Topic : Living with Chronic Pain

Hello 

I am new to this site. I normally post on the depression board which is a wonderful support system for me.  I am here to try and get some ideas from others who suffer from the never ending pain on the 24/7 basis.  Here is a bit about me.  Hope I don't bore you all. 

  

I have had two cervical spinal fusions.  The first in 1999 with a fusion using part of my hip bone.  The second in 2003 using a titanium cage.  These are C4/5 & C5/7.  I suffer from neuropathic pain and when a low pressure system comes in, I know. 

  

I have stenosis and budging disks in L4/5 & S1.  The pain never stops.  I have been on so many medications and not much works.  I was on high doses of Neurontin which almost killed me.  I now take oxycodone, xanex, and effexor.  Sad thing is, if I run out of the oxycodone, it will kill me.  I am physically addicted due to the length of time I have been on it.   

  

I have been unable to work since 11/01 when I injured by lower back again.  I feel like a total failure in life.  I was once very productive.  I was even a volunteer firefighter/EMT and was studying to be a Paramedic.  That is now all gone.   

  

Thanks for listening.  Any suggestions?  I hate life right now.  Just hate it.  I feel worthless and feel like a looser.  The pain causes depression as I am sure many can relate. 

  

Thanks again. 

Nekocats 

prof-that is sooo funny. zoom baby! ha ha. i know how it goes! 

  

neko-it sounds like you may be a very likely candidate for RSD/CRPS. you might want to have a doctor check it out, be warned, and read further, most drs do not know what it is or what to do about it. we are here for you, and completely understand! i too feel like a failure, and mine extends into not being a good enough mother since i am so incapacitated most of the time. havent worked in months, and im broke as a joke. so welcome aboard, and feel free to email me if you need to talk to someone.  

  

well all, its been a rough day, trooper that i am, i cheated in order to attend a family event. took a half of loratab. felt guilty but knew there was NO WAY i was going to make it through without something. so i had a decent time, it was just enough to take the edge off, i really am proud of not using the narcs as much as i would like to. though part of that is my panic attacks too, if i take a 10mg loratab i flip out, i think its the drugged feeling that sets me off. so i should own the advil company by now ha ha.  

my hands and arms are killing me, so im cutting this short, prayers to all for relatively pain free night tonight, and day tomorrow. gentle hugs, blowing kisses-mel 

Hi, 

  

Sometimes is being tyred even worst then pain.  

I'm so tired, and I know what cost this, but is so unfair. I'm young and then I can not do the same as mine parents, pffff.  

  

There for I have not been here for few days. Because English is not my languish. 

  

I do wish you all the best. 

I do try to read it all, but today and yesterday I'm nog managing to get through my. 

  

WIth love, Paulien 

Hi Martha: Sorry I haven't responded sooner to your reply, but my father has Alzheimers and I had a chance to go and visit and stay for a couple of days recently (he lives 2 hours away).  I stay overnite with him at the Retirement Home so I can see how his condition is progressing.  He also has Chronic obstructive lung disease and I could see how his breathing is during the nite (worsening).   When I see all the old folks with varying degrees of aging, I thank God for the many blessings I have at this time.  My pain pales in comparison to all of the problems I see at the Home. Anyway, I also had to see my Rheumatologist while I was there so I killed 2 birds with one stone so to speak.  My Rheumy didn't comment on whether I should or shouldn't have surgery because of a new concern that we have; I have been very wobbly when walking lately and since being diagnosed with RA, it has been becoming more and more frequently as of late than it did in the beginning. He wants me to put weights on my ankles (5 lbs each ankle) and do leg lifts to see if the muscles can be strengthened and see if that makes any difference.  As you know with arthritis, if we can even walk on any certain day we're lucky so it's no wonder the muscles deteriorate in the legs over time.  I will give this a try for a couple of months and see him again.  As for my feet, they are okay lately, and only hurt more when I try to walk too much or go to far.  I hope you are doing well and thank you for the offer to ask questions or 'just listen' :)    I hope you have a wonderful, healthy grandbaby; isn't it wonderful that God blesses us in many other ways when we are faced with living daily with chronic pain?  It sure helps us get through the rough times.   Glad that you also have a wonderful hubby as this makes all the difference in the world.  Maybe Dr Phil should do a show or a forum on relatives of people living with chronic pain......they are the ones that help us get through.  Take care and do write again just to say you are doing ok and how the new grandbaby is.  God Bless you and yours.

