Take it one day at a time. One hour at a time or one minute at a time, if necessary. I had CP in my back very young, but got a few years before RSD hit for good. I've now had this bout of RSD for 15 years. It's not easy, but as soon as your pain relief is settled, you can start moving back into life. Do as your doc tells you and nothing but what he/she says.

At your age I had chronic back pain and migraines. A surgery helped for awhile. Then I got RSd, oddly the RSD went away (for awhile.) I was diagnosed with it again in my late 20's. I have dealt with pain in some form for the past 25 years. I say just live your life and do what you're able. Don't crawl to your bed, don't feel too sorry for yourself b/c your life isn't over.

At 43, have a job, husband, home and child. I never thought I'd make it. But I took it a step at a time. And you can, too! It's okay and normal to feel low. Just remember, others have lived through it and you can, too!

Good Luck!

I have learnt that being stressed about the pain makes it worse.
I have four children and knowing I got out of bed, got them ready,is huge so focus on the things you can do, and put your energy into that.
They have online college I would try that and your able to go at your pace and do it when the pain levels are high.
Some weekends we take kids camping and be so sore but happy I went and did it.
With family if I do an outing a week, I can have saturday to relax,as during the week, i'm busy taking kids here and there for school and work and sports.

Thanks, both of you. Thalia, I am not one of the fortunate ones that can get a doc to listen and believe me - likely because she had the same surgery for the same reason and has never had any problems.

Smile, I can't do that, unfortunately. My parents don't believe me, so online college is out. I don't really have anything that I enjoy doing anymore; I keep getting my focus interrupted, and what used to be enjoyable is now just another reminder of how crappy I feel.

I know what you are going through, five years, I had that, ten years later everything all good.
Got a payout then, got the support.
I found nothing enjoyable until I knew this is my life now,all my friends are doing there thing, so I jumped into my thing, finding things that I could do and doing it, I hated life for a while but now don't ut have days where I hate it.
I was missing out on things and knew I could sit and watch and for past ten years take all the pictures, I teach my friends things and family.
I burn music, pictures,movies,games. I enjoy it.

Rachel, god do I feel for you, not exactly sure where your CP is located or why but here's a hopefully quick look at mine. Pain started at 12, diagnosed with Scoliosis at 12 1/2 & spinal fusion at 13 (scar from base of neck to butt. Not sure how but I managed to get through school (not collage-still kicking myself over that one but high school) & make it w/not too many set backs. I was one of the bad girls from age 15--21 & I rebelled not only against my parents who didn't really get the pain issue & rebelled against the pain. I will say I am not proud of how I handled myself back then & luckily I didn't get into some of the more serious things that some so called friends did but I managed to get to 24 & I meet my husband who I thought understood the pain factor in my life, I would have many set backs & take some pain/muscle meds from my dr. & usually down no more the 3-4 weeks & this happened about 3-4 times a year.

The Drs didn't think I'd be able to carry a child to term & I proved them wrong not once but twice with only one loss in the beginning. I thought life was great then the big fall. Now not only do I have pain & rods & you name it in my upper spine but since 'the fall' I now herniated the last 3 discs in low back (a little over 4 yrs ago) to having those disc's clapse on nerves, muscles & god know what else. Most doctors didn't & still don't know how I am still walking 99% of the time with no aids. They had me on so many different pain meds & I did that for 3 years but in this past year I have gone off every one since my supportive hubby has turned on me ever since I had to quit working & can barely keep the house as clean as he wants is. He always wanted lots of kids since he is 1 of 10, I on the other hand am 1 of 2 so in my mind if & what god gives me, then I will be grateful especially since per Drs I s/h/none. Well after my fall I have now lost an additional 3 because my body will no longer allow it. I mentioned adoption as there are so many in need & let's just say he's a jerk. After having my 2 I would love a houseful but I know there's no way it's going to happen so I have come to the conclusion that I take each day, good or bad as it comes. I have found many things that I never even thought of doing & now they are some of my favorite things to do.

A year ago I even against doctors orders (this is not for everyone & there are times I'd like to go back but, well not an option yet) & I weaned myself off all of the narcotic meds. Mainly because my hubby as I mentioned a little ways back became none supportive, well he also has many times threatened to leave & take the kids since I am on so many 'drugs you don't need' as he put it. Everything I did was & is under doctors care. Not enough, he is a CO for the sheriff's & he thinks he is god almost since he got that damn badge. Him & many others seem to think 37 is too young to suffer from CP & to young to be on the heavy meds that I took.

