Are there any chronic pain sufferers out there?

Question

I have been dealing with chronic pain for almost 6 years. I have a total of 5 cervical and lumbar disk herniations. I have become depressed and am limited in what I can do. I am also more anxious then ever due to this. My quality of life has deteriorated substantially and have lost my over 15 year factory job. I was wondering if anyone else is suffering. What happened? How long have you been hurting? Has it affected your physical and mental health? What kind of coping skills have you developed? Have you lost financially? I am just curious and would love to hear if anyone has techniques to cope with life this way.

Answer 1

Yes, have endured Rheumatoid Arthritis for 30 years! However did not claim Disability until I was 34, now 49!
Likewise to add to my woe have a prolapsed disc. Thankfully they started me on the Fentanyl Pain Patch and that has really helped me, so I am surprised you are not on it?
Physical health, well I had to give up the things I loved doing: Tennis, Badminton, Squash, let alone employment, so that was a downer. However, I decided to concentrate on what I could do, walk! So I went to the local Dog Pound, told them about my health problem and explained I wanted a dog to walk. Sums up my knowledge on dogs. Four months later, they phoned, had a Labrador, would I be interested? Being a dog owner brought a new interest, especially as the dog had been 'abused' so it was fun! I kept the Vet four hours, on the discussion of the reproductive cycle of female dogs! The Vet told me in his lingo, went straight over my head, so I asked for it in Human terms! Our first walk was 1,000yards and I came back thinking this dog idea was not going to work. However I was told to keep the 1,000 yard walk up every night and the following week make it to the next lamp post. 10 years later, three miles three times per week is a stroll. Likewise I decorate and maintain my home. Was in a wheelchair March 07 to June 07, where I went to the Paint Shop, purchased five litres of white ceiling paint and an extenable roller. The sales assistant gave me a odd look, wheelchair user buying paint? However I decorated the ceiling and then the walls and then the rest of the house. This decorating is what got me out of the wheelchair, form of rehab! Yes once on Disability you loose financially, but you gain the one thing other people wish they had, TIME! You have the time to watch the sun rise, watch the grass grow, the leaves fall, the tide coming in. You have time to sit on the beach, in the park, on the street and observe others. You have time to experience the wonders of nature, while others, especially on a nice summers day, can only wish they could sit on a beach. You may never have the latest gadgets, play station, x-box, ipod, but others would exchange all that for a more simple life, which you have and they can only dream about, providing they live long enough to make retirment. I have found that what was taken away, my education, exams, qualifications, career, sport, really meant zero compared to what I have now, TIME. You cannot buy time, all we do sell time, to other people in exchange for cash! We then morn that loss of time, by buying gadgets to make us feel better. None of us know when out Time will run out, for some it comes to quickly and they never get to do what they want to do. Enjoy what time you have now, live each day as if it will be your last and do not waste a second, because Time is precious.
Good Luck

Answer 2

I was a very young healthy Athlete with a bright future in sports and I was severly Injured During a game they had to do 12 Surgerys caused many infections that almost killed me removed part of my muscle And part of bones And caused severe nerve damage and muscle spasms and many other problems Every day I wake up in Awful pain I am Know useing the fentanyl patch which has made life easier for me It reduces the pain so I can atleast get around somewhat Im In the process of getting disibilty. But I am doing Physical therrpy again Working as hard as I can to try to make it so I wont be in a wheel chair in the near future.But I stay pretty upbeat I am just thankful that god kept me around I could have easily died And Im just so thankful for what I do have And I will never Take One day of my life for granated.And I always think that there is lots of people out there who have things alot worse .Financially things got bad but thats what happends when you fall ill ; you just have to try to get back on your feet. I know how it is to hurt and be very sick but I havta be happy I dont think if i woke up depressed every day I couldnt take it .I see it as god wouldnt give anything that he new you couldnt handel.One of my coping skills is to just not talk about it nor think about it which isnt Always the best but I felt that maybe me telling my story to you could help you see that you arent alone and there are people out there who can sumwhat know what you are going thru If you want to talk More you can email me. And I hope that this helps you Im not sure what you are taking for pain But I suggest the Fentanyl patch Best of luck to you I hope things get better for you and feel free to email me

Answer 3

Hang on my child! Joy comes in the morning

Do you have fibromyalgia? Have you been diagnosed? Ever seen a Chronic Pain specialist for your pain? Ask your regular Dr for a referral. They can give your trigger point shots. These are shots filled with cortisone for the pain sites...It can help or not, depending on the person....

Hope this info helps some...I live in 24'7 pain and you just have to learn to cope.
Im so sorry! merry Christmas, Hun

Also, maybe ask for Skelaskin?? its a muscle relaxer and doesnt make you a zombie!! but does help ease some of the tension in your neck and muscles and help relax you a bit....:)

Try a cherry pit heating pad for your neck at night time..pop in micro, no cords and sweet smell of the cherries helps relax you, too!!! .....

Answer 4

http://www.pain.com
http://www.webmd.com