Hi there;  I too suffer daily with chronic pain caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis.  When I read messages like yours, it almost makes me feel like I'm blessed that I don't have to deal with that kind of constant pain.  Arthritis pain isn't anything to minimize at all but I just felt lucky to be me when I read your history.   I am on Enbrel and methotrexate injections and plaquenil for my arthritis.  Without these combinations, I would be confined to bed (as I have been in the past) in constant, chronic, excrutiating pain.  I was unable to even sit up or hold a drink of water because the pain was so bad.  Thankfully I have a wonderful Rheumatologist who got me on the right combo of medications.  I only hope the effects of them last for a very long time or I'll be right back where I started.  The cost of these medications runs at about 3 thousand every eight weeks and I am lucky to live in Canada with a good health benefit (I have to pay only 1 hundred a month for it) and my coverage pays 100% of my drugs.   

I have a brother who was an EMT and is now a Paramedic and has his own ambulance transfer service. He was addicted to crack cocaine for a long time but he worked very hard to get where he is now so I know how hard that you worked and it is very unfortunate that you are unable to continue.  I couldn't help but think that maybe you should try getting another specialist doctor to see if there isn't another combination of drugs and some therapy that would get you a better quality of life.  It would be worth a try but never, never say you feel worthless and are a loser.  I would recommend reading the book 'The Purpose Driven Life' by Rick Warren.  It is the most powerful book I have ever read.  There is a purpose for your life and I think this book will surely help you find the answers.  It made #1 book on the New York Best sellers list and I guarantee it will impact your life too.  Good luck to you and may God Bless you and give you the strength to cope with your pain.  Never give up.  Take care.  

Hi Sandy; Thank you for your prayers and as for thanks for writing about constant pain;...well, writing about it helps us get out our frustrations (at least it does for me).  I am recommending a wonderful book to read (if you haven't already) and it is "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.  Wonderful book and it impacted my life in a BIG way.  If you have read it I would appreciate your comments on it.  As for family (namely husband) not understanding your pain, I would suggest you getting information from the internet about your disease, printing off the information and suggesting he read it to see how you and others live with this kind of pain.  I think that educating people is the most profound way of getting their attention and minimizing the ignorance.  Take care and God Bless you.  LadiDi

 i haven't been on methadone, but i've been on about everything else. I'll try it. I've been on oxycontin (was for 2 yrs.) and had the doctor change me to something different. I've been using Fentanyl Patches now for 2 yrs. with oxycodone for breakthrough pain. Not bad, but I still hurt so bad I can't walk at time's. I've had 2 major back surgeries since 2002 and I'm only 37. First op doctor made a mistake and damaged the nerve's to my left leg permanently. I have several rod's and bolt's in my back.  The last op they had to use cadaver bone for the bone graph's cause I wasn't makin' enough bone, the first time, for the fusion to properly take place. It's just day to day pain now. Thank's for the tip though. I'll give it a try. Maybe it can help somewhat.

happy saturday, all -- 

  

i very much enjoy the final weekend of the u.s. open.  i keep telling folks: *if* i were into guided meditation, i would want to meditate to the sounds of two base-liners going at it [sans television commentary!].  as it is now, i do biofeedback to the sounds of jimi hendrix or eric clapton [unplugged].  i know, they're odd choices, normally not soothing -- but to me they are.  like popeye, i yam what i yam. 

  

i want to recommend another book:  A Whole New Life by reynolds price.  prof. price was diagnosed with cancer of the spine and lived with terrible, terrible pain and a depressian as equally terrible.  This isn't reynolds price at his best -- he's maybe at his worst as a writer... but he went through many of the same drug regimes or cocktails that i read about here... and he found "a whole new life" through hypnosis and biofeedback. 

  

take care... 

  

  

Hi everyone, 

  

First time user and have been reading your notes.  How about Fibermyalgia?  Have no arthritis but this is getting really bad.  On top of that pain the meds are killing my stomach.  My grandchildren don't understand why Nana can't play like she use too!  Does anyone have any suggestions?  My doctor says it's only going to get worse and has advised me to go on disability.  Please Help!! 

hi -- 

  

i am sorry to read about the pain you have due to fibromyalgia and arthritis.  if you agree with your doctor's recommendation about disability, it is a long process.  if you are working, check with your human resources rep and find out what sort of coverage is offered there.  or you can apply through social security, in which case you need to become familiar with some confusing alternatives -- basically SSI, SSDI -- MEDICAID, MEDICARE. 

  

here's the address for the ssa: 

http://ssa.gov/ 

  

as for the medication messing up with your stomach -- i can relate!  be sure and tell your doctor because it could be important to treat.  i take yet another medication to help with that symptom... on and on it goes, where it stops...