What would your reaction be if you found out that you'd be in excruciating pain for the rest of your life?

Question

This is a rather common scenario, so I'm curious if a persons beliefs have any real affect on their long term outlook. Many problems, especially spinal injuries, can leave a person with incredible pain that can only be relieved surgically, or through use of high doses of narcotics. This is an opinion only type question, since nobody knows untill they are in the situation.
Your options are as follows: 1 Take narcotic pain killers the rest of your life. 2 Attempt to live with the pain without meds. 3 Accept surgery that will stop the pain, but will also cripple you. What do you do? How does your beliefs, or lack thereof, affect your decision?

GegeMike: I'm very sorry to hear such horrible news. As a surgical professional, I wish I had some good news for you, but all I can do is give some friendly advice. Try to keep her as comfortable as possible, and do not put any more stress on her, even if you or your pastor think its "for her own good". If it hasn't happened already, you can expect extreme mood swings, and angry outbursts when she is lucid. My heart goes out to her and her entire family.

MateyDiane: I know the feeling. I have a running joke with the ortho-surgeon: when he asks how I'm feeling I tell him that what doesn't hurt doesn't work anyway, and right now everything hurts so I'm doing great! I really expected a lot of bs answers, and have been pleasantly surprised. Being a cardiovascular patient, with advanced degenerative disk disease I know what intractable pain is. With proper treatment, exercise, and the proper motivation life is good. Your comment about the broken heel made me think of kidney stones of all things. I can't really tell the difference between kidney pain and spinal pain anymore, so I have to wonder if the muscle relaxers and pain killers will help, or if I'm in for a nasty bathroom surprise. lol
I wish there was something I could do to make your life more pleasant, but in all honesty it sounds like your already doing all that I would advise and in your own way. *bows*

Answer 1

I would simply ask the dr. what other disease are you talking about I already have Lupus...


Right now I am on a drug treatment regiment, I also use meditation( deep concentration and relaxation) which helps me deal with the occassional really bad flare ups...... On a scale of 1-10 my pain hovers around a 2 so completely managable (I feel it more when I am tired or stressed so I avoid those situations)


I walked around on a broken heel for almost 3 weeks before realizing the pain wasn't from the Lupus.. If I hadn't had a routine check up and mentioned " I am having quite a bit of pain in my right heel".. (My Dr. took cautionary X-rays and found the break..) I might still be walking around on a broken heel.


My belief that there are no deities doesn't effect my decision at all.. Pain can be managed using drug treatment and other regiments.. The human mind is a pretty powerful tool I simply use mine to help control the pain so I can take fewer drugs.. ..

Answer 2

Dont end up a (road) drug addict simply when you consider that existence dealt you a shitty hand, you dont desire your family to recollect you because the terminally sick heroin addict proper?!?! Im sorry approximately your state, and I cant even assume the ache, desperation and fraustration you need to think. You must uncover a ache professional (therpist) to your field, and provide an explanation for to him that the ache isn't tolerable they usually must both up your doses or get off their asses and uncover you some thing so that you can a minimum of take the brink off, be their ginea pig if thats what it will take. But definatly check out smoking a few weed, its valued at a check out. Whatever you do, keep precise to your self and be powerful approximately it!!! I desire you not anything however the pleasant success and i am hoping you are making the proper alternative right here.

Answer 3

I spent one night next to someone dying, or rather not dying, with uncontrollable pain
He spent the whole time whimpering "help me, help me..."

(I was in the next bed in the high dependency unit, on oxygen with penicillin-resistant pneumonia, so not in the best shape myself)

He was on all the painkillers that would not kill him.
In that position I would want to say "enough", and expect to be efficiently put out of my pain. Anything else is just cruelty.
You wouldn't let a dog die like that.

In the lesser situations you postulate, I'd look for the best balance between pain relief and functionality that left a life still worth living. And consider *all* possibilities, including becoming a complete junkie, before crying "enough". But
I don't assume that life is worth living just because it exists.

Answer 4

First I would choose option 1. Take narcotics until I can't feel a thing. If that doesn't work, I would then choose option 4. Kill myself in a fantastic fashion. (ie. parachuting accident, or jumping into the gears of a combine)

Answer 5

My sister in law is experiencing this very thing..it was sudden and without warning,and she is in pain every minute,she is on heavy sedation in the hosp,they said she has guillard/barre disease,,she is no longer able to walk and feels on fire all the time,and shes only 49yr old,maybe she'll turn to God now,i don't know,but she hates Christians.Any believer reading this plz pray for her,Thx

Answer 6

Better living through chemistry.

Answer 7

Find a different doctor.

Answer 8

I'd go to an Acupuncturist!

Answer 9

awww crap.