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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: Apr 26 9:22am | Replies (6794)Comment receiving replies
Hello, I’m new to the group and hope to make a few friends who understand chronic pain. Especially back pain. I was diagnosed with Adheasive Arachnoiditis about 3 years ago. I didn’t know then really what I was dealing with and neither did the doctor I had then. About a year ago I found a doctor about 3 hours from where I live who has been very understanding with my condition. The pain has been controlled with my medication enough that I can work part time. All in all my pain seems to be something I can live with however the depression and anxiety issues seem to be tough to deal with. I know, more meds right. Well that’s my intro and thanks for reading.
Replies to "Hello, I’m new to the group and hope to make a few friends who understand chronic..."
Hello @lightbender
I would like to add my welcome to Mayo Connect! As Jim, @jimhd mentioned, many of our members at Mayo Connect have discussed the problem of chronic pain and how it affects us both physically and emotionally. For our members who may not be familiar with your diagnosis of Adhesive Arachnoiditis, I found some information on NORD's website, https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/arachnoiditis/
As Jim, mentioned, medications for anxiety and depression are most useful if they can be combined with counseling. If there is a problem finding a provider perhaps a support group in your area might be helpful as well. The Arthritis Foundation may be able to connect you with others in your area who deal with chronic pain.
As your diagnosis is considered a "rare disorder" we would be interested in knowing how this diagnosis came about. If you are comfortable sharing more would you explain how long it was before you received the diagnosis and what type of tests were used for the diagnosis?
We look forward to getting to know you!
Teresa
Hello @lightbender,
I would like to add my welcome to Jim and Teresa's. I would also like to share this link with you, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/any-adhesive-arachnoiditis-members-here/. If you click on this link you will be taken to a discussion with other members with adhesive arachnoiditis. I think the other members would really appreciate Connecting with someone who understands their situation. I look forward to seeing more posts from you lightbender.
Connect
@lightbender - welcome to the group. I had a lot of back pain for a couple of years, after my ladder started sliding to the right while I was on it, painting the second story of my house. I gained some empathy for my friends with chronic back pain.
I have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, with pain in my feet. I had a spinal cord stimulator implant in June, and I got a lot of pain relief, but by no means has it pain free. I just had the generator recalibrated today, to try to get more relief.
It's too bad, but not uncommon, that it took a couple of years to get a diagnosis. I understand how hard that can be.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicidal ideation have been intrusive in my life for around the past 15 years. I had been working through the deepest parts when along came neuropathy, and the pain set me back for awhile, especially with depression. Chronic pain is often the culprit with depression. The two tend to feed off each other. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for some good therapists.
Medications and therapy both help a lot with depression and anxiety, with the best results using both together. I don't personally recommend going with only meds.I hope you'll consider finding a good counselor, and that you find an antidepressant that lifts your level of depression. Are there any good therapists where you live?
Stay in touch. We're here to offer you support, and share with you the things we've faced, and how we deal with them.
Jim