February 2, 2015 Day 4 of PRC

"An 8 lane super highway!" Today one of the nurses put nerve amplification/central sensitization syndrome into perspective for us. He said that the brain path for our nerves is typically "a two lane dirt road" but with nerve amplification its like "an eight lane super highway". I thought that was a wonderful way to look at this. Kids with a brain that is constantly sending signals of pain are in overdrive!

This is why the program approaches dealing with the pain like the navy seals do- with 4 easy steps! Isn't that what every navy seal says about their training- it's four easy steps!?!

1- goal setting: living a life with pain or as pain               free as possible/completing a mission without injury

2- mental rehearsal: visualize going to school and sitting through class without pain/visualize rescuing a hostage

3- self talk: remember the little engine that could? Whether you are a navy seal or a child in pain, all you have to do is say "I think I can, I think I can!"

4- control: deep breathing when your brain starts to send pain signals- again same technique for both

Great techniques, but we just have to remember to put them into action and at this point, Payton's brain isn't sure it's on board. She is trying to put all these new skills into action and then doing them in moderation. Instead of planning a life without pain, plan for an hour without pain.

She has accomplished an hour- now we need to work on longer periods of time! She will be ready for seal training before you know it!