Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

It is very hard dealing with the various types of pain. I have tried and use many modalities all the time. I have developed skin sensitivities from so many surgeries and use of medications/pain patches/TENS using various forms of tape. I rotate my pain sites and do use them but must be careful The sad state of affairs is the usage of narcotics and benzodiazepines. Just because there is misuse by illegal people, over prescribing, no other medication/modalities used, and these over zealous governors and law makers are putting all of us into one category, we chronic pain people that do need them will suffer. I do know after 24 years what works for me. I respect my medications as anyone with a disease (which chronic pain is) and use my medication plus other methods to try to have some life. Many years I had none! Learning to cope, space activities, having better days and sometimes very bad days i.e., we still don't live the "normal" lives of people our age. Waking up is a challenge. Exercises, TENS, medications, mediation, tapping modalities, pain patch i.e. sometimes a neck brace...just to start a day. Now the government wants to push anti-seizure drugs as if they have no serious side effect and they do. One has to do their own and be your best spokesman for yourself. Many doctors know little and even less about chronic pain. Narcotics in a certain group of chronic patients do work. JAMA and the Journal of Pain Medicine (Dec 2017)has the studies and doctors are writing guidelines to the CDC and Medical Societies to State governments. Also, doctors are trying to enlighten them about people like us that are not abusers but suffers that have and are trying everything. I am looking for a new pain doctor because mine is closing his practise. All the new constraints in the changing laws for some medications due to my complex and extensive health issues make it extremely difficult! In my state, most doctors instead of taking the newly, required special courses in order to be able to RX some narcotics, are closing up practice. Even the benzodiazepines are included and this effects people not only with muscle spasms but with anxiety. As a former (RN Educator) health care provider in the medical field, I do lots of research to find answers to try and improve my health. I thought the dark ages of treating chronic pain was over but it is getting worse. I had a young doctor tell me what "my"pain was (subjective) and caused by my narcotic without checking my back (with my street cloths on). My neck is deviated to the left with my cervical fusion (dystonia) and I have at least various sizes of 20 knots in my back mostly in the lumbar and cervical fusion sites which he didn't feel. My chiropractor was floored. He has been working to separate these muscles that are on top of muscles to help them regrow and function for once as normal. I feel sadness reading stories of pain people because it reminds me when I first started years ago on my journey, before so many complications, wondering why certains symptoms occurred and how do I try to improve my function making my body better? Pray everyone gets good help and hope I can help someone.

It is very hard dealing with the various types of pain. I have tried and use many modalities all the time. I have developed skin sensitivities from so many surgeries and use of medications/pain patches/TENS using various forms of tape. I rotate my pain sites and do use them but must be careful The sad state of affairs is the usage of narcotics and benzodiazepines. Just because there is misuse by illegal people, over prescribing, no other medication/modalities used, and these over zealous governors and law makers are putting all of us into one category, we chronic pain people that do need them will suffer. I do know after 24 years what works for me. I respect my medications as anyone with a disease (which chronic pain is) and use my medication plus other methods to try to have some life. Many years I had none! Learning to cope, space activities, having better days and sometimes very bad days i.e., we still don't live the "normal" lives of people our age. Waking up is a challenge. Exercises, TENS, medications, mediation, tapping modalities, pain patch i.e. sometimes a neck brace...just to start a day. Now the government wants to push anti-seizure drugs as if they have no serious side effect and they do. One has to do their own and be your best spokesman for yourself. Many doctors know little and even less about chronic pain. Narcotics in a certain group of chronic patients do work. JAMA and the Journal of Pain Medicine (Dec 2017)has the studies and doctors are writing guidelines to the CDC and Medical Societies to State governments. Also, doctors are trying to enlighten them about people like us that are not abusers but suffers that have and are trying everything. I am looking for a new pain doctor because mine is closing his practise. All the new constraints in the changing laws for some medications due to my complex and extensive health issues make it extremely difficult! In my state, most doctors instead of taking the newly, required special courses in order to be able to RX some narcotics, are closing up practice. Even the benzodiazepines are included and this effects people not only with muscle spasms but with anxiety. As a former (RN Educator) health care provider in the medical field, I do lots of research to find answers to try and improve my health. I thought the dark ages of treating chronic pain was over but it is getting worse. I had a young doctor tell me what "my"pain was (subjective) and caused by my narcotic without checking my back (with my street cloths on). My neck is deviated to the left with my cervical fusion (dystonia) and I have at least various sizes of 20 knots in my back mostly in the lumbar and cervical fusion sites which he didn't feel. My chiropractor was floored. He has been working to separate these muscles that are on top of muscles to help them regrow and function for once as normal. I feel sadness reading stories of pain people because it reminds me when I first started years ago on my journey, before so many complications, wondering why certains symptoms occurred and how do I try to improve my function making my body better? Pray everyone gets good help and hope I can help someone.

Hello Lynne I posts as Lioness.If you have fibro you need to be strong like a lion.I've had this for 30 yrs. What do you do for the pain?

