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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Posted by Kelsey Mohring @kelseydm, Apr 27, 2016

Welcome to the new Chronic Pain group.

I’m Kelsey and I’m the moderator of the group. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Why not take a minute and introduce yourself.

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

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susanhi | @susanhi | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @tijeras3 "Hi and I'd like to write about my struggles in life.. When I was 17 I..." + (show)
Profile picture for tijeras3-ken @tijeras3

Hi and I'd like to write about my struggles in life.. When I was 17 I was a passenger in a car driven by a drunk.. Several times he almost hit several vehicles, 2 of those vehicles were tractor/trailers.. I was sitting by myself in the back seat and each time I almost screamed I wished I had. The drivers wife was sitting beside him and there was a young boy about my age sitting beside her.. Several times she asked her husband to let Jimmy drive! Aw! hell woman was his comment I can drive this auto.. When we crossed the bridge over this fast moving river I looked out the window and thought we might find ourselves in this river.. As we exit's the bridge, I looked at the driver and to my horror, he had passed completly out! The car without a driver ploughs on toward the ditch and the bank beside the roadway! Knowing what was about to happen, I quickly ploped down on my hands and knees on the floorboard, admist a pile of canning jars and stacks of newspapers!! When the car hits the bank it begins tumbling end of end! As the car flips I felt severe pain from both arms breaking! I'll write more of my life later.. Ken

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Hi Ken. Thank you for sharing. It must have been horrible to know that you were about to suffer a car crash and not being able to do anything to prevent it. Have your arms healed? How are you doing today? Look forward to hearing more.

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sassymama3 | @sassymama3 | Jan 29, 2023

I am 84. Pain medications do nothing for me. I was told years ago that I have a high tolerance for pain. Thank goodness I do. I had my back completely rebuilt 1 1/2 yrs ago and still having very sharp stabbing pain. The surgeon told me there was nothing else could be done. I was told 4 months ago I needed hip replacement (Left side) which is side where I have the sharp stabbing pain. I now wonder if this is causing the pain I am having instead of it coming from the back. The hip Dr. says no and now is reluctant to perform the hip surgery due to my age and wants to see me again in 6 months. The hip joint is full of arthritis. This Dr did both of my knee replacements, the last one was about 5 yrs ago. I have complete confidence in this Dr. However, going to see him in 6 months, just means I will be 6 months older. I have excellent health, otherwise. One thing I do have problems with is not being able to stand up straight and walking, due to the extreme pain it causes me which the Dr is concerned about. I did tell him it isn't going to get any better unless I could get rid of the pain. I really like this Dr, but I am going to get a 2nd opinion. I have several friends who have told me of people they know whose similar pain went away after they had hip replacement. I know we are all different.

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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @newlease "I am Carolyn. I have mild headache on the right side of my head. My cheek..." + (show)
Profile picture for newlease @newlease

I am Carolyn. I have mild headache on the right side of my head. My cheek is puffy on that side. A CT scan was normal, as was ultrasound. I am waiting to hear the evaluation by the physician.

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Hi Carolyn @newlease, welcome. Thankfully your CT scan was normal. Are you still experiencing cheek swelling and headache? When is your evaluation with a physician?

PS: I like your Connect name of "new lease". Does it mean you have a new lease on life?!

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1 reply
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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @mmata "Hi Everyone, I will post under "mmata". I am new to this forum that Mayo Clinic..." + (show)
Profile picture for mmata @mmata

