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

Joanne,
Welcome, I just found this site yesterday. I so understand. Most weeks I can tell you my front door never gets opened. Not only from chronic pain but after I shower, shave, get dressed, I’m done. I mean the only reason to go out anymore is for a doctor appointment and some of those are now virtual. I mean I have everything I need delivered to my front door, not just because it’s easy but I can’t carry it all upstairs to my condo. I feel your Delma however some days I’ll go to a local place, sit at the counter and talk to others near me. At least I feel that I talked to someone in person not just a text. I have family near me but I hate having company if my place isn’t clean and again by the time I mop, dust, I’m done! I have so many issues that are visual I hate to go out and meet new people. Maybe we will both get an answer here. We are not alone. One great idea is to check with your insurance. My mothers allows for a counselor to come to her home I believe twice a month. She loves it. Hope you find your answer on here, it’s seems like you get answers or replies pretty quick. Just know you are not alone!

Good evening yes I feel like I am isolated I have neuropathy in both feet spinal gnosis in my neck. I used to be very very active today. I don’t feel like I can go anywhere without hurting pain24 seven it’s just a life. I’m not used to very depressing.

I feel like everyone it minimizes everything about my disease. They see me And think I'm healthy and just overweight.

Oh yes!!!! I went to doctors and as a retired RN I knew exactly what they were thinking… she’s doing pretty good with being 75 -76 just over weight and neurotic about getting older…., still functioning somewhat . I started having unusual symptoms and issues in my early 50’s and it took 25 years to finally get the diagnosis clarified.. generalized myasthenia gravis.!!! Now I have too many doctors who don’t communicate with each other and too many meds and it takes all my own medical background to manage this mess. AND don’t get me started on how the insurance and pharmaceutical industries are these days. Yes there are advances in medicine to help many people but I always feel that so many people are left out and behind and can’t navigate the system. And also if I didn’t have my background I would be dead now because I was the one who read all the fine print on my medical reports and results and notified my doctors that I had 3 vessel disease and was ripe for a heart which I actually had when they started checking me out with all those scans and cardiac caths etc . Anyway now I’m isolated at home and trying to build up my strength again and trying to taper down prednisone, etc etc . Everyone hang in there and keep going as best you can !!

I’m sorry to hear of the isolation, but I am isolated all day too. God bless.❤️

@mister1 hello, I get my groceries delivered from both Amazon, and Walmart. I believe one or both have an extra service where they will bring the groceries into your house.

@bobrogers yes, I understand. Me too. I have a Polyneuropathy, fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, and a movement disorder. The Movement Disorder is Functional Neurological Disorder FND. Basically, my brain and body are not functioning correctly with each other.
FND has changed my life dramatically. My balance is very bad. I have to use a walker now. Over the last 4 months I have fallen, and hit my head twice.
I suffer with double vision, tremors, and extreme fatigue and anxiety.

The pain in my back is so bad, I can’t walk very far without experiencing extreme pain.

I keep myself busy with hobbies I started 6 years ago.
I do jigsaw puzzles, and I’m learning to paint. I started out with a small canvas and some inexpensive paint from Amazon.
I’m working on my family’s ancestry, and have found out through DNA testing that we are related to some interesting people.

I live alone, and I love my condo, but my looking at moving into an Independent Living Facility soon.

We need to keep on “trucking”…

Hi!! I am super new here and have only just recently become disabled due to my spinal injury and chronic pain. It has been extremely hard for me as well. My pain keeps me in bed most of the time and I can no longer work, which was my only out of the house activity. I am naturally an introvert but now that I have fewer options for going out and socializing it is wearing on me mentally pretty hard right now.
Thank you for opening up and making a safe space with your post.

Yes, I hear you.
I too have severe chronic pain for 5 years!!! I had Cervical Laminectomy fusion C3,4,5,6 in May 2018. I’ll never know what would’ve happened to me if I didn’t have this major surgery. I had No Symptoms except mild numbness in my hands from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. My MRI showed spinal cord damage.
Bc I had No Symptoms, knowing what I know now, I would probably not have done surgery.
The referring doctor & Orthopedic surgeon did a good job of scaring me.
In Jan 2021 severe neck pain started.
I was on Oxycodone for 6 months, it stopped the Pain and after 3 months, made me feel miserable. So had to stop it.
My Neck Pain has gotten so bad, it affects my Trap muscles and down my spine.
So my hobbies are gone, I can’t go out to restaurants and in severe Pain 20+ hours a day.
Eating at dining table is so Painful, sitting on toilet, bathing 🧼 myself, brushing my teeth, shaving, walking is also painful.
So yes, I feel isolated, body is deconditioned and weak.
I’m forcing myself to do simple exercises, I learned from my PT.
Also, reading 📖 book “Tell Me Where It Hurts” by Rachel Zoffness, Phd, is helpful; Amazon has it.
Found out about this book from my Chronic Pain Psychologist, Dr. Daniel Lev, PhD.
Also, I did all the injections in my neck, T1,2,3 etc. Morphine doesn’t help me anymore too.

Good luck and you’re not alone.

Hi Sarah
I'm a former RN and I worked in Neuromedicine. I know how debilitating MS is and how painful it can leave you. I have taken care of many MS patients in my career as a nurse. Unfortunately I had to stop working in 2002 because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Disease, and Connective Tissue Disease. These diseases ended my career as a nurse. I worked until my body couldn't do it any longer. I went on Social Security Disability on September 4, 2004. It's the Sjogrens Disease more than any other diseases that have destroyed my life. I'm in constant pain even though I'm on Morphine and Oxycodone. My hands and wrist hurt and burn soooooo much. The 💊 pills just put a dent in the pain and burning . I started using lidocaine cream when I'm in severe pain that the drugs aren't helping and I just rub that cream all over and I finally get some relief.
Taking a shower is really big deal for me I use oxygen so it has to come in the shower. I bring my robe in the bathroom so I minimally dry off and just put my robe on. I've already put the stuff I need on my end table next to my recliner. My husband puts away my shower stuff and wipes down the shower. My husband is my caretaker.
The only time I leave the house is for a doctor's appointment . It's a really big deal for me to leave the house believe me. I have found that it helps to plan ahead if you know you will going to leaving the house. It helps to make list I have found so you have everything covered.
We are planning on going to Todd Runngrent August 27th here in St. Louis at the Pageant. They have handicapped seating and the crowd will be people my age. I don't expect a lot of people to be standing up all night like the younger crowd would. I have bought two red dresses a red gauze blouse and black gauze slacks. The top and slacks are just good to have. I'll try each dress on with the shoes and purse and then make up my mind. What makes the outfit is the floral print shoes and purse. They're really something else I felt so lucky to find both. I'm really looking forward to seeing him and going out with my husband.