Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

I agree with you.
Hard to stay upbeat lately.

Hi to all,

I'm 65 and have had back issues for 20 years at least. My last 2 falls to my back is what did me in. I have stenosis in from my cervical to coccyx areas. I have spondolothesis in my low back which makes it difficult to stand straight up and to walk. It has dramatically impacted my social life and anything outside of my home. I've seen 2 surgeons who both said my only option is multiple fusions and I won't have that.

I know I need a walker but I'm just too stubborn to use one. I want to learn to walk upright with better posture. I have been on multiple pain medications since 1998 and currently, Methadone for 6 years. I don't like taking it but I can't imagine being without it.

I've had a lifelong passion for all animals and I still do animal welfare work and have 7 cats we adopted in 2014 as orphans and bottle fed. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time cleaning. I am married but have no children. I guess my cats are the substitute. I worked as a CNA in 3 nursing homes and 18 years in a electronics company. I had to resort to disability in 2000. My heart goes out to all of you

Janet (Iowa)

I'm sorry to hear that you too have to push through but don't push too hard. I also worried about my spine years ago and how it will feel as I age. At 65, it's tough because it's hard facing aging alone and with chronic pain, it's unbearable at times. Can I ask how old you are? And does the cannabis help the pain at all for you? I'm in Iowa where we have some of the toughest cannabis laws so I'm not able to try it. Just curious because I hear so much about it. I hope you take care of your back and push easy.. Janet

Hello All,

Susan here. About 4 hours ago I got a call from my PCP’s office (it is Sunday).
I had an X-ray of my back last week,and the report says that I have a grade 1 spondylolisthesis L4-L-5 13 mm interval is significantly worse than previous MRI.

I don’t know what to make of this. All I know is standing is painful…

Hi my name is Randi.
I am new to the group.
I suffer with severe stenosis and right hip pain that I thought was due to a tear in my glute max an min. I had Tenex procedure done in April 2024. It helped but still dealing with pain. I’m using meds and performing PT 3 times a week. I hope to find others that may have had or still have this problem and found a way to at least be able to sleep on your side without severe pain. I also use 5mg lignocaine patches at night and use a pillow between my knees.

Finding the line between the right amount and too much activity is a challenge.
Nearly 68 with a long history of physical activity. Keeping active in nature helps with attitude and physical health. Cannabis is readily available where I live. Smoking it would be deadly. Using cannabis is tricky on many fronts, but worth it considering opiates have great downsides. Anyway, regarding cannabis, sorry that it's not an option for you. There's much to learn and understand, and each person is different. I can no longer use NSAIDS due to organ damage. True also for methotrexate which worked great for my condition. My back is 1/6th of the chronic pain I deal with. Attitude and personal characteristics allow me to enjoy life while debilitated according to my docs.

Hi I’m Leiah. I have had Chronic Pain, shock pain, and tingling in my body since I had a late miscarriage out of state at 28 years old, and didn’t know I needed a Rhogam shot….I got suuuper ill, and had to use a cane, I’ve been fighting like crazy to try to train my mind to think of good things, especially in the morning, just be present, and to take care of myself gently! I do not use the cane anymore, even though sometimes maybe I should… I basically meditate as much as possible even when I’m standing. I try to go to a place in my mind that is not busy, and stay there. I was able to carry to full term finally yay after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis I was started on levothyroxine, my now 1st grader is autistic, who is also ODD, so my life is literally stress, and dodging bullets. I fought (and his Doctor) through all of Kindergarten to get him an IEP, to no avail. They called me so much an hour after drop off, that I am now homeschooling. A lot of people have failed me in my life, a lot of trauma, I was an SSRI’s guinea pig from 18-38 with every new med w/suicidal thoughts symptoms, and a lot of heartache, and even mandatory stays. I will get through the stress, and I will never stop fighting, praying, giving myself grace through the crazy life I live! 🙂 I know I’ve got this!

My post herpetic neuralgia began almost 3 years ago--just out of the blue. However, a couple of days after it began I had a large blue vein surface between my ribs. It went away the next day but the pain remains. My guess is, I did some movement/injury that caused the nerves to react and why the vein protruded. I've used all the usual meds and treatments and with images and injections and deep muscle treatments. It has been 20 years since I had shingles, so it seems unreasonable to connect shingles and this current pain, but no one has offered any other explanations. Will it ever go away? I can function but sometimes it is a bit depressing.

I have advanced degenerative osteoarthritis. I am in constant pain and I am very allergic to pain medications. I. do not take any ever, even when I have had surgeries. I am active as I can be, have a puppy who keeps me busy and maintain my home. Sleeping ar night is very poor as I am often awake every hour or so. I don't know if there is anything I can do. I am 87 years old and in good health otherwise. I keep going but it is hard to ignore the pain and weakness I feel night and day.

Hello, lesliehawkinson, I also have advanced degenerative osteoarthritis. Reading your introduction I was impressed by your writing that you are "as active as I can be, have a puppy who keeps me busyand maintain my home." I'll briefly introduce myself (this is my first time here) so that my comments may be more meaningful. Pain , both chronic and acute are horrible things that I live with, get angry with because I love life and the pain often interferes with my quality of life. I have end stage arthritis in both shoulders, have had 3 surgeries on my right hip (2 were "revisions" -- the first orthopedist was negligent-- and discussion was had about a 4th surgery because the prosthesis, now about 20 years' old, is loose, not straight in the femur, and is hanging on to scar tissue only. I am 75, and like you, "otherwise healthy" (most of my joints, my back also -- herniated discs and severe stenosis-- are also affected. The prosthesis cannot be replaced mainly because there is nothing to hang it on to except scar tissue and atrophied muscles, so I have to walk and move carefully, not knowing what will happen next.Apparently, the greater trochanter was the bone the prosthesis was originally attached to, but it became "reabsorbed." I don't understand how a bone can be "reabsorbed." If that is so, (a touch of black humour!) then I may as well get a refund for my cremation plans!
Pain. Yes. Unlike you, I have always taken pain killers, though up till now, not NSAIDS as they gave me a stomach ulcer (now cured.) I have, in my arsenal against pain : lyrica,oxycodone,and.....I carefully use NSAIDS now, since the inflammation in my knee (only slightly arthritic) is unbearable due to the loose hip prosthesis, and the tibia is also involved -- the pain there is also unbearable. These medications have horrible side effects, but they take the edge off the pain, and I am able to sleep sometimes 4 hours a night. My coping strategies are distraction and laughter. Yes, laughter is the best medicine. Talking and listening to other people means I can't think of myself. I also know that when I MOVE, initially it may be agony, but stretching exercises, walking, keeping muscles from atrophying further is essential. When I stretch, (my arms, for example), I'm following physiotherapists on Youtube, as Physio clinics are expensive, and although pain is always present, I feel in control when I've successfully moved (with an ominous clicking of osteophytes) in baby steps, a little each day. I have a walker but don't often use it, as I don't want to be dependent on aids for movement.
Lesliehawkinson, you're not getting quality sleep, and sleep is important in reducing pain. If you can learn to relax fully, (with pain I automatically tense up) with calming teas, audio-visuel aids (listening to specialised tapes with hypnotic, kindly voices, white noise, soothing music etc.) then you might be able to sleep better and wake with less pain. I have written a lot, when I have flare-ups, I'm incapacitated for a few days, and have to lie down, but I do take prescription meds for the pain. They help. Replying to you has helped me strengthen my resolve that I refuse to let pain rule my life entirely. My joints (some of them don't exist anymore) have failed me but I find distractions help me regain a sense of control over my life.