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← Return to Pain and Loss of Self Worth
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I can totally relate. I’m 59 years old and I’ve been struggling with CRPS for 15 years I’ve been accomplished academic pediatrician for over 30 years and finally had to throw in the towel. I cannot work anymore because of my pain and nervous system all allow me, I’m very curious about how you obtain the diagnosis of arachnoiditis. I have been to many many specialists in many different fields and no one has ever really given me a prognosis or big picture. Look at what my life would be like. I try to find moments of peace and joy , however I feel my body is declining and I cannot stop or slow the process. I have changed my diet to the point where I don’t have any sugar or gluten or red meat. I am on 17 supplements a day I use various topical creams to help with nerve burning discomfort , I am weak and fatigued, but push myself to be as physically mobile as I can in small chunks. I have often lost. Hope only to muster up a few mitochondria of hope to try something different whether it’s a accupuncture functional medicine are you Vedic medicine but then once again , my body fails me . I would like to find the energy to find the cure. I worry daily, that my brain will fail. Me too as my body is now that I am not working. I am trying to find ways to fill my day that bring me comfort and perhaps show kindness to others. My whole entire professional career is gone, but my will to help people is still there, so if there’s anything I can do to help you on your journey, please reach out
Replies to "I can totally relate. I’m 59 years old and I’ve been struggling with CRPS for 15..."
I was sad to read of your recent experiences. Through the Mayo support venue I've learned that there are many, many more of us out there than I could have imagined.
It's just helpful to know that others can relate.
Regarding your question about my diagnosis of arachnoiditis, the diagnosis was made by the radiologist who read my MRI and was confirmed by my orthopedic specialist. I knew nothing about this condition (or the fact that it could be an outcome after spinal surgery). If I had fully been informed of the risks of my 8 hour long back surgery, I don't know if I would have proceeded with it. I was in tremendous pain, though, and felt that I had no options.
I hope that all of us in the chronic pain situation can find some peace and new ways of thinking about our situation.
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Doc, it’s a shame you couldn’t find some type of remote or virtual work you could do in medicine? I know many docs who have side-lines of medical record reviews for companies. You could consider mentoring pediatricians in training as a way to use your years of skills. I’d hate to see your education lost and sorry for your situation. My nursing career was cut short after fracturing my spine in an earthquake in Ca in 1988.