Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

You're welcome @SusanEllen66! Thanks for sharing your perspective on the video and about yourself. Girl, it is not in your head, and I appreciate that you mention feeling that way. I felt that way for many years as well, since childhood actually, something was heightened, and I chalked it up to me being a self-proclaimed delicate flower. As time went on and life threw more at me, stress and anxiety played roles. Through the PRC I learned that I am a healthy person overall, no diseases. And despite how I feel because my body hijacks me too, I can find a better quality of life.

Since I went to the Mayo PRC, I now know the
"why behind the what"
and am prepared with an arsenal of tools, strategies and have a self-managing plan.

Congratulations to you for learning about CSS and how it effects our bodies through the course of chronic symptoms. And good for you for not using or minimizing medications. I'm glad topicals bring you relief. Do you have any other tips on self-management or how you handle difficult days?

After 3 failed marriages, and 3 children I now have the luxury of being by myself. Living alone is freeing. I’m almost 73 years old, and am able to get through each day independently. I do have family members close by in case I need help.
That said, if I am having a hard day I can sit and take care of myself without feeling guilty about not being there for someone else…I do what I need to do for myself.
I have taken up a couple of hobbies I love. When I am involved with them time flies and my pain takes a back seat.
More importantly, I am a Christian and I have a Lord who takes very good care of me. I wait with quiet courage for Him to straighten my path. I keep my eyes on Him first and foremost! 🙏🏻

Preach girl, preach! I have the attached quote saved and what you said about being alone made me want to share it with you.

Congratulations on finding peace in solitaire, strength from faith, and comfort in knowing family is nearby.

Aren't hobbies the best distraction? Thanks for sharing that tip on positive distraction for pain management. I call it a "brain vacation"...getting so engrossed in a happy place that your brain temporarily escapes the thought of pain.

@redhatter54 what cute fur babies!

I'm Monique. I'm in constant severe pain all day everyday. I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, cronic granulomatous, cronic fatigue syndrome, gerd, ibs, and type II diabetes. Ive had 3 left rotator cuff surgeries, 2 cervical fusions, lumbar fusion, gull bladder removal, inguinal hernia repar, partial hysterectomy, 2 broken ankles and 3 ingrown toenail surgeries. I take 5mg of Hydrocone every 8 hrs, 900mg 3x per day of gabapentin, 2500 MG of tylenol all for pain. Nothing works. I'm on the heating pad several times a day, I use salanpas pain patches every day and muscle rubs. I need help. Don't know how much more I can take. Please help, any suggestions

Hello Monique. Sweetie I sure feel your pain. We have a lot of the same problems. I have severe osteoporosis and have bbroken many bones, the worst being 4 broken vertbraes. I'm under the care of a pain management doctor because surger is too risky for me. I was terrified of taking opiods but my doctor explained the difference of being addicted and being dependent on them. If we take them as directed and responsibily we shouldn't have a problem and thanfully I don't. But I have come to the conclulsion that I am dependent on them because I can't have surgery for a couple different reasons and the spinal injections weren't effective. As bad as I hated to hear this, there wasn't anymore the specialists could do for me so to have any kind of life that was as pain free as possible, I had to take the opiods. I just had to learn a new way of life and what I could and could not do. Even then I found that stepping off a curb broke a vertebrae, so no matter how careful I am, I'm always at risk. Please keep being the squeaky wheel with your pain specialist. Be your own advocate. We don't need to live in constant pain when we have tests to show cause for the pain. Until they finally realize you;re not crazy, rest often and do anything safely to eleviate your pain. But stay in your doctor's face. Research as much as you can and bring it with you to your doctor's visit. That's what I did and I asked tons of questions. I don't know if I've helped but this is what I've learned in my 10 year journey until I found someone that really listened to me and took the proper X-Rays and Scans to show the condition I was really in. Good luck.

Hello Monique. Sweetie I sure feel your pain. We have a lot of the same problems. I have severe osteoporosis and have bbroken many bones, the worst being 4 broken vertbraes. I'm under the care of a pain management doctor because surger is too risky for me. I was terrified of taking opiods but my doctor explained the difference of being addicted and being dependent on them. If we take them as directed and responsibily we shouldn't have a problem and thanfully I don't. But I have come to the conclulsion that I am dependent on them because I can't have surgery for a couple different reasons and the spinal injections weren't effective. As bad as I hated to hear this, there wasn't anymore the specialists could do for me so to have any kind of life that was as pain free as possible, I had to take the opiods. I just had to learn a new way of life and what I could and could not do. Even then I found that stepping off a curb broke a vertebrae, so no matter how careful I am, I'm always at risk. Please keep being the squeaky wheel with your pain specialist. Be your own advocate. We don't need to live in constant pain when we have tests to show cause for the pain. Until they finally realize you;re not crazy, rest often and do anything safely to eleviate your pain. But stay in your doctor's face. Research as much as you can and bring it with you to your doctor's visit. That's what I did and I asked tons of questions. I don't know if I've helped but this is what I've learned in my 10 year journey until I found someone that really listened to me and took the proper X-Rays and Scans to show the condition I was really in. Good luck.

Hey, thanks for the update. My fingers are crossed for you to feel relief from the trigger point injections. That would be awesome if at your one week follow up you'll be reporting progress. Is this the first time you've received trigger point?

I hope you'll also update us on how aquatic therapy goes Monday. It's supposed to be a fantastic way of relieving pain from joints and being weightless for movement. You're making moves, keep up the good work! 💪

Hi @chelle2001, nice to meet you!
Your feedback is much appreciated, thank you for responding. Great news that you are in with Mayo for consultations with a team of specialists. You will be well cared for, and I can imagine no stone will be left unturned.

Mayo doctors/specialists and the PRC play for the same team at Mayo however, what I learned from Dr. Sletten during my time of rehab was that some Mayo doctors do end up referring patients to the PRC for rehabilitation when there are just no more medical interventions to help chronic pain sufferers and doctors have nothing left to give from their specialty lanes. Procedures and medications run the course and become less effective. If that is what you find after meeting with your Mayo team in MN, and they don't suggest the PRC then yes, absolutely you can request a referral to the Pain Rehab Center.

Either way I'm ecstatic for you and have hope that your Mayo visit will be a step in the right direction. I'm happy as heck that you now are armed with more knowledge about CSS and the chronic symptoms you experience. I am not a doctor, but in my opinion, you experience central and peripheral sensory nervous systems upregulation which is CSS. Now you have important information in your back pocket. Knowledge is power! When do you head to MN?

Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it. I feel so bad for your condition. The pain since the Trigger point injections has eased off some. It's not as bad as it was but still uncomfortable. I go back To pain management on Tues. I'll see what they have to say and maybe they'll raise my pain meds so I can have some form of life.