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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (6794)Comment receiving replies
Hello everyone. I just found this discussion group and look forward to following. My name is Naida and I am 71 years old living in Washington State. Have been retired for about 3 years and enjoying it fully. My hobbies are quilting, (only by machine) and reading. Love to listen to recorded books about history, suspense, drama and science fiction.
I have suffered from fibromyalgia for many years, but seems like the flairs are more frequent these days. Also have degenerative arthritis and siatica pain. Some days are good and some days are just for sleeping. I also have undiaginosed caused issue with shaking, balance and memory issues.
Have been looking for a group who is positive and upbeat while dealing with issues like mine. So many groups only want to complain and moan about all their pains and woe is me. People like that just drag me down while I daily struggle to not fall into the pit of depression myself. Thanks for this place to share with others with positive attitudes.
Replies to "Hello everyone. I just found this discussion group and look forward to following. My name is..."
Welcome to Connect, @naidab
We can always use the encouragement of others who are functioning positively while dealing with chronic pain. For many, having pain that can't be treated and never stops is pretty discouraging. I appreciate your words.
How is your fibromyalgia treated? Pain management, both with medication and understanding the psychology of pain control work well together.
Wherever we are, there is much to be thankful for.
Jim
Hello @naidab,
I'd like to add my welcome to John & Jim's. In addition to John sharing a fibromyalgia conversation with you, I'd like to add a conversation of members talking about sciatica pain, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sciatica-pain/.
If you are replying by email, I encourage you to click on VIEW & REPLY at the bottom of the notification so that you can see the full conversation in the order of responses. I also encourage you to check out the links provided as they lead you to discussions centered around some of the diagnoses that you have shared with the group. I think you will find a welcoming and upbeat group of members to get to know and we are glad to welcome your upbeat spirit to the groups as well!
@naidab Welcome! You and I seem to be "cut from the same cloth" as the saying goes. I love to read. I think I was born with a book in my hand! One of my earliest postings here on Connect stated how I like Connect and that it is different from other groups that seems to moan and groan. The downers. Not here on Connect! Now we do our fair share of moaning and groaning, but we also look for ways that others deal with things. One of my conditions is fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed 6 years ago. My present drug therapy for fibro is Cymbalta, Baclofen and Lyrica. Like you I have flares. Mine seem to occur from a change in weather and also changes in activity and stress. I could go on and on about how a seemingly mild increase in activity can send me to bed or the recliner for many days.
naidab, I wonder if you would be willing to share with us the medicines you take. Sometimes we will have a Mentor or fellow member that has talked about side effects from their prescribed medicines. In fact, I had balance and memory issues from taking gabapentin at a dosage of 1800 mg daily. I take Lyrica in its place with no ill effects.
Again, welcome to Connect. I look forward to getting to know you.
Jen
Hello @naidab and let me add my welcome to you! We are glad that you have joined Mayo Connect. It is a great place to find encouragement and support for some of the challenges we all face with physical problems.
As @sandytoes mentioned, I also love to read and listen to audio books, I'm listening to one book now called the Hero of the Empire, about the early years of Winston Churchill and the Boer War in South Africa, very interesting.
You mentioned having an undiagnosed issue with balance, shaking and memory issues. This struck a chord with me because I have Parkinson's. Mine is not a typical case of Parkinson's in that I don't have the tremors that is usually associated with this diagnosis, but I do have a lot of pain from constriction of muscles - very uncomfortable! If you are comfortable sharing more about yourself, we would be interested in knowing what kind of doctors you have seen for this undiagnosed condition. What type of tests have you had?
We look forward to getting to know you better through your posts. Will you keep in touch with us?
Teresa
Connect
Hello @naidab, welcome to Mayo Connect! We are glad you found us. Connect is a great place to ask questions and learn what other Connect members with similar health concerns are doing for treatment. If you don't mind my asking, have you discussed your other new symptoms with your doctor? Also, are you taking any medications for your pain?
I am tagging a few other Connect members who have talked about fibromyalgia to see if they can offer any suggestions. @sandytoes14, and @kdubois, do you have any suggestions for @naidab?
You might like to read the following discussion started by Kelly (@kdubois):
Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia - alternatives to medications?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-pain-and-fibromyalgia-alternatives-to-medications/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=d9d320272d
John