Darn as always I'm writing a book (now there is a great idea), maybe we'd all be able to help others that not only suffer from CP, young & old but I know there are many that don't have support at all, we have all been lucky to find this site & all of the wonderful people that come here. Anyway, if you want to talk more, send me a message or try to catch me when I'm here (everyday usually from my 6am wake up to my 3am or worse late nights). Wishing you the best & it may seem like the end of the world right now but it's not, you can & will pull through this. As my beloved Nana always told me, 'If it doesn't kill you, it can only make you stronger' & a better person for it.

Sleep is so important. I know when I can't sleep and I have pain it is unbearable. Have you told your doc about your sleep problem? Or maybe you need a new doc? Also, being depressed will create sleep problems.

Try to work on solving your sleep problem first. You will be able to think more clearly and cope better with your pain. Then, if you need to talk to your doc about your pain. Describe it in terms of how it affects your daily life. If you get no response, find a new doc. One who will listen to you.

I don't think anyone can accept pain. If that was possible, our bodies would adapt to it and we would not feel it anymore. The best we can do is to seek pain management that will allow us to live some sort of normal lifestyle.

You are young...too young to give up. There is always hope for something. Some of the most famous works of art and literature were created by people in pain. Perhaps you can express yourself through that.

I was questioning the reason for my pain for a long time and all that does is get you down. Then I tried focusing on the positives in life and the things that I liked. I found that I can still enjoy the beauty in the world. I love watching the ocean waves, seeing flowers in bloom, staring at the trees, listening to the birds, etc...

It doesn't sound like much, but it is. It is the ability to feel content, joy, gratitude, love... Those are the most important things in life and those feelings can be attained through simple small activities as well as more active ones that we may not be able to do.

I hope you find joy in each day you face. Sometimes it is right in front of us and we miss it because we are so busy looking beyond it.

SWDream, the reason I'm having pain is the same reason you were: a spinal fusion as a result of scoliosis. I had the brace at 8 and the surgery at 12.

Your husband sets himself up as more knowledgeable about your body than you and your doc? -_- Well that's messed up. It's awesome you're writing a book, though.

Sisy...unfortunately, I have no doc except my PCP, who doesn't believe me, and since I'm still on my parent's insurance (at least for a few more months), they get the final say in where I go - and they don't believe me.

I have to agree with everyones post...... I have only one thing to add... STOP counting the thnigs you cant and wont .... I have a lttle saying when times are a bit ruff... My pain is the proof that I am still in the physical world...... what is the big deal with that?? well I CAN reach BOTH arms around my loved ones might hurt but I CAN hugg.... I can feel the heat of the sun, the wind on my flesh and smell the aromas of life... My eyes can see even in color.. I am able to not only tast foods but cook... and Hey not on feedng tube... I think you get my point love..... I also try to find things that will "distract" my thoughts on the pain Im feeling ....

I guess my question isn't so much how to accept it, but how to keep from giving up.

i guess how you not give up is by waking up the next day, and the next after that..slow easy living and the appreciation for everything that is good in life ~stinke~

Oh honey, i am sooooo sorry for u, the fact that yor parents dont support u makes me angry, however we all h:ave our stories n one thing ive learned over the years has been patience and resilliance, n take one day at a time, n wait for the day u r old enough to make yor own descisions, until ghen we r al here for u

I don't accept it. And I am very young too.
Let me know if you need someone to talk to.

i do understand i realy do, i know what its like wake to the nightmare of pain, My doc isnt very sympathetic either, i think they dont like it when what they prescribe doesnt help much, but their not gods only human. The best advice i can give is never say never things can improve new treatments are coming up all the time and one of them could be for you, Do you have a Pain Clinic you can go to, even a massage can help a little as its been proved the more relaxed we are the lesser the pain. Have you tried a TENS you can buy them it helps by distracting away from the pain source, it wont cure but makes pain more tollerable, love susie xx

Most people, especially family, equate your level of pain with the things they see you do. As an example, I have to tell you how much I've always loved sweets. My DH bought me an uncut sheet of rice crispies treats, which I absolutely LOVE. He loves them too. After seeing them still unopened on the countertop for two days he asked why I hadn't broken into the package yet. I told him I can't cut them. So he got out the pizza-cutter and cut them for me.

If it hurt my hands too much to cut them, I MUST be hurting. Yup, that's right sweetie. Thanks for cutting them for me.

If we have a good day and they see us run the vacuum, or take a walk, or go to class, they think we must be all better. They don't realize that for us when we take one step forward, it's two steps back. Experience is the best teacher, and sometimes it's the ONLY teacher. If they're not experiencing it, it's not real to them.

Hang in there honey.