Chronic Pain

[Catz]

I decided to start a seperate thread for chronic pain.
Not sure if anyone wants or needs to talk.

Started to chat on fibormyalgia, but different topics...so.....

[hevvonly]

Good idea, Puffy! Sometimes, if one is having a bad day, even venting a little can help a lot, and if others have any practical advice, information or experiences they want to share, this is a good place to do it.

[Catz]

Good idea, Puffy! Sometimes, if one is having a bad day, even venting a little can help a lot, and if others have any practical advice, information or experiences they want to share, this is a good place to do it.

Thank you.


I am sure there are some people who have to deal with this...

[The Bronze]

I've dealt with it for years, but I don't have much to say on the subject. It's beat me into silence! Heh.

I'm no expert on the subject by any means, but perhaps I can lend a helpful voice to anyone out there who's dealing with chronic pain.

[Catz]

Thank you Bronze.
I think this in an issue that has many faces.

Pain
Meds
Doctors
Psychosocial
Family
Monetary

Somedays, personally, it drives me crazy,and I get angry.
Other days I say...deal with it...can't change it.

I am sure there are some good tips on how to deal with the issues.

[ILLEffect]

I have degenerative disc disease that I battle daily.

Pain - I'm constantly in pain. I can't sit for long periods, nor can I stand for long periods. On bad days, I have to walk with a cane. There are days where a couple T3's or even percocet does help. But then there are days where nothing helps and I'm literally stuck in bed all day, propped up and supported by pillows.
Meds - It's a running joke that I'm a walking pharmacy. I'm on 3 different medications just for the DDD. Add in Lasix, insulins, and an anti anxiety along with a birth control pill.........yeah. See? Walking pharmacy.
Doctors - I see my Dr enough that he notices if I even slightly dye my hair or get a hair cut. I pretty much see him 1-2 times per month. While it can be a pain in the @$$, I realize I'm incredibly lucky in the Okanagan to have such a terrific doctor. My doctor is amazing. Helpful and informed.
Psychosocial - I don't get out to see my friends often because it's difficult to get around. Not to mention that it's difficult to stand/sit for longer periods of time. Going to a restaurant is impossible because I can't sit in their chairs for long. I walk with a cane which...I have to learn to accept the fact that I do. I don't like the looks from some people (or even what I THINK are looks from other people) that almost say "She's too young for a cane". I honestly DO feel too young to need a cane and therefore sometimes go without it just to feel "normal".
Family - It breaks my heart that I can't hold my little brother because he's too heavy for me. He can't even sit on my lap because it gets sore. I know my family worries about me. Especially with being on so many medications. I can understand their worry.
Monetary - I'm on long term disability and money is tight. Luckily my medications are mostly covered (I'm on a lot more than just what I take for pain). I pay for cabs or Handydart for transportation. I have to closely watch my diet particularly because of the diabetes.


Over all, it's difficult to live with chronic pain. However, I've learned that you have to embrace the good days rather than sit there and wonder how long the good with last. I'm blessed to have my younger brother living with me, who helps out around the house with cleaning and cooking. I've got services in place that allow me to get around the house easier.

I know that a big part of my problem is that I have to lose weight. I'm trying, but it's hard because exercising in pain is nearly impossible. I'm hoping to get a pass to the Y so that I can use the pool.

[The Bronze]

I have degenerative disc disease that I battle daily.

I have DDD as well. We could start a support group for people like us except no one would ever be able to get to the meetings.

...

Pain - I'm constantly in pain. I can't sit for long periods, nor can I stand for long periods. On bad days, I have to walk with a cane. There are days where a couple T3's or even percocet does help. But then there are days where nothing helps and I'm literally stuck in bed all day, propped up and supported by pillows.

Agreed. I go through phases of taking plenty of medication because I can't handle the pain to phases where I'm so tired of being drugged up I stop taking anything and try and make it a few days without just to feel like a human being again. I don't yet walk with a cane, but can definitely see that in the future.

Meds - It's a running joke that I'm a walking pharmacy. I'm on 3 different medications just for the DDD. Add in Lasix, insulins, and an anti anxiety along with a birth control pill.........yeah. See? Walking pharmacy.
Doctors - I see my Dr enough that he notices if I even slightly dye my hair or get a hair cut. I pretty much see him 1-2 times per month. While it can be a pain in the @$$, I realize I'm incredibly lucky in the Okanagan to have such a terrific doctor. My doctor is amazing. Helpful and informed.

First of all, if your doctor notices when you dye or cut your hair and is a male, I'd suggest you marry him. He has plenty of husbands beat. Is this your GP that you see this often, or one of the back specialists here in town?

Psychosocial - I don't get out to see my friends often because it's difficult to get around. Not to mention that it's difficult to stand/sit for longer periods of time. Going to a restaurant is impossible because I can't sit in their chairs for long. I walk with a cane which...I have to learn to accept the fact that I do. I don't like the looks from some people (or even what I THINK are looks from other people) that almost say "She's too young for a cane". I honestly DO feel too young to need a cane and therefore sometimes go without it just to feel "normal".

I can definitely relate to this as well. I've been dealing with this pain for a while now and have grown used to people giving me weird looks when it takes me longer to do whatever it is than it should for someone my age. What I'm not used to is friends not really being aware of exactly the issues being faced at any particular time. Like you said, when I do get around to seeing them I can't do the things a 'normal' person does so I'm automatically less fun and perhaps even a burden to be around. I suppose these things happen. I've had (too) many doctors tell me I have the back of someone 30-40 years older than me. The depression is bad enough without hearing that from educated professionals.

