Chronic Pain & Bipolar

I've had chronic pain for a long time: neck, back, hands, asthma/lungs

The pain increases when stressed. But when I'm hypomanic, I don't notice the pain as much.

Anyone have this too?

I have Bipolar 2 and have Scoliosis. So yes I have this. My doctors gave me meds for it.

I have Fibromyalgia which flares up fairly often and causes great pain all over my body. It definitely increases with stress and almost disappears when hypomanic, both of which I have read are common. I am sorry to hear you have chronic pain. It can be hell.

I have Fibro pain 24/7 regardless of my mood, it's all the same.

I don't seem to notice mine as much when I'm hypo. I have been thinking about this for a while, and I feel like it's a loop: stress makes my pain worse, which makes my BP worse, which makes me physically feel worse, then I'm anxious, then my pain gets worse....

It's almost so I can't function some days.

It sounds like the pain associated with bipolar depression. when is it maximum? Also, does stretching your muscles help decrease it?

The thing is, I don't have the depressions. We're still trying to figure out how it is I get clearly hypomanic but not have the depressions. (Note: my Dad has clear cut both depressions and hypomania - he is about double my age and never treated). I do feel situational depression but I always throw myself into activities to forget whatever is bothering me. And I'm not suicidal which I have my cats to thank.

Anxiety, sitting for long periods in a bad chair, and heavy lifting really flare my back up. That and not walking or doing my physical therapy exercises for a couple days is the worst. Stretching really does help tremendously!!