I was wondering what people do when the pain is really beginning to discourage them? Today I saw a friend who is a chronic pain patient and they finally diagnosed her and they've been giving her the painkillers she needs and she's been moving around and getting up and everything so much better than she has in about a year. She looks great and she seems really chipper. And here I am with my pain spiking in ridiculous ways the past two months and I mean I feel so happy for her and am just overjoyed that her pain is coming down and she can do things again, but it was also so very discouraging. I just came up and laid down on the couch and started crying.
So what do you all do when you feel discouraged about your pain?
I am living with several major illnesses, kidney faliure, strokes, heart attack, and recently endometriosis requiring narcotic pain management.
I rely on positive thoughts, such as.. the arrival of my son from school, a phone call to an old friend, sitting outside on nice days, write a letter, checking in here...I break my days up into tiny little pieces, and keep my tasks small as well.
I think long range thinking makes everything daunting and overwhelming., where as focusing on all the tiny good things that happen to us each day gives us a sense of belonging and participating in life.
I imagine your friend did not enjoy the pain relief since the beginning, she has likely been through several adjustments of her medications, and committed time to each one. I encourage you to devote the same time and trials to get your medications working just as well as your friends....it does happen!
You can always drop by here, there is always someone who could use a listening ear...
The Following User Says Thank You to writeleft For This Useful Post: greatoldthings (11-08-2010)
I know the feeling! My pain doctor decided to take my Cymbalta away. No reason, just "let's try getting rid of these". The PA didn't understand why either so she tried another NSAID. It didn't work so she put me back on the Cymbalta. All this time my blood glucose has been going nuts. This morning it was 240 before breakfast. So, my pain is up, my sugar is up and I feel like crap. But, I will go to church and try to stay away from some of "those" people. As much as I want to just to back to bed, I will participate in life today!
The Following User Says Thank You to Frederick123 For This Useful Post: greatoldthings (11-08-2010)
I think it's going to take some time to adjust my train of thought, but I am going to try hard to just stay positive. I went to church today because I really try not to let the pain control my life. I still feel discouraged when I sit somewhere I used to be able to stay for hours and not have any problems, now I can only be there for a few minutes and I'm dying to go back home.
It does take time and commitment, but once you start seeing things in more of a positive light, it will become easier, eventually second nature.
I find myself stopping when confronted with a situation and deciding which way I am going to react, the positive way, or the negative way. If I respond without thought it may be instantly negative, but just the momentary thought of reacting in a positive way becomes much more sensible, with positive results.
Good Evening Friends,
When I get discouraged I remind myself that this is a temporary situation. My feeling is that if they could put a man on the moon, they can take care of my pain.
When I was at my worst I used to remind myself of how lucky I am to be living in the greatest country in the world, in a wonderful area, that I'm married to the most wonderful man in the world, that I have two amazing kids, a job that I'm passionate about, and a great and loving family. In other words, I count my blessings. In addition I remind myself that I'm in control of my health, and I do everything possible to lessen the pain. In addition to taking my meds I meditate, read, use ice, do stretching exercises, and whatever else I can do to feel better.
I also think of things my parents taught me. For example, "For every problem, there is a solution". Then there's, "No matter what happens we must keep our sense of humor". I also recall my parents stories of when they were young, and how difficult it was living through the Great Depression, and World War II.
There's an old Irish story about a group of people who were complaining about their problems. God gathered them in a circle and had everyone tell the group their own problems, and then one by one they put their problems in the middle of the circle. When they were finished, God told the people to go into the middle of the circle and take any problem they wanted. When all was said and done, every one took their own problems back.
I've learned to put my pain into perspective. Yes, it's difficult at the moment, but in the big picture of life, it's a small matter.
I hope that my sharing helps someone.
Feel better,
Peggy
The Following User Says Thank You to Pegala For This Useful Post: greatoldthings (11-08-2010)
Peggy, I wish I could have your attitude. I know God won't let us handle any more than we are able. I also know He likes to push the limit!
Frederick,
Thank you for the compliment. I agree with your comment about God pushing the limit. In reply to God doesn't give us more than we can handle, I say, but I wish he wouldn't trust me so much.
Have a great week.
