Topic : Living with Chronic Pain

 Your fibro flare ups caught my attention.  About 6 years ago, I was diagnoised with a whole list of things and fibro seems to be the most unpredictible..  My experience has been that even the  least bit of stress or worry makes it flare up, even things that I would not have thought twice about years ago.  I have also been in pt and they confirm that the slightest weather change or sometimes the possibility of weather change makes a huge difference even if you stay indoors.

My doctor tells me to move just as much as feels right and NO More.  Pushing just makes it worse.  I bought a healing spa (fancy hot tub) which helps some, but not much more than a hot bath.  I don't understand the chest pain in water.  I was told if I did anything to do it in water and that has proven true for me.

If you think it might be helpful, you could question the water thearpy.  I am told go slow, don't push and I don't make it to water arobics, but just walking and mild  movements have helped my pain, mood, body fat, etc. more than any other single thing.  The other thing that has helped me is to finally let up on myself a bit.  It won't be better immediately, but if I can get some time when I don't even remember fibro or my limitations, I have learned to be much happier.  That comes slowly and by not pushing.  And oddly enough, even though I really really like my doctor, the visits sometimes gave me lifesaving sympathy -- other times it just added stress.   The stress of getting dressed, sitting in chairs with sick people and took away from restful time.

I am sorry you are going through this.  Nobody should have to.  I hope I don't sound like I think I know what will help you, but just felt like I need to share some of my experience

That's what I am doing I guess. I am hanging in there. There isn't much else you can do. What is most frustrating to me is people don't really understand what chronic pain can do. It is something people cannot see. Whenever I am having a real bad day and I come home from work and I am quite my husband will say " are you mad at me, what did I do?"  That makes me so mad. I have to justify my pain to everyone. If I am really sick and in more pain than usual everyone asks me why I am mad at them. I am not mad, I am in pain and would just like to rest.

I am not a big talker anyway.

This can be so frustrating at times. The chronic pain causes depression, The depression causes chronic pain more and now I was diagnosed with a degenerative disk in my back. I have to go to the doctor at the end of June to see if I now have arthritis in my knees and elbows.

I also have an irregular heartbeat I have to take medicine for.

How do you answer someone who constantly asks if you are mad at them just because you are in pain and don't feel like talking?

After sitting here and reading all of these stories of various kinds of pain I feel blest. I'm glad that I have a computer, I can type, and I can read all of these messages. I'm in pain but I no it could be much worse. Gentle hugs to all who hurt and look up in the sky and remember who loves you. Geoergeann

I have just come across this forum, and this topic immediately captured my attention.  I am 28, married, and have 3 young children ages 4,6, and 8.  I was diagnosed almost 1.5 years ago with fibromyalgia, to add to my polycystic ovarian syndrome, hashimotos syndrome, carpel tunnel, enlarged thyroid, nerve impairment, a degenerated and bulging disc.  I have at least weekly doctor appointments with one of my docs.  And have been on more meds than I can recall.  But that isn't saying alot as I have trouble recalling ALOT of things that I used to remember without any problems. 

I have been through a whole gambit of emotions throughout this.  I feel so worried about everything.  Financially, we are on the verge of being ruined.  I never imagined how quickly this could add up.  At this moment, I am stressed about whether or not I am going to be able to keep working my little 11 hour per week job.  I am not a very big contributor to this family.  I am worried about my husband wanting to get a second job.  I am worried how all this is going to affect my children.

I am heartbroken each time one of my kids tells me they wished I felt better.  I am heartbroken at seeing the stress of this situation on my husband.  I am heartbroken for myself, as I no longer see myself as the person I want to be.

I think if Dr. Phil were to do a show, he could hopefully provide some much needed education to the majority of the world who definitely believe that if you can't see it there's nothing wrong.  I would gladly be a guest on the show. 

I just wish that at some point I could get back to being emotionally who I used to be.  I want to know that I do matter, and my family is better having me than not.  I want to be able to not have to tell my children that I can't do an activity with them because I don't feel good.

  I too suffer from fibromyalgia.  My doctor gives Botox injections in my back at the sore spots.  I get my husband to mark where I want the shots, and it has helped very much.  The Botox lasts about 3 months, of course there are places that  the doctor can't inject, like my shoulder, because I wouldn't be able to use my arm.  The doctor  is a neurological doctor.  Maybe you can be sent to a neurological clinic ti see if it would help you.  Good luck!!