Replies to 'Living with Chronic Pain'

Martha:  I'm new to this group, but I had a friend whose mother was given thalidomide during her pregnancy.  My friend had numerous skeletal problems which were mostly limited to her pelvic and lower back area.  She was told it was because of her mother taking the drug while pregnant with her.  She also was told she'd never be able to have children. I lost touch with this lady about 10 yrs. ago so don't know if she continues to suffer problems.   

I was more interested in your knee replacements.  I am 64 yrs. old and limped around on a bad knee for almost 2 yrs.  A year and a half ago I had a total knee replacement.  A month later they went in and did a manipulation on the knee as it was not responding to physical therapy and they said it was scar tissue.  I have a 40 yr. history with Rheumatoid Arthritis which has caused me more fun than anyone should be allowed to have.  About 7 mos. after the manipulation was done, I developed septicemia poisoning.  It was based in the knee, went into the bone marrow, hit my brain, my heart, my pancreas and left me with strep pneumonia in both lungs.  They did a SECOND surgery on the knee to clean out the infection.  I now have Type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, a horrible time getting words out (its like I've developed a black hole in my mind and my thoughts fall into them and I have to dig them out), plus I'm still limping around on the darned knee.  So, not only did I NOT MAKE progress with the knee, I've now got a bunch of other problems and a lot more pain than ever.  I guess such is life.  But I refuse to live my life in a drug induced fog.     

While dealing with the RA over the years, I've learned that it hurt if I sat and cried about it or if I got up and tried doing things, so I chose to get busy.  Lots of times I would forget about the pain as I would get so involved.  Gardening was especially helpful at blocking pain.  Even if I didn't do anything but look at the weeds growing in the flower bed.  I loved to watch the worms and bugs running around.  Mother Nature was my salvation many times.  'Course, you're never nearer God's heart anywhere than in a garden.  And my grandsons are a true gift from God to help me deal with the pain.  Laughter is the best medicine and they DO MAKE ME LAUGH.  Chin up and enjoy the blue sky.....Sheryl