Anyone else feel Isolated and not go out due to chronic pain?

@spenjen I desperately need a pain support group. But i was Kicked off Facebook, in 2021, for (suspicious activity) and have not been able to get back on. Was told i would need to change my phone number etc... Have tried many times & still can't get back on... Any suggestions? I am getting a pain pump trial on 25th

@cynbell YES! I’ve thought the exact same thing! I have had severe chronic thoracic and lumbar spinal pain going on eight years now. I’ve hit the bottom mentally several times. Thank goodness for my husband, though. He’s been so helpful, encouraging, and loving through all of this. I’m home alone all day until my husband gets home from work. I was sooo active before all this hit me. I worked full time with a pediatric ophthalmologist for years so I was always incredibly busy. I LOVED all our kid patients and helping them all day 5 days a week. It was nice for a lot of our little ones to run to me and give me hugs. I was also an avid gardener and loved planning and planting landscaping in our front and back yard. I was always so proud of my work and how our yard looked until one day I hit a brick wall and couldn’t do anything anymore. It’s been incredibly devastating for me. I’m sure all my kid patients and parents wondered what happened to me when I just wasn’t there any more. It makes me cry almost every day. I truly grieve the loss of my active life every day. If ANY of my doctors were to experience the severe, crippling pain I have all day, every day as well as the grief I have felt for years…. Let’s just say I’m sure there would be something done immediately to help diminish the pain and suffering.

Yes, I find myself isolating more and more. I’ve suffered from chronic pain for 23yrs. I find it more difficult to “act” like I’m fine, while hurting, but also don’t want to be vocal about my misery and pain. It’s also just plain tiring to get presentable, to go out. You are not alone.

@scampano3
As my Dr would say….
“MOTION IS LOTION”

@nanc208 My issue isolation caused by inability to load my wheelchair into car alone like I used to do to get out and live life. I am in process looking for wheelchair that comes apart and can load from front seat of car to passenger side then reverse to put back together. Online ordering a difficult process since schematics and dimensions have to be filled out to place any order. It's crazy. Medicare does not cover special needs wheelchairs so out pocket some like a used car . Some $5000. Social security does not pay that much to spend that much. Peace stay chin up. fight for what we need. Peace fight Hate.

I have. So, I took this time to get back into hobbies I enjoy. I am into photography and reading, so I have been doing more of each. I really have kept myself busy this way.

@kaki068 I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through this as well. I wish, hope and pray that we could get our Dr's to help us. What's it goig to take? They are so scared of the DEA and the opioid epidemic, I know that's real, however, when a person has a well documented, proven by testing, condition, I believe we are the people that should at least get to try all options, not just antidepressants, gabapenton, etc. Why not try Methadone or Morphine, which have been known to work well in some cases. If it doesn't work, stop it, keep it well monitored, I simply think we deserve a life, not merely an existence.

@kaki068 I’ve had the same feeling!! If any of the doctors that continually dismiss my pain severity could experience what I’m feeling they would not be dismissive! I’m so tired of being told keep doing what you are doing…and what I’m doing is not working. I miss my life when I was working at jobs I loved, dancing 3-4 times a week, going to plays, traveling. Now I sit at home in too much pain to do much of anything. When I do go out it’s so painful it’s not worth it.
I can’t take opioids do to digesting issues so the spinal and abdominal pain is severe and constant. Other meds don’t work. Shots haven’t worked.
Anything I’ve missed???

@charliegirl
Hi Lori,
Sorry I am so late replying to you. I seem to have missed a whole day’s worth of e-mails.
Thank you for your very kind words and thoughts and advice. It still amazes me how people that I worked/ran/volunteered with, whom I really thought were more than friends I just happened to have been people I happened to have worked/ran/volunteered with.
But you are correct, I do have a few good friends. Two have their own but different chronic issues. The nice thing is you can say things like “this week is the best I have felt in ages” (which I can honestly say I have not uttered in at least a decade) and they know you are not healed or fixed you just feel a warmer shade of feeling like death warmed over.
Sorry for being so very long winded. Just really wanted to say thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness.
Don

@cynbell I have found a reputable well established pain treatment clinic where I am prescribed the pain meds I need. I have to be seen every single month. A person must sign a lengthy pain contract with a lot of rules you must follow. You have to 'toe the line'. no messing around like missing appointments or complaining about paying for urine testing whenever the doctor requires it. If you start acting out in the clinic or pushing for a higher dose than they have decided you need, you are can be dismissed as a patient. I also take what is known to treat my fibromyalgia and neuropathy, Duloxitine and Lyrica/pregabilin. I have take these two meds for 10+ years and I have had no problems. I ran our of Pregabilyn over a weekend and I learned how mush those have been helping me. I have a rheumatologist who prescribes the last two meds. We must give these meds a chance. Take as prescribed for a month to 6 weeks. Keep a journal every day of how you feel. This is valuable to take to the doctor. too. Read all you can about alternative or holistic treatments for your disease. We have to build a team of doctors to help us. I hope this helps someone!!