She seemingly has it all: countless number-one hits, six Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, multiple million-dollar properties and a friendship circle made up of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
But throughout her rise to fame, singer Lady Gaga has been struggling with chronic pain, a sometimes-debilitating condition she had never before spoken of until this week.
In a candid Instagram snap, the Poker Face hitmaker revealed her battle for the first time beside a picture of her receiving treatment on her shoulder.
“Having a frustrating day with chronic pain, but I find myself feeling so blessed to have such strong intelligent female doctors,” she wrote.
Gaga’s post clearly resonated with many of her fans, who have since left around 192,000 likes and thousands of comments sharing messages of support and empathy.
“I know how it feels. 16 years now. I admire your perseverance. Thank you for being strong,” wrote one fan, while another shared: “So grateful you shared this openly. From a fellow sufferer. You are not alone.”
These messages of positivity admittedly left the star “overwhelmed by the empathy, confessions & personal stories of chronic pain in response”.
What is chronic pain?
Many who suffer can often feel frustrated due to a lack of diagnosis, as it can be difficult for doctors to pin point the cause of the pain.
This is due to the complexity of chronic pain, which involves the nerves and nervous systems, including the central nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord.
‘Chronic pain occurs because of changes to the nerves or nervous system which keeps the nerves firing and signaling pain. However, there are likely to be other precipitating factors with chronic pain including genetics, gender and previous episodes of acute pain,’ reads the APMA site.
What are the symptoms of chronic pain?
Those who suffer from chronic pain may experience:
Mild to severe pain that doesn’t go away
Shooting, burning or aching pain
Feelings of discomfort, soreness, tightness or stiffness
These symptoms are often in conjunction with fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety, stress, depression and irritability.
How do you treat chronic pain?
A range of oral and topical medications, as well as invasive and non-invasive treatments are available to treat chronic pain. As the disease can be so broad, it is always recommended that you to see your trusted doctor to find the right method for you.
Other chronic pain sufferers swear by the treatments of exercising, acupuncture, or relaxation methods such as meditation or yoga, or in Lady Gaga’s case, a mixture of infared sauna sessions and cold baths.
It’s about what works for you, so if you suffer from chronic pain, book in with your healthcare professional today.
This story originally appeared on Woman’s Day Australia
