drum roll please......... SCAR TISSUE! Duh!

He kept talking about all the weight that I look like I've lost and he seems to think that perhaps with the weight loss that the scar tissue has become denser. He definetly could see that I was in alot of pain.

Long story short, he's going to send me for a CT Scan of the abdomen, pelvis, and something else. Some of y'all may remember last year when I had the enlarged pancreas, well he said that we definetly need to recheck that and he also said the CT Scan would show for sure if I did or didn't have a hernia and with the weight loss he wants to be sure that nothing else is going on.

So that's where I'm at, waiting on a call from his nurse to let me know when the CT Scan is. I did slip in the doctor's letter from the Adhesions.org site. He asked me for the web address and I pointed out where it was. Hopefully he will check it out.

I have to tell you ladies he was just so darn nice and he was so VERY VERY concerned about my weight loss. He did say my incision looked good and I said "that's because you did it". Than he checked out my neck and said that it looked it very good, again I said "that's because you did it".

Anyways, that's about it. Sigh. More tests, more waiting and still in alot of pain. But perhaps a tiny bit of hope again.

Gidge,
I got the info, thank you sweetie

Dany,
I really didn't check out the sites. Hmmm....maybe I'll try again and let you know

Hope is GOOD!

Glad your visit went well (you know--well for "us" gals)!

Keeping my fingers crossed that the tests come up with some real information!!

s

I'm just suddenly wondering if the thyroid supplement that you're taking , that he feels you don't need might be contributing to your weight loss?? My doc says that with my thyroid pill and the little bit I eat I should be 90lbs soaking wet and lets just say it's done nothing but go in the opposite direction......but I wonder if that's part of why you are losing weight??

Oh well sorry for the ramble....I think this appointment was really positive and at least he's ready to move forward with some tests.....it's too bad you had to develop a bulge to get it to happen but I guess we'll take our blessings where we can right???

fingers crossed and tons of prayers coming your way sweetie!!! 's & 's