Being Old With Chronic Pain plus Loneliness

Posted by Parus @parus, Jul 17, 2017

Anyone else in the same boat?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@paracat so we will sit in the same boat and float together...I find pleasure in the colorful faces in my secret garden during the warm months.

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Throwing open those personal prison gates...may be positive for some. Far too many predators in the real world.

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@paracat

I saw your title and question, and, yes, I am in the same boat. The ageing I was starting to get used to ... it's just another cycle in life, blah, blah, blah. Actually, it's rather freeing. However, the chronic pain and loneliness have sunk me into what seems like a never-ending depression. Seems to be a vicious cycle. I seem to have withdrawn from friends because of the pain and depression. I used to be a 'glass is half full,' optimistic person. I don't know where she went, but she's gone. Wish I had some wisdom to pass along, but pretty much all I can say is you're not alone and I hope you find something which enthuses you, as well as relief from your pain.

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HI, @paracat--just wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing. How are the pain and feeling kind of down lately?

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Yes, today seems to be especially a tough one. Feeling poorly, buy also sad. Hope your days have gottren brighter. Hope pain has left you.

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@nanaof4

Yes, today seems to be especially a tough one. Feeling poorly, buy also sad. Hope your days have gottren brighter. Hope pain has left you.

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New here, so please bear with me as i learn the ropes. So many of us are probably in same boat or very close. I enjoy reading your post. My past time is reading and music. Time for me to slow in this age. Mind is good, just would like to have more energy. Nice to meet and see your post. Thank you. Gods blessing to each.

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@nanaof4

Yes, today seems to be especially a tough one. Feeling poorly, buy also sad. Hope your days have gottren brighter. Hope pain has left you.

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Hello, @nanaof4, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Love your username!

Another group within Connect you may want to check out is the Chronic Pain group, here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/pain/.

I’m sorry to hear that yesterday was tough. Can you tell us more about what made it a hard day?

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@IndianaScott

Hello @parus Nice to e-meet you here. I am Scott and I found your post interesting.

I do have chronic pain (knees, carpel tunnel, and lower back), I do fight loneliness as I just lost my wife to brain cancer, but refuse to call myself 'old' yet! 🙂

I believe chronic conditions can be the cause of many feelings of loneliness as well as isolating, which can also cause feelings of loneliness.

I fight my loneliness through reading as it also can take my mind off my pain. It also gives me topics I can then learn more about, e-chat with people about, etc.

I also spend some time writing, but that is more of a solitary pursuit for me, but I can really lose myself in it.

I also try and spend some time each day attempting to reconnect with someone from my earlier days. I've had mixed results with this, but when it works, it's been gratifying for both parties.

What have you tried?

Peace & Strength

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@parus, absolutely beautiful...

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@nanaof4

Yes, today seems to be especially a tough one. Feeling poorly, buy also sad. Hope your days have gottren brighter. Hope pain has left you.

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Hi, @nanaof4--it's been a little bit since we've heard from you, so wanted to check in and see how you are doing?

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@IndianaScott

Hello @parus Nice to e-meet you here. I am Scott and I found your post interesting.

I do have chronic pain (knees, carpel tunnel, and lower back), I do fight loneliness as I just lost my wife to brain cancer, but refuse to call myself 'old' yet! 🙂

I believe chronic conditions can be the cause of many feelings of loneliness as well as isolating, which can also cause feelings of loneliness.

I fight my loneliness through reading as it also can take my mind off my pain. It also gives me topics I can then learn more about, e-chat with people about, etc.

I also spend some time writing, but that is more of a solitary pursuit for me, but I can really lose myself in it.

I also try and spend some time each day attempting to reconnect with someone from my earlier days. I've had mixed results with this, but when it works, it's been gratifying for both parties.

What have you tried?

Peace & Strength

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Great! I'm in the same situation but I keep busy with my dog or reading and many other things. Keep occupied the pain is there and won't go away. I have lower back pain and RA.

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@catgic

@parus – As my old friend Columbo used to say…”er-r-r…just one more thing.”

I see that you came aboard Mayo Connect on Bastille Day 2017. Coincidence or not, maybe it is time for you to consider “Throwing Open Your Personal Prison Gates” un peu. Your Mayo Connect Profile is blank. What is up with that? You can, without loosing your anonymity, tell folks something about yourself in 25-words more or less…

Hope to see you on the flip side.

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@parus My 3 - So am I.

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