Hi Everyone,
I will post under "mmata". I am new to this forum that Mayo Clinic has consented to regarding a variety of topics. I'm so glad that a friend told me about the variety of groups offered.
I have had 8 spine surgeries at different levels of my spine. Unfortunately my spine continues to deteriorate in the Lumbar, the Thoracic and the Cervical levels of my spine. I also am bone on bone in both of my knees. They are both very painful and they buckle on me often causing me to fall or to barely be able to catch myself from falling. I have my second Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted in my spine, but even though it works, I can not tolerate its stimulation any longer as it seems to aggrevate my pain quite a bit. My former pain mgt doctor told me to leave it in my spine as I can't have anesthesia or surgery due to Carbon Dioxide Poisoning bouts where I almost went home to God on 3 separate occasions. That's why I can't have surgery on my knees too. In addition to all of this, I have developed severe Arachnoiditis all around my spine. My pain is so severe that I often pass out from the intensity of my pain. The terrible pain from various things causes me to not sleep much at all. I sleep each night anywhere from Zero to
1 - 1/2 hours of very broken sleep. I have to sleep in my recliner. I can't lay down at all due to my back situation and the resulting crazy pain. I am hoping to connect with others who have severe Arachnoiditis to learn from them what they do for their pain and what treatment they might be receiving. Thank you for letting me join the various groups. My prayers are with you all.
mmata

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@mmata Hello and welcome to the conversation. We're glad you feel comfortable sharing your personal health journey on Connect. A big thanks to the friend that recommended us to you! It's a pretty awesome place with so much shared experience and knowledge.

Here is a discussion on arachnoiditis where you'll find helpful members like @donfeld, @willisann and @dolly to connect with:

Anyone Been Diagnosed With Arachnoiditis After Spine Surgery:

- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/arachnoiditis-2/

I'm sorry your spinal stimulater is causing more trouble than it's worth. Do you plan on having it removed?

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susanhi | @susanhi | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @ou812 "I'm hurt and in pain for over a decade now. I'm afraid to even talk to..." + (show)
Profile picture for ou812 @ou812

I'm hurt and in pain for over a decade now. I'm afraid to even talk to anyone anymore, because disabled people get treated like garbage in this country. I feel half dead and going down the drain. There are no resources for me. I google sometimes to try and find answers, and I found this site. I am isolated and alone and I haven't really talked to anyone for years about this, because the medical system has no answers and nobody cares about anyone but themselves. Society just wants me to die. My neighbors harass me daily because I am in pain, and they think it is funny. I need to vent to somebody, so hopefully it is ok for me to vent here. I read some of the problems that other people are dealing with, and I feel like my pain isn't bad enough to vent about, but I can't take it anymore and I am afraid to go back on pain meds. I just take a lot of over the counter anti-inflammatories, and my stomach is messed up now. Anyway, hi.

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I am so sorry for everything that you are experiencing and hope you find some ways to help you. I can relate with living with chronic pain for over a decade. I can also relate to neighbor harassment and being bullied from them. Even my family bullied me. I just don't understand how bullying can be a game to play on people who are disabled and in constant pain. What is so darn funny about making others feel worse. I'm single and don't have any friends. It would be great if we could talk. Thank you for sharing, it helps me to feel less alone.

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1 reply
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newlease | @newlease | Jan 29, 2023
In reply to @rwinney "Hi Carolyn @newlease, welcome. Thankfully your CT scan was normal. Are you still experiencing cheek swelling..." + (show)
Profile picture for Rachel, Volunteer Mentor @rwinney

Hi Carolyn @newlease, welcome. Thankfully your CT scan was normal. Are you still experiencing cheek swelling and headache? When is your evaluation with a physician?

PS: I like your Connect name of "new lease". Does it mean you have a new lease on life?!

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The cheek swelling is the same. Headache varies. I have a phone consultation with my doctor on Feb.. 2. I chose the connect name, "newlease" several years ago. Yes, I hope to continue to have a fresh outlook on life.

