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Hi,

     No two people have the exact same pain, but there are a lot of us who can relate.  I always have pain, but get short reprives with self hypnosis, and although a lot of people don't want to hear this, I just give myself to God.  I don't know how I would have made it without God in my life.  Well, yes I do; I would have ended it.  But I know that God has a plan and a purpose in my life.  I can be out and about for an hour or two, then half to lay down.  I only sleep a couple of hours at a time.  I could bitch on and on, but I try to make the best of it.  I have found that sometimes reading takes me away from reality or sometimes it's a good movie or even music.  I do know that if I spend a lot of time thinking about my pain, it only makes it worse.

     Perhaps the purpose of me having to deal with this, is that I am an encouragement to my friends and people I run into.  They have a bad day at work or whatever, then think of me and think that if I can keep a smile on my face and keep going, they can too.  Of course, I don't always have a smile on my face.  We all have those tough times when we wonder how we can go on with the pain (especially at 4 am). Somehow we make it through those times.

     I doubt that I have been any help, but hypnosis, acupuncture, biofeedback are the things that have helped me most, but, as you have probably figured out, you just must make the best of it.

Scooby

Karen I'm so sorry your going through so much.  Many here do understand daily chronic pain non stop.  I have trouble sleeping due to being in one spot for so long, when I wake up it takes a while to get out of bed. Some times naps are better.  I get enough rest to make it through the rest of the day.  You can always ask for a second opinion, another doctor, or want to see a specialist.  I know it's very frustrating when no one can tell you whats wrong with you so you know how to get better.  Hang in there, your not alone, feel free to vent away, ask anything, we'll do our best.  Take good care of yourself.

does this ever get any better?

hi there and welcome to disaboom

yes we all hnow what pain is like on different levels

there isnt awhole lot you can do but make the best of the time you have

on gods planet

enjoy and take in everything you can

try to do different things that will take your mind

away from the pain  reaad watch a good movie

make up a good day dream while laying down put yourself in

a different atmosphere

its hard i know i live with pain 24/7

can hardly do anything

bending twisting and turning are a big no no for me

best of luck

and dont give up hope

 

Hey Everyone! 

 

Haven't written for awhile due to deep depression and computer problems, but I'm back and doing much better finally....and the computer too! LOL

 

No, I don't have anything better for pain yet....still waiting to see the Fibromyalgia specialist on April 30, but my dr suggested I try a medication for my depression and mood swings and it is working really well.  It is actually an anti-seizure medication, but they also give it to people with bipolar to help stabilize their moods and I cannot believe how much better I feel since going on it.  It is called Lamotrigine and I take one 25mg. dose twice a day.  I started on one dose per day and after two weeks started with the two doses per day.  I am also still on an antidepressant that I have been on for years, so maybe between the two I have finally found the right recipe that works for me.  Hallelujah! 

 

I am able, with getting better sleep and the help with the mood disorder, to fight the pain and manage it better throughout the day and the week.  Not waking up feeling depressed has changed my outlook and my whole life in an enormous way.  So, if anyone is living with depression, please do go and get help for it.  No one has to live like that in this day and age with all the drug treatments there are to choose from.  I, personally, cannot take the more common antidepressants called SSRI's because they all gave me migraines, but I take Remeron, or generically called Mirtazapene.  I had no side effects from this one and it did help a lot at first.  It is a Tricyclic antidepressant and not an SSRI. 

 

I am going to be moving at the end of May, so I am wondering and worrying how I will handle all the packing up and extra work this will cause and how I will get through the pain of it all, but I really need to be in a bigger apartment, as living in 2 small rooms was making me crazy.  I finally got a place through the subsidized housing agency here in Canada and once I am settled in there, I know it will also do a lot to help me feel more positive and more relaxed.  It also has a balcony, so I will be able to enjoy sitting outside without having to go all the way out.  I will love that!  I am just concerned about all this work setting me back with my pain, but I am trying to trust in God that I will have help if I need it, and if I can bring myself to ask, and that I will not end up with more than I can handle.  I am starting now to pack a little bit every day that I can, so if I can keep that up, maybe it will not seem so overwhelming. 

