Living in chronic pain

I empathize having chronic pain for 30 years. The light opioid use has gotten me through with grace. It is the only thing I take. I had a miracle after 30 years -- I found out that the gout was causing my all over body pain and inflammatory reactions. THIRTY YEARS. I'm on Allopurinol now (you can try Zazzee Tart Cherry Capsules to see if that may help you). I have Osteo Arthritis but my gout was entirely ignored by many many TOP doctors! Simple fix! Now I am much improved. New stop trying.
Also, now I have adapted to exercising WITH the pain. It is amazing! I got so angry at the pain that I lashed out at it with exercises. It really helps reduce the pain and release endorphins to help you be happier.
Sometimes I am quite miserable and I just "stop." and be miserable because aging with OA is horrible!
But here's my saving grace, my solace, my consolation: Being creative, curious and crafty! I am totally distracted from my misery by being totally involved in my PASSION.
My recommendation is to find your PASSION. Don't waste time on what you can't do anymore - find some things you CAN do. When you can't do anything than read a book or watch a movie.
Also - the weather makes my arthritis worse. 20 years ago when I figured this out I up and moved. Cost me a fortunate but it was well worth it. 20 years later, I probably need to move again. But I'm lazier about it.
I hope you will find some things to be passionate about!
And get a good therapist to help you through the things you can't control and to figure out what is in your power to overcome. That is helpful too!
Find a buddie - maybe from your church - who will periodically come by and just spend time with you. Figure out what interests you may have and focus on developing those when you are able. Good luck.

Hello, I have a lot of pain as my mother does. When I was younger during my working/career years I felt she just needed to get up and exercise. I had no idea how much pain she was actually in until now. She does not recognize any of us now and I wish I had been more understanding of what she was going through. Now it is too late. I have plenty of guilt even though we clashed most of my life and were not very close, at least as much as I wanted.
Oldest of six.

I empathize having chronic pain for 30 years. The light opioid use has gotten me through with grace. It is the only thing I take. I had a miracle after 30 years -- I found out that the gout was causing my all over body pain and inflammatory reactions. THIRTY YEARS. I'm on Allopurinol now (you can try Zazzee Tart Cherry Capsules to see if that may help you). I have Osteo Arthritis but my gout was entirely ignored by many many TOP doctors! Simple fix! Now I am much improved. New stop trying.
Also, now I have adapted to exercising WITH the pain. It is amazing! I got so angry at the pain that I lashed out at it with exercises. It really helps reduce the pain and release endorphins to help you be happier.
Sometimes I am quite miserable and I just "stop." and be miserable because aging with OA is horrible!
But here's my saving grace, my solace, my consolation: Being creative, curious and crafty! I am totally distracted from my misery by being totally involved in my PASSION.
My recommendation is to find your PASSION. Don't waste time on what you can't do anymore - find some things you CAN do. When you can't do anything than read a book or watch a movie.
Also - the weather makes my arthritis worse. 20 years ago when I figured this out I up and moved. Cost me a fortunate but it was well worth it. 20 years later, I probably need to move again. But I'm lazier about it.
I hope you will find some things to be passionate about!
And get a good therapist to help you through the things you can't control and to figure out what is in your power to overcome. That is helpful too!
Find a buddie - maybe from your church - who will periodically come by and just spend time with you. Figure out what interests you may have and focus on developing those when you are able. Good luck.

Namaste pain warriors,
I came here today, as it's 5.25am when I started writing this in England, I woke up at 3.00am due to the burning, dull radiating pain from my lumbar and sacrum spine, also the neurophatic pain disabling my left leg and ripping through my hip. I took some Pregablin, and co-codamol, rubbed inburopen gel on my lower back, hips and buttocks and laid on my tummy supported with pillows. Put on some relaxation music and did some deep breathing. That's my coping methods for getting through my symptoms. I live on my own with my cat, I'm 58 years old and still work, my work is part of my toolkit, if I didn't work I'd go crazy. I work freelance so the people who employ me put accomodations in place to support me to work. I know not every employer does that, but it is law in England.

I've read all your stories, and I feel humbled to be in such a warm and supportive space, we endure so much, not being understood by healthcare professionals, family and friends is so frustrating. I understand how difiicult it is to feel isolated and alone, being dismissed, ignored and not believed, it's a horrible state to live through. I'm going to put a different spin on this, and ask what can we do make our lives more comfortable? In what ways? Are we open to using your own body to help reduce the symptoms if only for 10-30 minutes? Those where the questions I asked myself, as I didn't want to drown in my pain, I wanted to live the best I could. When I have my really bad days, I'll rest, lay in bed with my electric blanket, pillows to support me and sleep because that's what my body needs in that moment.

I have lumbarsacral and cervical radiculopathy, fibromyalgia from a car crash in January 2013, and hypermobility, every day hurts physically, mentally and emotionally, I mask it to the world all the time, as I want to work, I can't afford not to. It's by no means easy, I paid for private counselling for three years and the counsellor listened to me and guided me to develop my coping strategies. I've always been into self help as I no one is coming to save me. I take it one day at a time, sometimes every hour at a time.