Family - It breaks my heart that I can't hold my little brother because he's too heavy for me. He can't even sit on my lap because it gets sore. I know my family worries about me. Especially with being on so many medications. I can understand their worry.

Monetary - I'm on long term disability and money is tight. Luckily my medications are mostly covered (I'm on a lot more than just what I take for pain). I pay for cabs or Handydart for transportation. I have to closely watch my diet particularly because of the diabetes.

The thing that pisses me off is that physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage, whatever treatment I want isn't covered. My response to that has always been, I can't f#$%ing work and that's why I need those things. Where is this money supposed to come from? Not all of my medications are covered because the Govt wants you to jump through hoops before they'll cover you. For example, you have to try medications in the order the Govt wants. Have a stomach problem? You might get a free sample pack of Pantoloc. If that works for you, you can't get that prescription because it's entirely covered. You have to try Ranitidine first, which isn't entirely covered. Once you've gone through the trial period, if the medication doesn't work for you, you try the next one. After that, then you can be prescribed the one that's entirely covered. But not until you try everything else first.

Over all, it's difficult to live with chronic pain. However, I've learned that you have to embrace the good days rather than sit there and wonder how long the good with last. I'm blessed to have my younger brother living with me, who helps out around the house with cleaning and cooking. I've got services in place that allow me to get around the house easier.

I know that a big part of my problem is that I have to lose weight. I'm trying, but it's hard because exercising in pain is nearly impossible. I'm hoping to get a pass to the Y so that I can use the pool.

Definitely get a pass from the Y. Apparently they can help out with passes for those with disability issues. I was able to use the pool in the rehab dept at KGH when I was admitted there and it was very beneficial. I can't stress enough though that it had to be warm/hot water. I went and used a friends pool that wasn't heated and my entire spine seized up and it was incredibly painful.

[cory anthony]

hello to everyone

i have been reading the stories regarding chronic pain. 6 months ago i started using a product called maxgxl in which helped me and my father both with the arthiritis in our hips secondly i gave the product to my father in law to help with his fibromyalgia pain and it has helped him tremendously.lastly my wife who suffered back trauma two years ago in a horse accident is now pain free and no longer relies on codeine and robaxacet to get though her day .when you have time please visit the web page xxxxxxxxxx or email me at [email protected]
cell xxxxxxx i would be more than happy to explain more about maxgxl and how it has changed my life for the better.i will not waste your time

best regards

cory

Edited by Trip - Took out website and phone # Please email or PM person for more info.

[The Bronze]

Why was the website edited out? I can only assume that if people are in chronic pain they'd like to research information on any and everything they can.

[Fancy]

Why was the website edited out? I can only assume that if people are in chronic pain they'd like to research information on any and everything they can.

Google maxgxl and you can find out about the product - and by the way, it was spam.

[ILLEffect]

Quote:
Meds - It's a running joke that I'm a walking pharmacy. I'm on 3 different medications just for the DDD. Add in Lasix, insulins, and an anti anxiety along with a birth control pill.........yeah. See? Walking pharmacy.
Doctors - I see my Dr enough that he notices if I even slightly dye my hair or get a hair cut. I pretty much see him 1-2 times per month. While it can be a pain in the @$$, I realize I'm incredibly lucky in the Okanagan to have such a terrific doctor. My doctor is amazing. Helpful and informed.


First of all, if your doctor notices when you dye or cut your hair and is a male, I'd suggest you marry him. He has plenty of husbands beat. Is this your GP that you see this often, or one of the back specialists here in town?

LOL I just see my dr that often. I'm lucky enough to have a very hands on doctor. I see him probably every 2 weeks, sometimes once a week. I'm on so many meds I have to get monthly blood tests to test liver and kidney function. Every 3 months, my A1C is tested. Now that I'm on Lasix, we have to watch for low blood pressure.

I hate chronic pain. I have days that I can't get out of bed. It takes Herculean effort to get out of my papasan chair (totally not great for sitting for long periods of time, but it's mighty comfy).

I just bought a back massager (PM me if you're interested in where I got it) for $27 and it doubles as a foot massager, has 2 vibration speeds and an infrared heat pad. It's helped SO MUCH (have it on now as I type).

[The Bronze]

Why was the website edited out? I can only assume that if people are in chronic pain they'd like to research information on any and everything they can.

Google maxgxl and you can find out about the product - and by the way, it was spam.

I thought if a post was spam you guys delete the entire post? That seems to make sense anyway. The whole post sounded like an advertisement, so I was wondering why if it was spam it was only partially edited.

[Triple 6]

Why was the website edited out? I can only assume that if people are in chronic pain they'd like to research information on any and everything they can.

Google maxgxl and you can find out about the product - and by the way, it was spam.

I thought if a post was spam you guys delete the entire post? That seems to make sense anyway. The whole post sounded like an advertisement, so I was wondering why if it was spam it was only partially edited.

Maybe so, But I thought I would give the poster a chance.

[The Bronze]

Fair enough.

I'm researching IMS (Intra Muscular Stimulation) as well as Prolotherapy for the chronic pain. Right now the common thing tying them together is the fact that neither are covered or seem that affordable for a person that can't work.

Lately I feel that I'd do more good at the bottom of the lake than I would anywhere else.

[Catz]

Some days are hard, I agree, but I also think things could be worse.

I try and look at the positive aspects of all issues, and even though some days are hard, I tell myself that it can always be worse.

So, on the days I feel I have lost so much, I think of the things I have gained. That helps.

In saying that, I have some very sore last couple of days and wish there was something different to try for the pain instead on the narcotics. I refuse to use them.