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cookieyoder | @cookieyoder | Jan 30, 2023
In reply to @mmata "Hi Everyone, I will post under "mmata". I am new to this forum that Mayo Clinic..." + (show)
Profile picture for mmata @mmata

Hi Everyone,
I will post under "mmata". I am new to this forum that Mayo Clinic has consented to regarding a variety of topics. I'm so glad that a friend told me about the variety of groups offered.
I have had 8 spine surgeries at different levels of my spine. Unfortunately my spine continues to deteriorate in the Lumbar, the Thoracic and the Cervical levels of my spine. I also am bone on bone in both of my knees. They are both very painful and they buckle on me often causing me to fall or to barely be able to catch myself from falling. I have my second Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted in my spine, but even though it works, I can not tolerate its stimulation any longer as it seems to aggrevate my pain quite a bit. My former pain mgt doctor told me to leave it in my spine as I can't have anesthesia or surgery due to Carbon Dioxide Poisoning bouts where I almost went home to God on 3 separate occasions. That's why I can't have surgery on my knees too. In addition to all of this, I have developed severe Arachnoiditis all around my spine. My pain is so severe that I often pass out from the intensity of my pain. The terrible pain from various things causes me to not sleep much at all. I sleep each night anywhere from Zero to
1 - 1/2 hours of very broken sleep. I have to sleep in my recliner. I can't lay down at all due to my back situation and the resulting crazy pain. I am hoping to connect with others who have severe Arachnoiditis to learn from them what they do for their pain and what treatment they might be receiving. Thank you for letting me join the various groups. My prayers are with you all.
mmata

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Hello. I have almost the same thing as you are saying. It’s terrible and painful and I’m miserable. I had both knees done about 15 years ago and that surgery was amazing and really helped. But now I’m 68 years old and my back is so bad but my doctors do not think I would survive a second surgery I had 7 surgeries total including two hip replacements. I am in pain 24/7.

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1 reply
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mmata | @mmata | Jan 30, 2023
In reply to @cookieyoder "Hello. I have almost the same thing as you are saying. It’s terrible and painful and..." + (show)
Profile picture for cookieyoder @cookieyoder

Hello. I have almost the same thing as you are saying. It’s terrible and painful and I’m miserable. I had both knees done about 15 years ago and that surgery was amazing and really helped. But now I’m 68 years old and my back is so bad but my doctors do not think I would survive a second surgery I had 7 surgeries total including two hip replacements. I am in pain 24/7.

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I am so sorry that you're experiencing so much pain. I don't know if you've already tried this or not, but what helps me keep taking 1 day at a time, or even 1 minute at a time, is ending each day-no matter what the day has been like, I end it with going over the positive/good things that happened that day and/or the good people I've interacted with. Then I say a little prayer of thanks. Then in the morning I give thanks for getting through the night and I look outside at Mother Nature and give thanks for what I see. I end with hoping that as my day unfolds that I can somehow be of help to as many people as possible. My goal is to each day to try to live an "attitude of gratitude." It's very helpful to me. Thanks for listening.
mmata

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edieguinn | @edieguinn | Jan 31, 2023

Morning. I’m Edie. 70 yrs young. I suffer frum muscle and nerve pain. Severe scoliosis and spinal stenosis. The latest increase in my curves caused me to have pinched nerves in every vertebrae causing neuropathy and constant cramping in my leg muscles. My leg muscles are pulled tight.
I gave pain walking and I’m using a rollator niw. This way if my leg goes numb or cramps I have something to support me.
Medication,PT, nerve blocks, epidurals and nerve ablations haven’t helped. Have tried acupuncture and chiropractic too.
I want my active life back. Haven’t been able to do much yoga and Pilates. Leg muscles are too tight.

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ferguson23 | @ferguson23 | Jan 31, 2023

Hello, my name is Jackie. I would like to be a part of this interesting and diverse group because I have been dealing with chronic, unspecified and undiagnosed pain for a long time. Am open to advice or suggestions as to best coping strategies for living with this problem. Am particularly interested in hearing from others whose pelvic/abdominal pain may be due to post operative surgical adhesions from a surgery performed over 10 years ago. So far all other tests and investigations have not been helpful in pinpointing a cause for my ongoing pain.

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2 replies
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