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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (7554)Comment receiving replies
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.
Replies to "Hi Kelsey! I'm cyndi garrison. I've had chronic pain most of my life due to spinal..."
@cyndigarrison thank you for your honesty and telling us the fact that even a doctor can get FM. I have had it for 40 years that I was diagnosed but believe I may even have had it when I was a child. My mother wouldn't listen to talk of pain or other side effects so I was expected to endure. Now my son had to face that chronic pain is different than acute pain because I am now going to a home. He will have to help me move and talked to his sister last night to see if there was anything else for me to do. I think now that instead of not wanting to help me, he didn't want to believe his mother was so ill. I too have not had a social life for years and feel blessed when my grandchildren visit.
@cyndigarrison
Thinking of you. I want to tell you how much I relate to your story. I was an RN in Oncology and became ill with RA, Fibromyalgia...I had just turned 30. No diagnosis for many years. Now my rheumatologist wonders if I've had Psoriatic Arthritis instead of seronegative RA. I spent my 30's resting in bed. I also had surgery and radiation treatments for a cancer diagnosis in those years. Because of that severe disabling fatigue and pain I lost my career. To close a practice and get on disability is life changing loss. We keep on going though! It's not the life I thought it would be but I'm grateful for living and for love. I became a published poet and jewelry maker. Creativity has been my best medicine. Wishing you all the very best in life!
@cyndigarrison I love your mindset and it's one that seems to be commone on here. People have their lives turned upside down, few people believe it, and yet we are happy and making the most of the lives we have been given. Your faith in the Lord is inspiring. I would be nothing and nowhere without my faith. Instead, I've gotten well enough that I am working again and starting a business targeting women who are going through this without relying on God and without knowing this is a beautiful life anyway. Crazy that it's come to this, but I feel like it brought me to where /i'm supposed to be, doing what God wanted me to do all along. I still have fibromyalgia, arthritist in my hands and wrists, and am prone to post viral syndrom (long covid is a form of this) and I have to be very careful with my energy levels, but my life is wonderful and I'm truly grateful for it!
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@cyndigarrison That is a very difficult load to carry. I am sure that all of us fellow commenters/patients here on Mayo Connect can empathize with you and hold you up with our prayers. May the Lord give you better days ahead!