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A thread on pain and testosterone that I've been wanting to write since the middle of the night
From 1993 to 2020, I've had pain
Chronic pain
Some days are worse than others, but pain is around most days
Chronic pain
Some days are worse than others, but pain is around most days
I started a micro dose of testosterone in January 2020
Things didn't change a ton on the pain front for a few months but, when they did, it was wild
Things didn't change a ton on the pain front for a few months but, when they did, it was wild
Soon, I noticed shifts in how my body processed temperature changes - something it actually refused to do much of before - and pain itself
For the most part, my chronic pain became something relatively easy to ignore (even further than good coping skills could give me)
For the most part, my chronic pain became something relatively easy to ignore (even further than good coping skills could give me)
Despite being far less active than I was a year ago, my body is still in good enough shape that pain is not bothering me anywhere near as much as before
Sure, other factors contributed, but testosterone is the main change here
Sure, other factors contributed, but testosterone is the main change here
This isn't just anecdotal, but something proven in research, too
Low T levels in people of any gender can be a cause or mitigating factor in pain https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/hormone-therapy/testosterone-replacement-essential-pain-management
Low T levels in people of any gender can be a cause or mitigating factor in pain https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/hormone-therapy/testosterone-replacement-essential-pain-management
Low dose T may be helpful for fibro patients https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567576915002490
We also know that testosterone for trans folks increases gender euphoria which can lower pain, too, and it would be irresponsible for me to discount that this is something I've been experiencing
I don't always loathe my body with a firey passion which, uh, is nice
I don't always loathe my body with a firey passion which, uh, is nice
I'm also hypermobile and definitely benefit from testosterone in that regard https://www.hypermobility.org/hormones-and-hypermobility
One thing that cis people really need to take into consideration is that hormones like testosterone can be used at relatively low doses to treat all sorts of conditions - including pain
But y'all gotta get over this trans fear
But y'all gotta get over this trans fear
Before realizing I was trans the idea of being on hormones was terrifying
If I had any idea how much my pain levels would have changed, though? After over 20 years in daily pain?
I'd absolutely have jumped on the testosterone wagon
If I had any idea how much my pain levels would have changed, though? After over 20 years in daily pain?
I'd absolutely have jumped on the testosterone wagon
There are side effects and conditions that would rule out testosterone use, such as heart disease, etc
This obviously isn't something for everyone
This obviously isn't something for everyone
There are things ways to administer testosterone that cause less overall effects, such as localized gels, instead of going with subQ or IM injections
Learning this info was something that helped me finally decide to hop on testosterone after both coming out and being diagnosed with hypermobility
I'm not a doctor, but I want to make sure that other people have this information
I'm not a doctor, but I want to make sure that other people have this information
(This thread was more targeted towards AFAB - assigned female at birth - people.
Also, Testosterone is far from the only thing that can cause gender euphoria, but I was speaking there about my personal experience and not in general.)
Also, Testosterone is far from the only thing that can cause gender euphoria, but I was speaking there about my personal experience and not in general.)
