Pain and Depression

Hello. I am not in chronic pain, but I have had excruciating migraines, in the past, ( menopause took care of them), and a 3 day TMJ, where I couldn't stop crying, and feeling hopeless. I was told to do meditation, by doctors who never had experienced these problems. I had several dental problems, as it turns out. The good news is that many top hospitals are in clinical trials for non- addictive pain killers, and new anti- depression medicines. They are configured CBD, and THC cannabis products. Pfizer is one of the many drug companies conducting trials. I truly believe they will be the start of a new class of medicines. After the 2024 November election, Washington will give the go ahead. After all there are billions to be made!! My sister, who is in severe chronic pain is getting ketamine infusions at UCLA. It is working well. There is also a nasal spray, esketamine, for depression. Of course, these trials are only taking place in states where it is allowed.

Meditation?!? That’s insane. Migraines and tmjd are horrible conditions. My dentist told me he never in his life had a headache. I said to him, You’re very lucky. I could not believe it. I have a bite where I’d need my jaw broken and wired shut to correct my bite. I thought that was drastic. I have lost and replaced more teeth because of the grinding and Bruxism. I appreciate that pain. Migraines are no picnic. Medication causes there own problems, but I think that is right up there with nerve pain, burns and back pain. Thank you for the information. That is hopeful…

Back in '72, when I was in the army, I had that procedure to correct my bite. Broke lower jaw, moved it forward and wired jaws shut. Worst part was having the wires put in place on upper and lower teeth to provide a place to wire them together. That was excruciating! Not sure it really helped. But, at least it didn't cost me anything.

You are gutsy! I didn’t have the nerve to do it. It would have saved my teeth but that is that. If you still have your teeth I’m gonna bet it helped in that capacity.

I think it’s normal in the course of chronic pain. It’s difficult to be delightful when hurting so badly. Much less the inability to do normal things that others may take for granted.

What I do when I have screeching moments of incredible pain I allow myself to express the pain by feeling it, but as soon as it reduces intensity I don’t permit myself to get swept away…at least not until the next wave of pain. Its a rollercoaster of emotions. I even get angry at my pain. I call it names. It sometimes feels like it is ruining life or at least changing me to someone who can’t move normally and it makes me sad. I am in between acceptance of life changing because I can’t change what’s happened. So I’m forced to deal with the realities of it and what it can do to change mental outlook. At times all I can to is stay off my feet. I hate it. It is so limiting. There are times I force myself to be on feet regardless of the pain because I mean what the heck am I to do, get laid up indefinitely? I refuse to accept that. So I’m doing what I can to change trajectory of life. Realistic or not. I can fight it for mental health. I do fight to be sound when having breaks in between pain fits. It can and does get depressing. It wears on a person. But it helps to talk about it. I hope you get relief. I talk to someone. Therapy helps. To prevent me from slipping into full on depression. I’ve been there, don’t wish to return. I hope you can talk more about it. It helps.

I've been feelt iting better since the hainstallation of a morphine pain pump. Still in the "adjusting period", where I go in every two weeks to get it amped up a notch. At this point, there are some decent days and still some less than stellar days. But, at least I am able to get back to doing a lot of the things that I was previously not able to do. There is a button on the remote that allows me to give myself a temporary boost of meds. I may try this today, because I have a lot more pain than usual. It may be a result of working outside yesterday on my deck for a number of hours.

I’m opening this thread again because I didn’t want to consume all the air in another thread where some of us, including me, were discussing personal pain management…

I don’t think I have a particularly high tolerance to pain, or a mild case of …name a major cause of chronic pain… I’m 84 and have gathered my share of Spirit breakers, if you know what I mean. I have had pretty bad RLS, chronic fatigue since mid 30’s; 2 knees that were to be replaced, several compressed discs and arthritis of the spine, gout in my left foot and hand, COPD, Peripheral Neuropathy and several issues with my heart…but life is good!!
I might have said, “And life stinks!” But I CHOOSE not to. Am I stronger than others? No! Have less pain? Hell no!
To me I keep my promises… to my friends, to my family and TO myself. I promised (chose) to do whatever I could to stay as independent as I can for as long as I can. And to do that I CHOSE, among other things, to work out in some manner every day.
I am not saying that is easy but you know what Yoda says “Do or don’t do. There is no try”

I've been feelt iting better since the hainstallation of a morphine pain pump. Still in the "adjusting period", where I go in every two weeks to get it amped up a notch. At this point, there are some decent days and still some less than stellar days. But, at least I am able to get back to doing a lot of the things that I was previously not able to do. There is a button on the remote that allows me to give myself a temporary boost of meds. I may try this today, because I have a lot more pain than usual. It may be a result of working outside yesterday on my deck for a number of hours.