Peggy
I agree. Sometimes I feel like I am being pushed to the limit and I have to remind myself that God's grace is sufficient enough for me. I tell myself that over and over whenever I am feeling especially down.
I am trying to not thinking about the big picture of me being in pain the past seven years and how much longer I could be in pain, but just look ahead to what tomorrow may bring. It really makes it much easier for me to be more positive about everything. And I have to remind myself that there are so many good things in life despite the fact that I hurt. Such as I have such a great supportive family, many great loving friends, and despite everything I am doing fantastic in school. I just have to remember there is more to life than pain.
Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. They mean more than I can say.
Resa
The following user gives a hug of support to greatoldthings: Fabrashamx (11-09-2010)
Hi Resa, I know how hard it can be, but hang in there. It took me 15 years in pain management before I found the doctor I have now and went on methadone, which gave me back a life I thought was gone forever. I promise you won't have to wait that long, doctors are more and more being better educated about pain control, it is much easier to find a doctor to help you than it used to be.
May I ask who treats your chronic pain now? Maybe you could try switching to your primary doctor, thats who treats me, or can you switch to the same doctor your friend has? It's okay to have a good cry, just remember tomorrow is another day, and we will always be here for you. Take care, Fabby
Hi Fabby and Resa..I'm having an extremely hard time with my pain management and the doctors. I've been told about methadone and at this point, I think that's the only thing that is going to help me but finding a doctor that would prescribe it is a whole nother story. My regular doc freaked when I asked about it. I've tried hydrocodone, lyrica, oxycodone, fentanyl patches, and now zanaflex and anti depressants....which I can't take. So I agree about being pushed to the limit and worse, feeling so helpless. jusbeth
Hi! I am amazed that so many doctors will prescibe other strong meds like the patch, but not methadone, which is cheap and works really well. It does take more watching by the doctors, they have to titrate you on and off of it very slowly, because methadone acts differently than other opiates, and you need an EKG once in awhile, but the results are so worth it. If I were you I would keep looking for a doctor that will let you try it, or try and educate your doctor on it although some doctors freak out if we mere mortals presume to tell them anything, lol. Good luck and hang in there!
~Fabby
Hello Friends,
The other day I wrote about how God never gives us more than he can handle, but sometimes I wish he wouldn't trust me so much. Well, he zapped me again.
I went to work on Monday morning, feeling fine, in a great mood. Within 2 hours I was in the hospital. I was having a stroke. You betcha, one minute I was fine, the next I was having trouble getting my words out.
The good news is... the stroke was mild, minor, and the only lasting side effect is some speech deficits. You can understand me, but it doesn't sound like me. I'm home, and doing well. I can go back to work next week.
I learned one more time that we never know what will happen, that we have to take each day as a blessing, and live life to the fullest.
I know that I was off topic a bit, thanks for letting me share.
Peggy
The following user gives a hug of support to Pegala: greatoldthings (11-11-2010)
Hi! I am amazed that so many doctors will prescibe other strong meds like the patch, but not methadone, which is cheap and works really well. It does take more watching by the doctors, they have to titrate you on and off of it very slowly, because methadone acts differently than other opiates, and you need an EKG once in awhile, but the results are so worth it. If I were you I would keep looking for a doctor that will let you try it, or try and educate your doctor on it although some doctors freak out if we mere mortals presume to tell them anything, lol. Good luck and hang in there!
~Fabby
**
Fabby, I totally agree with you..on everything. Heaven help us if we try to tell a DOCTOR that we know more about our pain and what we need, than they do. But that's the doctor I've got. So yes, I'm still looking, but dealing with this without any pain meds in the meantime is more than hard to deal with. But thank you. jusbeth
I appreciate this thread. Most certainly when we are in in active flare up and get so down. I do think it is a cycle thing, that we get down because of the active flare up.
Life can throw you bad curves to no matter what time of year, even worse as the holidays approach.
My sis whom i dearly love is also dealing with many things we are dealing with.
Her family though has great health insurance and a job. She got to go in for some spinal injections that really helped her. I was so happy she got to go in for treatment, not worry about the cost. She also still manages to work full time an amazing lady.
Recently my husband got a pink slip. Already had been in active stage of my situation , Bad flare ups and can not go in because of lack of health care.
