Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Since I was a young child I suffered from unexplainable pain. My pain, joint swelling, body fatigue, etc. I can remember as young as 8 years old. I fought my way to a diagnosis and at 25 years old I was finally diagnosed with 3 different forms of arthritis caused by years of untreated Crohn's disease. The cartilage in my left hip and decreased by 30% if not more now, and everything is getting worse. I get inflected infusions every 6 weeks along with Norco for daily pain. If I do not take my pain medication there are days I can not even get out of my bed due to my hips flaring so badly that I can not walk. In my lab results it never shows signs of inflammation but I can feel it daily. I have constant back pain & my hips will pop out of socket at any given moment. I had to fight for a diagnosis for so many years, I was once told I had psychosis, I was red-flagged in the ER for wanting pain medication and more. This has been an absolute nightmare and if things get any worse I don't know how much more I can take. The worst part about this is that everyday I wake up and act as if I have no pain at all. No one understands what I go through and I now have a severe dependency on Narcotic pain medication. I am in absolute misery. If there is anyone out there who can provide support I would greatly appreciate it.
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Now that I am not talking to my whatever best friend, I realized that her life is full of drama. I had grown tired of hearing her stories about her boyfriend many months ago. She basically had been monopolizing conversations for that long too. She pretty much stopped asking me questions about me. I passed her in front of her classroom the other day and didn't even look at her. I am...
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Does anyone here have a comfort item you carry with you when you go out? For example this is my doll, Annie, and I've recently been bringing her with me when I run errrands flor have an appointment. Holding her comforts me. I've bought her clothes, crocheted for her, I recently bought a personalized blanket with her name on it. Just wondering if anyone else has a comfort item.
I have chronic pain also with plain old bad bad OA but yours sounds like rheumatoid if they give you infusions. You are obviously a strong person to have fought for a diagnosis and now fighting the pain.
I do have a book recommendation and I wonder if using an electric wheelchair would be of help (we have a friend with some kind of fragile bone syndrome that uses one). The book is "When There is No Cure: How to Thrive While Living with the Pain and Suffering of Chronic Illness" by Craig Swenson, PharmD, PhD. Much of the time it is mind over matter at least to reduce our suffering.
I also tend to not talk about my pain to my husband and adult son unless it is really bad. I will tell him what is going on but I don't want to make our marriage all about my pain and suffering. Which is not nearly as bad as yours. Here it is difficult to get narcotic pain meds at all.
I like to read books and listen to interesting radio shows and podcasts. I try to keep my mind at peace and gives me another perspective besides my pain. I went to the library and grocery store this morning and came home and did a few things and now I am dying in pain along my left side. Going to lay down after lunch. But like you, I am trying to decide every day how to manage my pain.
My OA doctor (Rheumatologist) told me they can't do anything for OA but give me pain meds so I should be honest with her about this issue. Sometimes this forum is slow but keep coming back and I'll respond. I would think others will respond, too. Look around on here for the most current sites. There is one for depression, anxiety, healthy relationships, etc.