 

Anyhow, please keep me in your prayers and I know that will help me gather the strength I need to get this done.  At least I have a more positive attitude now, and not being in that terrible depression state will help me to have more energy too.  Thanks to all for your support and encouragement.  It means a lot and I am so grateful.

 

Gentle Hugs,

Maggie

Hello Karen,

 I read your post and was taken back to a place I thought did not exist. My prayers and heart go out to you. I had C4/C5 splintered into spinal cord, fracture T, and fracture S1 after accident. At the time I did not think I was hurt that badly and continued my daily life. Only until I could not raise my head and had trouble walking/standing did Dr's do further testing which by then the nerve damage was done. For two years I hurt 24/7, the only way I can describe it is crazy unbeliveable widespread pain from my neck down to my feet. I slept only two maybe three hours every three to four days. I know you are hurting severly and the last thing you want is to read about someone elses pain.

 I tell you only because I was at a point were I was fighting for my life. Looking for anything other than narcotics which helped some but not much and I was so against using drugs knowing what it does to your body. I knew if I did not have a good support plan I would not make it. I always fell back on these things, if one failed I went to another. Anything to get me thru another hour or day. 

 I concentrated on someone else. My partner of 20 years was dignosed with stage 4B Lymphoma less than one week after my first and most dangerous surgery. I was told chances were I would come out parylized but by the grace of God I did not. Even in my condition I was the only person my partner trusted and relied on me to make all medical decisions. When that failed I went to family thinking if I ended my own suffering what it would do to them. When that failed I went to prayer, almost constant prayer for sometimes days on end. When that failed I went to self imagery. When that failed I sat and listned to the clock tick the seconds thinking if only I can make it to the next minute until I was in a state of almost self hypnosis. Many times they all failed and I just held on.

 I did find that a whirlpool tub helped, at least while I was in it. Which meant spending sometimes all night in the tub with the jets on. My Mother has Fibromyalga and diabetic neuropathy. She recently got a whirlpool tub which has helped her pain a lot. 

But the thing that saved my life was getting to reputable pain clinic which tried many treatments and combination of drugs until I can at least somewhat live . I know without there help I would not be here now.

 I do not know your pain, only you can, but know that you are not alone. Please keep trying. There is a Doctor out there that can help you. Nobody should have to live their life in uncontrolable pain. Please let us know how you are doing.

Peace,

Charles

Hello Everyone!

 

Just wanted to let you know that I had my appointment with the Fibromyalgia Specialist yesterday in Toronto (Canada) and I think I have finally found the right dr to actually help me.  After four long years of suffering, I am ecstatic!  He has assured me that we will try all the options (including pain meds if need be) until we find what works for me for relief.  You have no idea (well, maybe you do) the relief I felt in hearing those words.  Finally, someone who not only cares and listens to me, but who is prepared to do whatever it takes to help me.  I was so relieved to finally find some actual, genuine, help that I cried when I left his office. 

 

He is starting me on a drug for Parkinson's Disease, which they sometimes use for Fibromyalgia patients also.  Evidently, it works to stop the messages to your brain of exessive pain signals.  I don't even pretend to understand it, but I'm willing to try anything at this point.  He did warn me that one of the common side effects can be severe nausea, and that I experience that within the first few days, to stop taking it and call his office and he will fax another prescription for something else to try.  He said the severe nausea doesn't happen with everyone, but if it does, it is not something that will lessen or get better with time.  So I am hoping for the best and will be taking the first dose tonight before bed.

 

After a very long, painful and depressing winter, I finally feel some hope again and that maybe life could actually be livable after all.  I am in a lot of pain from travelling all day yesterday, but it was well worth the trip.  I am also counting my blessings that I hung in there til now, as hard as it has been, and I hope this offers some hope to others who are still trying to find that dr that will help them.  Don't give up....they are out there.....I didn't believe it either after so many who did nothing for me and who didn't even listen, but it did finally happen. 

 

Just wanted to share my good news, and now I have to get busy packing up for my move on May 27.  I have hardly done anything yet and I need to get cracking! LOL  If this drug works, that should help a whole lot with getting it done on time.  I pray that everyone out there who is still suffering can just find the courage to hang in there until they finally get to that dr that will "the one".  I hope that this gives others hope.....I know I had lost mine....but I now have it back again and I am so grateful.

 

Gentle Hugs,

Maggie