#22. BLOCKING PAIN, Part VI. Riding with the wind

I do not wear a hat. If I had, I would have taken it off to salute this woman and all the other women in the group that have amazed me with their determination and love of riding. One of them told me once: “Pain is what you make out of it”. “What about the risk of riding, the risk of been unprotected on the road at the mercy of careless car drivers and the gravel on the street?” I asked. “What risk are you talking about? The risk is greater if you let life go by without excitement” she answered graciously. How true, how true for me and all the other fellow riders!

How do these women block pain when they ride? Many things work in synergy: Distraction; stoicism; great sense of control; thrill; breaking the barriers in a male dominant sport; pride for the achievement; friendship and companionship; fun; freedom to breathe, smell the hay, feel the wind on the face, hear the roar of steel and sense the rumble of the bike on the road. Far too many things that push pain SO LOW in the priority ladder of our brain.

I have attached a photo of the group in the memorable 2003 MM Mother’s day brunch. I am 5th from the right standing. For those interested in knowing more about the MMs, please see www.ecnmotormaids.ca. While I am featured in the August 2009 newsletter, please read all the other newsletters (accessed at the bottom of the homepage). You will be as amazed as I am!

Angela Mailis Gagnon, MD, MSc, FRCPC(PhysMed)
Director, Comprehensive Pain Program,
Senior Investigator, Krembil Neuroscience Centre
Toronto Western Hospital,
www.drangelamailis.com
Chair ACTION Ontario www.actionontario.ca

Keywords: pain, seniors