I keep my doctors and consultants on their toes by reading up on my condition, peer reviewed research so I have gained understanding of my conditons and what I need to do to live and survive. I studied sports therapy and gained a degree and holstic therapies so I understand how my body works. I use holistic therapies when I can afford them, but most of the time I use gentle movement and yoga when my symptoms flare up and deep breathing exercises, otherwise there is no way I would be able to cope. I eat nutrious health foods when I have the energy to cook and my son will bring me meals or food.

We all have on our individual journey's, but we are here, we are present and we are alive, managing, coping sometimes, maybe not, but know you are supported in this space. We can come here for support and I appreciate you.

I'm sending you all blessings and love, because I hear, feel and understand your pain, thanks for sharing and being here for me to vent to.
Big hugs. X

I ended up having a gout flare up 3 times before my doctor prescribed Allopurinol a few years ago, haven't had another flare up since. Quite possibly the most painful thing I've ever had to deal with.
I started building model cars again a couple of months ago after being out of the hobby for 45 years, and I'm loving it. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it, but I'm having some fun again for the first time in several years.
I wish we could move to a warmer climate, the Winters here in the PNW suck, and really do a number on my pain. 6 months of clouds, rain, and fog. But we live within an hour's drive of our kids and our grandkids, and I can't see us ever moving away from that.

I thought I was suffering, and I do have pain, but after reading everybody’s else, I feel better.
Ok, I’m just being funny.
But truly I appreciate the suffering I’ve read about above, and it seems my suffering is grade school compared to the college sufferers here.

The difference with my suffering is I know it can be over in a week. But because I don’t have a “diagnosis”… they won’t prescribe me the antibiotics I want,
When I had sufficient amoxicillin or keflex, I was running like a gazelle. But I ran out, and they won’t give me more.

It was like being in prison, and when I took antibiotics, I was declared innocent and released! Running, playing, full mobility and pain free!
And then I ran out. And the warden showed up and dragged me back to prison. So here I sit in my cell, remembering the 28 days this summer when I had no pain, just a great time biking, hiking, and everything else.

Of course the doctors don’t believe it. Even though I demonstrated it, showing up to the surgeon and running on the spot full speed in front of him. And telling him… I won’t stay this way as I ran out of amoxicillin.

Either doctor thinks I’m lying or nuts. He stopped looking at my hip and focused on my head.

I’ll just sit here in my pain prison and rot,

Namaste pain warriors,
I came here today, as it's 5.25am when I started writing this in England, I woke up at 3.00am due to the burning, dull radiating pain from my lumbar and sacrum spine, also the neurophatic pain disabling my left leg and ripping through my hip. I took some Pregablin, and co-codamol, rubbed inburopen gel on my lower back, hips and buttocks and laid on my tummy supported with pillows. Put on some relaxation music and did some deep breathing. That's my coping methods for getting through my symptoms. I live on my own with my cat, I'm 58 years old and still work, my work is part of my toolkit, if I didn't work I'd go crazy. I work freelance so the people who employ me put accomodations in place to support me to work. I know not every employer does that, but it is law in England.

I've read all your stories, and I feel humbled to be in such a warm and supportive space, we endure so much, not being understood by healthcare professionals, family and friends is so frustrating. I understand how difiicult it is to feel isolated and alone, being dismissed, ignored and not believed, it's a horrible state to live through. I'm going to put a different spin on this, and ask what can we do make our lives more comfortable? In what ways? Are we open to using your own body to help reduce the symptoms if only for 10-30 minutes? Those where the questions I asked myself, as I didn't want to drown in my pain, I wanted to live the best I could. When I have my really bad days, I'll rest, lay in bed with my electric blanket, pillows to support me and sleep because that's what my body needs in that moment.

I have lumbarsacral and cervical radiculopathy, fibromyalgia from a car crash in January 2013, and hypermobility, every day hurts physically, mentally and emotionally, I mask it to the world all the time, as I want to work, I can't afford not to. It's by no means easy, I paid for private counselling for three years and the counsellor listened to me and guided me to develop my coping strategies. I've always been into self help as I no one is coming to save me. I take it one day at a time, sometimes every hour at a time.

I keep my doctors and consultants on their toes by reading up on my condition, peer reviewed research so I have gained understanding of my conditons and what I need to do to live and survive. I studied sports therapy and gained a degree and holstic therapies so I understand how my body works. I use holistic therapies when I can afford them, but most of the time I use gentle movement and yoga when my symptoms flare up and deep breathing exercises, otherwise there is no way I would be able to cope. I eat nutrious health foods when I have the energy to cook and my son will bring me meals or food.

We all have on our individual journey's, but we are here, we are present and we are alive, managing, coping sometimes, maybe not, but know you are supported in this space. We can come here for support and I appreciate you.

I'm sending you all blessings and love, because I hear, feel and understand your pain, thanks for sharing and being here for me to vent to.
Big hugs. X

I hear you LOUD & CLEAR! I am in the same boat & it isn’t a good way to live…It seems as though NO ONE can help you….Why is that???!!! I wish our doctors could experience one day of our agonizing life & then maybe, just maybe they would really try to find some sort of answer to help us…..or perhaps there is no answer…I hope when I die I will go to heaven because this is HELL on earth…..God bless! 🙏

I actually believe science found already a cure for pain, but that would be the end of the pharmaceutical business.