Frederick123, i really get what you are trying to say about nada more then we can handle. However there comes a point like the op stated, it does get dark dreary. Fred glad you recognized there is a direct correlation between flare ups with pain and high sugar readings, Regardless of how well or how careful we were eating.
While some folks here mentioned the tricks and faith, it truly becomes one moment at a time. One pain wave at a time, deep breathing....
A while back before the holidays i started a long thread on how as a chronic pain person deal with the extras. This year i did one of the things on the list.
The few folks we shop fore did it early got it all done and sent a short note, stating in these times this was the way we could do things....
So my encouragment to op and each other one pain wave moment at a time.
The Following User Says Thank You to zoey1 For This Useful Post: jusbeth (11-18-2010)
I love the holidays! They make me feel so much better. They really give me something to look forward to. Such as seeing family, eating great foods, no school!
However when it rains it pours. My pain has been ridiculously high the past month and I finally got in to see my doctor who may be slow but he's thorough and is trying to cover every possible area of what could be causing so much pain. But instead of discussing my problems he prescribed me some Tramadol (I don't know why he does this, it doesn't help!), then spent the rest of the visit telling me about his move to New York City in a month. Fantastic. Even if he wasn't the greatest doctor he actually acted like he cared about my pain and now I have to start with some new doctor. Not the way I wanted my holidays to start.
I shouldn't complain so much. I have a wonderful supportive family and a Mom who would fly to the moon and back if she thought it would help take my pain away. It's just one of those little things that makes you feel slightly depressed.
Anyway, thank you all for letting me complain. Hope you're all having as good a week as you can.
I think you need to take your dad with you to the doctors to impress on him the severity of your pain and that he needs to do something more than Tylenol. Sometimes you need to get a bit forceful and make sure you don't leave without proper attention. The guy doesn't care now he is moving on and all he cares about is the new experience for him. Or I would go back to the surgery and let them know you need medical help. You could have gotten that at the chemist. That or find another doctor. You need to get your pain under control so you can have some quality time with family not just be in pain the whole time. Sorry if I get a bit pushy but it really gets to me when I here about people like that. And that is all he is just another person so don't let them intimidate you. Well good luck with getting your pain down and have a good holiday.
Allan
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25-Nov-2010: ALIF fusion L5-S1. 9 years of Chronic lower back pain. Nearly 18 months of pain across my upper pelvis, through my butt and down my left leg into my foot. Sciatica relieved by surgery.
Good Evening,
Great Things-you say that your doctor talked about his upcoming move to New York City. Has he given you the names and phone number for other pain specialists in the area? If not I'd call him first thing in the morning and get that info. I'd also be on the phone tomorrow calling prospective doctors and getting an appointment for continued pain control. Unfortunately when one doctor leaves an area and all of his patients have to be absorbed by the other existing doctors it creates problems. I've heard of people who had a Dickens of a time getting into a new doctor for one of several reasons including, some of the doctors are not accepting new patients, some of them are not accepting former patients of doctor X, some of them are only accepting X number of patients from doctor X and if you wait and end up being X plus one you're out of luck, also some doctors won't see you until they have reviewed your records from doctor X and they tell you that they can't help you, no explanation, just that they can't help you.
None of us want you to be left out in the cold, so you need to be proactive and get yourself into a new doctor.
Please let us know how you're doing.
Peggy
I think Pegala gave you great advise, act on it right away!! Allanbruce did also when he referred to dad. I don't know exactly how old you are, but if you are attending college, I can only assume you're between 18 and 22. Still young enough to need your parents-thats for sure! Perhaps they should be more (physically) involved in helping you with your medical problems? For example,going with you to every doctors appt.? Or perhaps they have and I'm just not aware of it? Sometimes male docs just don't take us females seriously, esp. if we are alone. But if we are with a husband or parent, it makes a difference. Sexist, I know; but a reality....janiee
Hi Fabby and Resa..I'm having an extremely hard time with my pain management and the doctors. I've been told about methadone and at this point, I think that's the only thing that is going to help me but finding a doctor that would prescribe it is a whole nother story. My regular doc freaked when I asked about it. I've tried hydrocodone, lyrica, oxycodone, fentanyl patches, and now zanaflex and anti depressants....which I can't take. So I agree about being pushed to the limit and worse, feeling so helpless. 
jusbeth
