Strange Pain even when I'm not cutting? What?

[LetsKillTonight]

So sometime last year I got really depressed... I broke up with my boyfriend and wasn't getting the best grades in school... Some friends of mine sort of betrayed me and my parents were fighting... There were a lot of other reasons that I don't really feel like sharing, but you get the point.

Shortly after a very bad fight with my mother I started cutting. Just a few small ones on my hips so no one would see. I remember it feeling really good, sort of a release almost.

Eventually the small cuts wouldn't help anymore, they weren't enough so I started cutting larger areas that were more risky. I started cutting my wrists but I was careful not to let anyone see. I would wear long sleeves and lots of bracelets. One of my friends noticed and she confronted me about it.

Anyway, long story short she convinced me to stop... I was at a happier point in my life then so it wasn't so hard... I went a few months without harming myself then had a relapse....

Shortly after the relapse I decided to stop again I was clean ever since. But one thing that sort of freaks me out is whenever I'm feeling down or really tired my wrists will ache where the scars are. Like literally ache sort of like a muscle cramp but on the skin. Its super weird. I was just wondering, does anyone else who has stopped cutting have these strange pains too? Is it all in my head? Is it maybe some sort of nerve dammage that I caused? I don't remember having this feeling before my last relapse, but rather, ever since then, why?

[Noirtier]

Hm... Judging from what you said, it could be some sort of "phantom pain" effect going on, in which case it would technically be in your head, but not because of anything you have been doing. It could be your mind having gotten used to the release of cutting is still taking a while to adjust back. I don't think it's nerve damage, that would feel a bit different and would be in a different place than on your skin. In all honesty, I don't think it's anything serious, probably just a phantom pain of some sort, but if it persists for an extended period of time or if the pain becomes unbearable or intense, then I would see a doctor about it and tell him what's going on. If it's just a slight sensation though, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Perfectly Flawed]

It happens to me a bit still too. I don't think it's anything serious.

[LizzardRAAWR]

I have that. I get it all over my arms where the worst scars are. I was wondering the same thing, I'm trying to forget the pain.

[ackmedsgirl666]

the pain is an indicator
either to trigger you or remind you of those previously dark times
id settle with it being a reminder that when your feeling down to think before hurting yourself again and adding more suffering to your body
it happens to me when i get depressed.

[Boss...]

I have never had anything like that happen to me, but when I had got the urge I would find something to occupy me. But, I think this could just be your body have a type of "withdraw". Your body has ways of tring to get you to get those feeling back, and it could just be that. All I say to do is just ignore as much as possible, and maybe try and keep yourself busy.

[LoveMe_HateMe]

I get it all the time, even in places I've only cut once or twice. I wouldn't worry about it :)

I think that it's a psychological thing that you've used cutting in the past and your body has got used to the pain to deal with things, so your subconscious is re-creating the pain to deal with whatever situation you are dealing with... that's my theory anyway :)