Topic : Living with Chronic Pain

I was so glad to see this on the topics. I was hit by a truck going 50 mph almost 5 years ago. It herniated a disc and then the disc below it started collapsing. The MRI suggests that degenerative disc disease could be there as well, probably started by the initial injury. I went to a doctor and they said it was facet joint problems and gave me injections which did not work. That was when the MRI was ordered and the disc problems were found. I had other procedures, and nothing helped. I started taking medication because the pain was so bad I literally could not get out of bed. At least now I can get up and do things. I hate that a lot of negetive attention is addressed about prescription pain meds. It seems that doctors are getting scared to prescribe, because the media has only shown these addicts who do not take their meds like they should. I just moved to the Memphis area, and am having a terrible time finding a doctor that will take me on and prescribe what I have been taking successfully for years. (Or maybe actually fix the problem if at all possible, but I think I have scar tissue in there where ligaments and tendons were torn, as my doctor back home thinks has happened as well) One place wants to do facet joint injections even though my records show all the disc problems and the previous injections didn't help. I do not take more than I should, even when the pain seems extra bad, because I know I only have a 30 day supply and if I use it more there will be none left, and it controls the daily pain I live with. It bothers me that shows do not discuss the people who really need it and do what they are supposed to. There are a whole lot of us out here, but all you hear about is the people who abuse and it gets the country in an uproar and doctors getting scared.  

  I just do not know what I am going to do. The pain is there all of the time. I do not want surgery, because so many say it makes it worse and I am terribly scared of going under anesthesia and dying. I have read some of these posts, and it IS a lonely experience that only others with constant pain can know. When I was in the last doctor's office I went to, a man in his 60's and I got to talking and he said that his pain is so bad most times and he has thought of suicide. The doctor there just wouldn't prescribe what it takes. ( I personally think it is a result of the whole Elvis ordeal) I really felt bad for him and he had tears in his eyes. A few others in the room jumped in with their stories, and even though we were all strangers, we all got teary and understood what we were each going through. I will probably never see any of them again, but for an instance, we were all close in the soul. I am glad this topic is here so at least we can come here and now know that we are not alone. It is hard to handle it alone, because even my family gets tired of hearing about my pain, and tired of the times I have to take to my bed. I quit talking about it as much, because they don't really understand and it is going on 5 years. It IS an effort to just do the things that have to be done around here on some days. I do not have a helping husband like some of you. :(  He will help with our daughter's homework when his work schedule is on the week where he is home at night, but nothing else. I try my darndest to keep everything done, but it can be a struggle.  

  Anyways, I am just glad to express my feelings, even if no one reads this. Blessings to all who are living with pain everyday. 

Hello all....I'm new here.  I just wanted to post and introduce myself.  I've read through a lot of the posts....and can I relate!  I'm 33 y/o, mother of 2 boys.  Married 2 years to my 2nd husband.  I've been living with chronic pain for over 3 years now.  I have a condition called pseudotumor cerebri, otherwise known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension.  It's kind of like the babies that have that have too much spinal fluid and their heads get huge....only as an adult, your head can't expand, so it puts pressure on your brain and nerves causing intense pain, depending on how high the pressure gets.  I also get migraines, but nothing compares to a high pressure headache.  My head hurts every day of my life.  Some days are better than others.  But my bad headaches can last for a week or more before the pressure goes back down.  It's hell.   

I've had these high pressure headaches as long as I can remember, but I never knew what they were.  They are so unbearable that nothing, and I mean nothing makes them go away, pain meds can help make them somewhat bearable, but if I let it get too bad before taking anything, then it's too late and nothing will help.  Then, in February of 2003, I woke up with one of these headaches and it never went away.  Bending over, coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom all make it hurt worse.  I can't lay flat on my back or put my head down at all or it gets worse.  Beyond this, this disorder causes memory problems, problems with balance, numbness and tingling in the extremities, vision problems (some people lose their site), hearing problems (I've lost a lot of my hearing already), loud ringing in the ears, constant fullness in the ears like being in an airplane, among other things.  It's a somewhat rare, though underdiagnosed disorder.   

