Hey guys, I had a question regarding pain science, and the biopsychosocial model. My wife,38, was recently diagnosed with RA, despite the only evidence being elevated ANA levels in her blood panel,furthermore her doctor now thinks she has Lupus instead. Her pain in her joints comes and goes, it’s never consistent. Ever since I have known her she has been hypervigilant, hypersensitive to any discomfort,or pain she is experiencing. She focuses on the slightest discomfort, headaches, heartburn, wrist pain, low back pain etc. and talks, and complains about it for days. I would love your advice on how to approach this subject with her? I don’t want to talk about the pyschological aspects of it as I am not well versed in this subject, and I don’t want her to think she is " making all this up " I don’t doubt her pain is real, but I just can’t help but think she catastrophizing the situation, as she is known to do that in the past. Pain has become her identity .
Thank you for your time, and care.