Chronic Pain Support Group

big thanks to everyone.

Colleen,

Hell, let's start a book and find a worthy cause to donate profits.

Studs Turkel did a series of books on average people's experiences in a certain circumstance such as

"Working" -(people describe working and how they feel about it),

"Tough Times" -(oral history of the great depression.

I'm sure people could contribute and fill up a book easily. We's probably need a lawyer to set up a not-for-profit organization, someone with publishing expereince and such.

I bet no one has ever done this.

-Snake

I too amd happy that I found this site to be able to conversate with those who know what it is like to be in pain 24/7:)

Sounds good Snake. We'll have to discuss the matter further.

I made a mistake, it was "Hard Times"...a very good read, especially in our present circumstances.

-Snake

I'm new. This is my first time actually participating in a discussion group. I was in a car accident 6 years ago and have had chronic neck pain ever since. I have seen pretty much every type of specialist and still have a hard time understanding why, if all of my scans and tests look 'normal', am I still in so much pain? I have been on all kinds of medication over the years, and for the last year have been slowly weaning off of everything in anticipation of starting a family (I was just married 2 months ago!). I am on the last leg and having a pretty hard time with withdrawal and what seems like a huge increase in pain. I'm feeling lost. I am glad to be here...

Colleen,
Thanks for the kind words. We are very glad you are here too!

Aileen,

Who is doing the evaluations? Are the scans and evaluations done by "insurance doctors"? I assume that they aren't, but just in case, don't trust them.

I was once directed by Worker's Comp to be evaluated by an "objective" physician. He turned out to be an ex-orthopedic surgeon who does insurance evaluations for a living. From his appearence, lateness, and manner it looked as though he liked his Scotch too much to do surgery. A good orthopod doesn't take a pay cut like that for no good reason. With knowledge of 6 disks affected on MRI, and after a cursory examination (about 10 minutes), his considered opinion and diagnosis was that I experiencing "lumbago".

Have the scans and other tests you took been repeated? Are your symptoms increasing? Have you had second opinions? And what sort of specialists have you seen?

You have to be cynical,think critically,and not take other people's word for some things. We are now different people living in a different world since our pain started. We are a subculture. Relating to the world we left behind is difficult.

-Snake

Snake...
Thank you so much for responding. That is really helpful. You are right, I need to be a little more assertive. I just feel so lost sometimes...like 'who am I to question a doctor?' But I need to trust my body and my instincts a little more. I really like what you said about 'relating to the world we left behind'...that about sums it up.
I am so happy to have found a place where there are people who understand and won't look at me like I have 2 heads.
THANK YOU

Aileen,

The idea of "who am I to question a doctor" and similar thoughts have gotta go. We live in a time when the patient-doctor relationship is less paternalistic, and more patients participate in their treatment.

Who was I to question the old whiskerando that evaluated me for the insurance company? He is a prostitute, not a physician.

That aside you can be assertive in a non-threatening way. To succeed with a pain doc, you must do so, and you must pick time and place of your battles.

I am not much into self-help books at all, and here are three books I would recommend:

"The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" by S.Elgen which is ok, I've read better,but it's good intro to get you thinking, and recognizing booby traps people set for you.

Find a good translation of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. A classic book of strategy. Re-read it several times periodically, and take your time, to let it sink in. It is very applicable to daily life. Often warriors leave the safety of home and go to unfamiliar places much like situations the CP patient finds themselves in.

"A Guide to Rational Living" by Albert Ellis. A pretty good book to help you recognize your own self-defeating beliefs.


Hope it helps, Amazon is good and cheap.

-Snake