And like I've seen others mention, because nobody can see the pain and because I'm so young, I've had people accuse me of not wanting to work, being lazy, trying to get attention, drug seeking, etc, etc.  It's so miserable.  I've *always* been a positive person....somebody who goes after her dreams....somebody who works hard for what she wants....somebody who has more self-discipline than the average person.  I earned a masters degree in my 20's in less than 2 years!  I'm used to working hard, 60-70 hours per week in the medical profession!  So, to go from tliving my dreams and having my whole life in front of me to now unemployed, possibly facing disibility and trying to live with daily pain not knowing when or if this will ever go into remission is HUGE for me.  I don't want to live the rest of my life in pain!  I'm young!  I still have hopes and dreams I want to accomplish!!!  And to have loved ones accuse me of just not wanting to work when I'm having my dreams *crushed* by physical limitations is just devastating.   I've been putting off disability....that's not what I want.  I'm wanting desperately to work again....and to be 'normal' again.  But I don't know where life will take me.   

I know from reading other posts that I'm not alone.  It's not that I like other people having to go through this....but it is comforting to know that it's not just me.  I've often thought that there must be something wrong with me.  I guess because it can't be seen or measured, especially with something like headaches (though they've measured my intracranial pressure, which you *think* would be enough!).   

Thanks for listening to me whine.    

Hi, I  AM A 30 YR OLD MOTHER OF 3 YOUNG GIRLS AND I COMPLETLY UNDERSTAND YOU.  ALONG WITH DEGENERATIVE DISK DISEASE AND OTHER BACK PROBLEMS I HAVE A PROBLEM DOC S CANT FIGURE OUT AND IN TURN IT MAKES ME LOOK STUPID.  I GET REAL DIZZY AND FEEL LIKE I AN FLOATING AROUND, MY HEARING GETS IMPAIRED AND MY HEAD THROBS AND I JUST DONT FEEL THE SAME AS I DID BEFORE THIS SET IN.  ITS A FEELING I CANT EVEN DISCRIBE RIGHT.  THEY HAVE DONE AN MRI OF MY HEAD AND ITS NORMAL.  THE DOCS LOOK AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY.  I THINK I AM GONNA END UP CRAZY IF PPL KEEP TREATING ME LIKE I AM CRAZY!  I TOO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING LAZY, NOT WANTING  TO WORK, & THAT I AM ADDICTED TO PAIN MEDS.  I MAY NOW BE ADDICTED TO THEM CAUSE I BEEN ON THEM FOR YRS NOW BUT, I WASNT WHEN THEY WERE FIRST TELLING ME THESE THINGS.  I KNOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL BAD AND THINK POORLY OF YOURSELF BUT, THEY ARE NOT IN OUR SITUATION AND ARE IGNORANT TO HOW WE FEEL AND WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.  SAD TO SAY BUT,  SOONER OR LATER THEY WILL BE SICK WITH SOMETHING AND UNDERSTAND, SAD THAT PPL MUST GET SICK TO UNDERSTAND US. YOU ARE IN MY PAYERS. 

WENDY 

AKA SWEET2U 

First of all, hello everyone. I have a TON of catching up to do but I saw this post first and I wanted to respond. 

Wendy, sounds like you may have signs of Vertigo. Do some research or ask your physician. I do know it's difficult to diagnose but my husband has this problem and faces the same ailments you do about once a month. 

If you want any further information, I'll be happy to talk with you. 

Andrea 

Hi all - I am a 33 year old mother of two boys, ages 6 and 2.  I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  It started with me waking up with body aches every day - I thought I had the flu.  But it never went away - my doctor finally diagnosed me after ruling out a lot of other things.  I am currently taking Effexor, and Trazadone to help me sleep, and sometimes pain medication as I need it.  I am also doing water therapy, which is helping a lot - I go three times a week in a 95 degree pool and do exercises to strengthen my muscles, particularly my legs.  It's the worst in the mornings until I get up and move around for a little while.  I work behind a desk all day, four days a week.  So I make sure I get up every half our or so and walk a little bit and stretch.  At first, it was difficult to keep up with my kids and to do everyday tasks like housework.  But, now with the therapy and medications, I am doing better.  Hopefully it will stay this way for a long time.  I have also heard that a new medication called Cymbaulta is a good one.  The doc has told me the more active I am, the less pain I will have.  If you stay sedentary, your muscles will deteriorate and you will have more pain.  The key is activity.  Thanks for listening.