Chronic Back Pain for Years

Thank you for identifying a very major issue....isolation based on ridicule and lack of unconditional acceptance from friends and family. At 75 and moving through the process of finding tolerance solutions to CMPS, and small fiber neuropathy, I find that, while smaller in number now because of my deselection process, the circle of friends that I choose to keep are supportive in every way. And having my own "wingman" has been an amazingly important asset. Also...I .want to give a shout out to the practice of mindfulness and meditation as well as a daily yoga program. Add that to weekly massage and carefully selected MM and I can find joy in living.

@jess1313. Do you take antidepressants? I started Celexa about 6 years ago, and it made my life so much better than it was up till then. Doctors are trained to try to make you better, but they don't know Everything. Isolation because of pain and medications is something that happens to many of us. Before we know it, we're totally alone. People find it hard to deal with our pain and complaints and the effects of medications. But, here we've all dealt with what you are going through. I hope you find encouragement and acceptance here, and that you will continue to share more about yourself with us.
- How old are you?
- What medications are you taking?
- Are you seeing a doctor or therapist now?
Thanks, Gail B. Ledesma

Please do not give up. There are a lot of us, who deal with chronic pain, and ask ourselves, where this pain is coming from and sometimes give up hope to get better. But please look at the positive things in live, and say, things could be worse! Please find a friend to talk to soon. Thinking of you, and feeling your pain.

Hi !! I'm Jeri. I have a failed fusion and sooooooo much pain. I have family but they either don't believe the intensity or put me down for taking strong pain meds. I too feel i am at the end of my rope.
Peace

Hi @jeriliz I hear you! In my wife's chronic pain situation her mantra became 'keep your own counsel'.

She tired of so many either offering advice as to what she should try (often based on no experience) and the all too common unfounded criticism of what methods and how she was trying to manage her pain.

She came to believe she was investing too much of her energy explaining herself and not enough of it caring for herself. So she would simply say 'I am doing what my doctor ordered' and carry on while doing her best to ignore the 'peanut gallery'.

Peace & Strength

Jessie,

I'm new here, too. Haven't found solutions, but have found people to share with. Wish I had more spirituality. But there's a thread for that, too. Best wishes.

Hi Jeri,my heart goes out to you,keep taking your pain killers.Its so very hard when your family don't support you when dealing with chronic pain,makes it so much tougher.I am in similar situation,they just don't want to hear about it and feel you should be able to put up with it,five years now for me.The pain meds just keep you sane in dealing with the pain,otherwise one couldn't cope.

I'm amazingly frustrated right now, I have had all kinds of back issues and broken shoulders and surgery after surgery on it, but I recently decided I was just going to get off pain medication because I wanted to see where I was that and if I could do it without it. It seemed like it was getting better but my neck was hurting and I've had a headache since I stopped all the medication. It's been over a month now and the headache is gotten worse. I'm basically bedbound by it.

Thank goodness one of my doctors did an MRI of my cervical spine which I got the results back from today. I can't even rename all the problems but basically my neck is a mess, no wonder I have headaches and neck pain. After I got the MRI results, I called my m pain management doctors. I deal with one of them that gave me narcotics, the other one does not and my internal medicine doctor. All everybody could tell me was that no one was willing to give me anything for pain relief other than in the NSIDs and few muscle relaxers. Those didn't do anything. I've been living on ice in bed.

They're only suggestion was for me to immediately get in to see a neurosurgeon, last thing I wanted to do or here. Fortunately I got into someone good within the next couple days. All of a sudden I'm afraid again, and my pain management doctor said he was not going to give me any more pain medication ever, I was tough and I could handle it. He was so proud of me for getting off of all meds, he would not put me back on anything no matter what. Wow did I shoot myself in the foot. Now I'm faced with neck surgery, or some other therapy I have no idea about, or living with unworkable pain.

I know as I go on for the next few months if I stay off any medication the pain is supposed to diminish as the number of pain receptors I have diminishes. I truly don't think that's going to make the problems in my neck any better.

I am now afraid everyone's gonna leave me without any alternative if my neck can't be fixed or it looks like surgery and all I know about our neck surgery or back surgery it that most fail. Would sure love to hear from somebody that has had positive cervical surgery. All I ever seem to hear here are the failures of all spinal surgery. I'd love to hear from someone that had a positive outcome. Thank you for listening, Jennifer

Jess, you are not alone.  It's horrible to be so depressed.  Have you checked with your Dr?  Also, be aware that thyroid problems can cause depression.

Hi jerliz, my name is Marie and I also had a spinal fusion and now the Dr is talking about doing another one but when I hear stories like yours I don't know what to do . Could yours be fixed? What happened? I am falling asleep so I will wait for your reply and answer it with my news. Good Luck.