Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hello,
I am just joining this group. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you. Like the Holy Spirit, chronic pain has been my constant companion for the last 40 years or so. Much of it stems from child abuse. Then a bad fall injured my spine and put me in a wheelchair for 10 years on a ton of opiates. I got off of the opiates in 2014 which caused 9 1/2 hours of seizures, 2 strokes, and 5 wks in a coma. Such a blessing. It left the low back damage numb and I got out of the wheelchair, but left with dystonia in the left leg (severe palsy cramping of the muscles). I have adult onset epilepsy. I’ve had a heart condition that’s electrical for 26 years and just got an implant to monitor it. I went back to school in 2018 to make sure my brain was still working correctly. Went back to work for the IRS. Had my right hip replaced in 2023 from arthritis. That was about my 58th surgery. Fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and arthritis have all been my friends for many many years. I got new glasses January of 2023 and found out I had very bad cataracts from all of the steroid pain injections. Christmas Eve of 2024, the stairwell light was out at my apartment and I didn’t see the last two stairs. I walked off into nothingness; landed on my knees, and all of that excruciating nerve pain in my low back that had kept me wheelchair bound instantly came back. I was hoping it would go back to being numb… but no such luck. It also really irritated the severe stenosis in my neck and that pain was radiating down into the fingers of my right hand. I had cataract surgery in March of 2025. I refuse to take pain meds … so I have been wheelchair bound and off of work since March 2025. I was able to get pain shots in the low back which have allowed me to walk short distances only. The pain is centralized right at my tailbone now and radiates out from there. My neck is a different banana. I found out yesterday that it requires surgery… three vertebrae will have to be excised and replaced and a second surgery will be required somewhere down the line. So! That’s me! I’m almost always in a good mood. I have excepting techniques. I have only shared the highlights with you. I believe God has the foresight which we lack and that everything happens for a reason. We have to be our own best advocates and be grateful for the things we do have … because it can always worse. It’s nice to meet you all!

@laura1970 I agree with the person who didn't want you to give up. Giving up might seem like a way to go but it is not to a helpful track. It's not uncommon to ponder some type of escape. When something hurts it is very upsetting.

It's a good sign that you came here. Feel free to ask questions of others on what has helped them. Try to enjoy something/s every day. In a coping type class I took awhile back one suggestion seemed especially good. First, because it's easy to do & can be done anytime. It was to give yourself a comfy caring hug as often as you like. Be your own best friend and say nice things to yourself that sooth you. Even sing a song to yourself out loud or in your head. Humming is a universal self smoother. Science confirms it too. Please keep hanging in there. People do care about you always. Hope you find some help soon.

Hi Kelsey! I'm cyndi garrison. I've had chronic pain most of my life due to spinal problems and orthopedic injuries. I got Psoriatic Arhritis in my 30s then got fibromyalgia in my early 40s and that stole my life away. I was a very successful Ob/Gyn and became so deblitated that I had to close my practice and get on disability. I've been on biologic drugs for 21 years as well as opioids and other drugs for pain relief. I never have a pain free moment. I've had over 50 surgeries, mostly orthopedic. Part of my cervical spine and the rest of my spine from the 4th thoracic vertebrae to the sacrum is fused. So are 2 of joints of my left ankle and several toes. The autoimmune process has affected my central nervous system which has resulted in severe peripheral sensory and motor neuropathies and I have small fiber neuropathy as well. And hypothyroidism and IBS/C. And all of that is just a challenge. I can deal with that. Im tough! But what gets me down is the severe chronic fatigue that keeps me in bed most of my days. I no longer have a social life but am very blessed by the Lord and have wonderful loving friends and family! So life is a challenge but its still good! Thank you for having me in the group.

Oh my gosh! After all your suffering you still have a great attitude. May God continue giving you strength to face your situation.

@msshonda Wow! You have been through it!

I am curious about the injection that you received for the pain radiating from your tailbone. Did they tell you what type of injection it was? Like where they placed the needle.

@joelhoward1092
Yes they did tell me. L5 and S1 both sides.