Chronic pain - Let's talk

Posted by leh09 @leh09, Mar 23, 2016

Are there any discussions for chronic pain?

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

twokitties | @twokitties | May 24, 2016

In reply to @19lin "@ladyjane85 Keep a positive attitude and all will be well surgery helps most people. 19lin" + (show)

Thank you ladyjane85 for your good wishes. I like your positive attitude. So true that dressing up & looking nice can help you face the day in a better mood. I've also found that I cannot wear flat shoes; wedge heels feel better. Thanks to everyone for posting to Twokitties.

bekie | @bekie | May 25, 2016

In reply to @suebreen54 "I live in the Adirondack mountains and I don't have a community pool or physical therapy..." + (show)

@marieh

I have had a neurostimulator for about 5 years now. It works wonders for me. The only drawback to it is that it only works for the area it has been placed for. If you have L-1 to L-5 pain and it is placed for those discs it will not work for your neck area unless you have another one implanted. Mine can be adjusted to work more on one side than the other if my pain is radiating more on one side. I can do that myself. I have also had the programmer adjust the area slightly with her device when I had hip surgery. But there are limits to what the adjustments are and they can't make it go up or down a disc. I believe it has kept my med use at the same dose for the past 5 years instead of having to have it increased. It it a gentle massaging type vibration and can be programmed with several different types of massage feelings. I can turn between them if I need a stronger one on a day where the pain is worse. It has to be programmed by the nurse who was there during my implant or a rep from the company. I just see her once a year, she loads up my controls with the ones I want and I'm set. If I wish to change anything all I have to do is call her and meet her at my Pain Mgmt office. I only wish my body would stop falling apart disc wise because I could use another one for my neck now. As far as fatigue as others have talked about, gabapenten will cause fatigue in me but the medication does help me. My Vit D level was extremely low because I'm not outside a lot. Taking a dose of that my Dr has prescribed has started to help some. It's not all perfect now but most days more than not, my pain is more manageable with the stimulator and my medication. I hope this helps some. Thank you for this site to talk and thank you for reading. ❤️

bekie | @bekie | May 25, 2016

In reply to @19lin "I have had several spinals, but they were very painful and I was unsure how helpful..." + (show)

I have had several blocks, epidurals and other nerve blocks. None of mine have hurt with the exception of the steroid flare pain a couple days post injection. And like someone else had posted I find that the relief depends on who did the injections and if the actual spot was hit dead on. They are not meant to last forever. I was told they are a temporary relief to a permanent problem. I'm sorry you don't get to get in fast enough. Like you I have sciatic pain and it can be some of the worst pain I have ever felt. I go to a fantastic pain mgmt group that I can call and get a same day appt to be evaluated for an injection that day. They have a surgery center down stairs from their offices and I can go right down and get an injection if the Dr says I can. It's been a life saver.

bekie | @bekie | May 25, 2016

In reply to @mlemieux "This is a wonderful discussion. So many pain sufferers need to know how pain affects people..." + (show)

@mlemieux

This is a wonderful discussion. So many pain sufferers need to know how pain affects people differently. Managing pain is more of an art form than science, but the two go hand in hand.

The four biggest areas of pain management I always look at for myself are:
1) Brain receptors
2) Targeted pain on areas of the body
3) Stress relief
4) Diet and exercise

I mean when it comes to the "science" of pain, we could simply take medications that disrupt pain receptors in the brain limiting neurons from firing, but in my experience (i.e. opiates, and the like) also have a negative affect on the quality of life, giving pain patients what is known as "brain fog", loss of memory, sleep disorder and so on.

On the flip side, attacking the areas of pain alone is sometimes not enough. So I'm constantly asking people, what's their "perfect" mix of the two. Being unbalanced with either one can label you as an opiate user, abuser of the system, but not taking the right combination can play a huge role in the quality of life that you have and your mental state as a hole.

Then there's the debate about over-the-counter vs. prescribed medications. Which ones do you chose when your pain meds don't work? Is it appropriate to go out and add Tylenol, Aspirin and Aleve to the mix? When is it acceptable behavior or not? What affect will it have on your system, especially your stomach and the increase of acids.

Now one of my favorites and often overlooked is more natural ways to conquer pain, specifically meditation. Since pain is all but managed through the brain, then in my opinion meditation is the method underutilized to "clean up" the junk in the mind that's coming in. Or another way to put it, when you meditate, it's like "cleaning up" your computers hard-drive so that the computer itself goes much faster afterwards.

Daily medication doesn't mean sitting in some spiritual room with candles and scented incense. No, for your it could mean having some quiet time with tea in the morning reflecting on your day, outlining your goals for the day (as the pain allows, or as others would call "the # of spoons), and allowing your mind to filter out the stuff that increases your stress in order to tackle the pain coming in.

Stress I find goes hand in hand with pain as well. Finding "me time" is so important to decrease pain on a daily basis. Less stress = more active, better sleep, and easier to manage pain. Do whatever you need to relax your mind and body on a daily basis (I understand hard to do while in pain, but daily rituals will help eventually).

Most people are shocked when they hear that i'm in chronic pain. I rarely show it to people around me. Sometimes it's hard not to show it, which can be exhausting depending on the level of pain you have and what's affected.

Over the last 20 years, I've survived multiple blood clots throughout my body. I've had massive open wounds for 10 years straight, my legs are constantly wrapped with bandages and compression bandages. Rarely does anyone see me with shorts so I don't have to explain to them what it is and what they're for. But over time, I've found that by hiding my pain only increases my stress and doesn't allow my brain to release it, talk about it, or be ok with asking for help.

