Welcome, Yvonne. I certainly concur with you that living with non-stop pain is a life changer. I spent a couple of hours today weeding a flower bed. It's strange to me that I don't notice the pain when I'm out working in the yard, but it hits when I stop. For me, yard work is therapeutic. Walking, not so much! Walking just makes my pain worse. Have you found a particular activity to be good for your mind and spirit?

My experience with pain has been that it can easily deepen depression and anxiety, and in turn, depression and anxiety can make pain worse. It's a cyclical progression. It's helped me to understand that. I've seen that the cycle is less vicious because I recognize what's going on.

Finding a support system is a big deal, and there's a good one right here. Welcome.

Jim

Hi, Yvonne.

I've been in constant pain since having a stroke on Christmas Eve, 2018.

The pain isn't as severe as it was, but it's relentless. I haven't found a doctor who'll help -- one said, "You've put up with it this far, so there's no hurry now" -- so I just take it one hellish day at a time and hope for the best.

I try not to think about how much I have lost. I focus instead on what I can do.
Please check out my YouTube channel, "From Recovery to Discovery":
https://www.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos
I look forward to your feedback.
Best of luck to you!

I’m so sorry that you are dealing with so much.
I’m here trying to find help and relatability. Maybe like most others…?
I think as you read others experiences you begin to learn and heal to some extent. At least for me. I don’t feel so alone and that helps.
I pray you have good healthcare and wonderful pain management doctors. And if you don’t then start shopping for one. Good luck with everything and God Bless you.

Hi Yvonne, I'm so sorry for your struggles. When I first came to Connect I was in a four-year pain journey as well which changed my life. Since then I am happy to say that I learned many coping skills and use pain management tools that have helped me grow stronger physically and mentally.

As Jim @jimhd mentions, understanding the "cycle of pain" and how it affects us not only physically but behaviorally and emotionally is so important. A big step is being knowledgeable in order to move forward.

Outside of pain medication so much power comes from within yourself it's just not always easy to tap into it when when stressed, depressed and feeling anxious from chronic pain. Have you tried journaling your thoughts and feelings to get all of that out of your head and onto paper?

Getting to learn about your new self, your changed abilities and overall lifestyle change takes time to process and grieve. But, many of us here, like @scottrl, can attest to the fact that life goes on and we get stronger from our obstacles. I've found that problem solving, scheduling, modifying and moderating activity helps, in addition to taking care of mental health needs and self-care, all provide a foundation to living with chronic pain.

So glad you found this group, and I think you wanting to learn and share says a lot about you and your willingness to help yourself. Please allow yourself grace along your journey especially as you get to know life going forward. Keep hope alive and take it one day at a time! What hobbies or interests do you have that make you happy?