I hope this peaks more discussions on "daily tips" or "rituals" that you do which helps to decrease pain. I think it's obvious here that we all have experience with meds and our own pain management, but I'm really interested to hear what else I can try from your own experiences!! 🙂

Martin R. Lemieux

Jump to this post

@mlemieux

I'm so glad you brought this up. I've noticed these posts seem to all share one thing, we are all in pain, tired of it and want better quality out of life.
Like other I have tried most of the same medical procedures, some with better results than others. I enjoyed reading your post and spouted a loud YES!!
I believe no matter what I take or put on my body if my frame of mind is negative than more times than not my results are negative. So I try some things several times to rule it out completely. I have a very specific morning routine.
1. I take my morning meds with a full glass of water and refill the glass a second time and try to drink that too. My glass is 16 oz so I try to start my body off with 32 oz of water to flush out the gunk my body has tried to get rid of while restoring at night.
2. I usually lay or sit back on my bed and wait for my meds to work. But while they are working so am I. I meditate and do positive affirmations. Even if all I can do is 20 minutes of broken time and only 1 positive out of the 3 I want to do. I still think this gets me in a more positive frame of mind and I can talk myself into handling more than I normally have in the past. Some days the pain is so bad in the mornings that I convince myself over and over that I can do this. Other days I just need to go back to bed and try again after my second dose of meds. The less stress I put on myself the better I am to myself. I really don't need anyone to tell me how bad I am, because like most other chronic pain sufferers, I get depressed easily and I am my worst critic.
3. I do all I can in the day and do my very best. If it is a job, a project, or just housework I work until I need to rest and then work some more. At the end of the end I go over what I've done and I'm grateful to God for being able to do it. I try not to criticize myself on what I didn't get done, or how much or how little I've done. I say a prayer to have the strength to start over the next day and I close the chapter on that day. I try not to revisit it unless I need to keep a pain log for my doctor.

Pain isn't something that is the same for all of us. What I think is unbearable may be nothing to you or vise versa but it doesn't make it any less painful to those who are feeling it. I listen to my doctor and I work hard with him to find a plan to work for me. But mostly I try and I say TRY to stay positive. Anger, bitterness and regret lead to depression for me and it only makes my pain worse. So if I follow my 3 steps each day to the best I can I help manage my pain the best way I can.

Martin if you have other way you cope or can share more that helps you I would love to hear them.

Thank you so very much for the excellent post for discussion.

success101 | @success101 | May 25, 2016

In reply to @mlemieux "This is a wonderful discussion. So many pain sufferers need to know how pain affects people..." + (show)

@mlemieux

This is a wonderful discussion. So many pain sufferers need to know how pain affects people differently. Managing pain is more of an art form than science, but the two go hand in hand.

The four biggest areas of pain management I always look at for myself are:
1) Brain receptors
2) Targeted pain on areas of the body
3) Stress relief
4) Diet and exercise

Martin R. Lemieux

Jump to this post

Agree. The self talk is so necessary I feel then,we are whole. I too,feel relaxed after meditation. After that I have my cup of coffee when everything is quiet. Just starts me out better. I also found that regardless of my attitude,i must do my leg exercises It, has to be a part of my morning routine. Success101

success101 | @success101 | May 25, 2016

In reply to @19lin "ladyjane85 I am sorry you have so much pain, I think all of us here suffer..." + (show)

Hello @19lin I am very interrested in your health Condition. Is it, severe enough for hospice? I feel very much for you. As I have pain,and my husband has pain continuously. Result of hip REVISION. IT ALL WENT VERY WRONG. There isn't any pain meds for him As he lost an eye to gloucoma. Must be very careful. Vision poor. He is suffering now from side effects of radiation therapy for pros tate cancer. Like you, he, has put this all in God's hands. Be strong,i believe you are. Blessings on you Success101

Kelsey Mohring | @kelseydm | May 25, 2016

Hi all! Several of you have been discussing the pros and cons of laminectomy recently. I invite you to pop over to this discussion thread https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/laminectomy-recovery/ to share your thoughts and experiences, so that this important topic doesn't get buried in this long thread 🙂

Kelsey Mohring | @kelseydm | May 25, 2016

In reply to @suebreen54 "I live in the Adirondack mountains and I don't have a community pool or physical therapy..." + (show)

@bekie Welcome to Connect! We are so happy to have you here and i'm thrilled to see you are already finding the community useful. Thanks for joining us and sharing your experiences!

ladyjane85 | @ladyjane85 | May 25, 2016

In reply to @19lin "ladyjane85 I am sorry you have so much pain, I think all of us here suffer..." + (show)

19lin Are you able to dress yourself and do a bit each day? I went into a continuing care community where I have my own apartment, with light housekeeping done, and a dining room for meals (or can be sent up on a tray). When I get worse I will go to assisted living - the they he nursing and rehab on campus, and a memory care building. Or there are living facilities where you start off in assisted living. I cannot believe dr suggested hospice unless you are near death's door. Please look into other facilities where if money runs out you will be helped by medicaid.. The very best to you. ladyjane85 I am now 86, can often go up o 10 pain level in back, but can still drive to drs.

ladyjane85 | @ladyjane85 | May 25, 2016

In reply to @19lin "@ladyjane85 Keep a positive attitude and all will be well surgery helps most people. 19lin" + (show)

@briansr I agree, enough with surgeries. Are you living in a facility where you are put either in Independent Living or Assisted Living? If you are living alone one must look into a facility where you can be helped. I am in a Continuing Care place in an Independent Living apartment. It is expensive to get into but they can never throw you out, you just move up to more assisted parts. Even a spouse can live with one. Do not give up - my very best, ladyjane85