It is very hard dealing with the various types of pain. I have tried and use many modalities all the time. I have developed skin sensitivities from so many surgeries and use of medications/pain patches/TENS using various forms of tape. I rotate my pain sites and do use them but must be careful The sad state of affairs is the usage of narcotics and benzodiazepines. Just because there is misuse by illegal people, over prescribing, no other medication/modalities used, and these over zealous governors and law makers are putting all of us into one category, we chronic pain people that do need them will suffer. I do know after 24 years what works for me. I respect my medications as anyone with a disease (which chronic pain is) and use my medication plus other methods to try to have some life. Many years I had none! Learning to cope, space activities, having better days and sometimes very bad days i.e., we still don't live the "normal" lives of people our age. Waking up is a challenge. Exercises, TENS, medications, mediation, tapping modalities, pain patch i.e. sometimes a neck brace...just to start a day. Now the government wants to push anti-seizure drugs as if they have no serious side effect and they do. One has to do their own and be your best spokesman for yourself. Many doctors know little and even less about chronic pain. Narcotics in a certain group of chronic patients do work. JAMA and the Journal of Pain Medicine (Dec 2017)has the studies and doctors are writing guidelines to the CDC and Medical Societies to State governments. Also, doctors are trying to enlighten them about people like us that are not abusers but suffers that have and are trying everything. I am looking for a new pain doctor because mine is closing his practise. All the new constraints in the changing laws for some medications due to my complex and extensive health issues make it extremely difficult! In my state, most doctors instead of taking the newly, required special courses in order to be able to RX some narcotics, are closing up practice. Even the benzodiazepines are included and this effects people not only with muscle spasms but with anxiety. As a former (RN Educator) health care provider in the medical field, I do lots of research to find answers to try and improve my health. I thought the dark ages of treating chronic pain was over but it is getting worse. I had a young doctor tell me what "my"pain was (subjective) and caused by my narcotic without checking my back (with my street cloths on). My neck is deviated to the left with my cervical fusion (dystonia) and I have at least various sizes of 20 knots in my back mostly in the lumbar and cervical fusion sites which he didn't feel. My chiropractor was floored. He has been working to separate these muscles that are on top of muscles to help them regrow and function for once as normal. I feel sadness reading stories of pain people because it reminds me when I first started years ago on my journey, before so many complications, wondering why certains symptoms occurred and how do I try to improve my function making my body better? Pray everyone gets good help and hope I can help someone.

It is very hard dealing with the various types of pain. I have tried and use many modalities all the time. I have developed skin sensitivities from so many surgeries and use of medications/pain patches/TENS using various forms of tape. I rotate my pain sites and do use them but must be careful The sad state of affairs is the usage of narcotics and benzodiazepines. Just because there is misuse by illegal people, over prescribing, no other medication/modalities used, and these over zealous governors and law makers are putting all of us into one category, we chronic pain people that do need them will suffer. I do know after 24 years what works for me. I respect my medications as anyone with a disease (which chronic pain is) and use my medication plus other methods to try to have some life. Many years I had none! Learning to cope, space activities, having better days and sometimes very bad days i.e., we still don't live the "normal" lives of people our age. Waking up is a challenge. Exercises, TENS, medications, mediation, tapping modalities, pain patch i.e. sometimes a neck brace...just to start a day. Now the government wants to push anti-seizure drugs as if they have no serious side effect and they do. One has to do their own and be your best spokesman for yourself. Many doctors know little and even less about chronic pain. Narcotics in a certain group of chronic patients do work. JAMA and the Journal of Pain Medicine (Dec 2017)has the studies and doctors are writing guidelines to the CDC and Medical Societies to State governments. Also, doctors are trying to enlighten them about people like us that are not abusers but suffers that have and are trying everything. I am looking for a new pain doctor because mine is closing his practise. All the new constraints in the changing laws for some medications due to my complex and extensive health issues make it extremely difficult! In my state, most doctors instead of taking the newly, required special courses in order to be able to RX some narcotics, are closing up practice. Even the benzodiazepines are included and this effects people not only with muscle spasms but with anxiety. As a former (RN Educator) health care provider in the medical field, I do lots of research to find answers to try and improve my health. I thought the dark ages of treating chronic pain was over but it is getting worse. I had a young doctor tell me what "my"pain was (subjective) and caused by my narcotic without checking my back (with my street cloths on). My neck is deviated to the left with my cervical fusion (dystonia) and I have at least various sizes of 20 knots in my back mostly in the lumbar and cervical fusion sites which he didn't feel. My chiropractor was floored. He has been working to separate these muscles that are on top of muscles to help them regrow and function for once as normal. I feel sadness reading stories of pain people because it reminds me when I first started years ago on my journey, before so many complications, wondering why certains symptoms occurred and how do I try to improve my function making my body better? Pray everyone gets good help and hope I can help someone.

It is very hard dealing with the various types of pain. I have tried and use many modalities all the time. I have developed skin sensitivities from so many surgeries and use of medications/pain patches/TENS using various forms of tape. I rotate my pain sites and do use them but must be careful The sad state of affairs is the usage of narcotics and benzodiazepines. Just because there is misuse by illegal people, over prescribing, no other medication/modalities used, and these over zealous governors and law makers are putting all of us into one category, we chronic pain people that do need them will suffer. I do know after 24 years what works for me. I respect my medications as anyone with a disease (which chronic pain is) and use my medication plus other methods to try to have some life. Many years I had none! Learning to cope, space activities, having better days and sometimes very bad days i.e., we still don't live the "normal" lives of people our age. Waking up is a challenge. Exercises, TENS, medications, mediation, tapping modalities, pain patch i.e. sometimes a neck brace...just to start a day. Now the government wants to push anti-seizure drugs as if they have no serious side effect and they do. One has to do their own and be your best spokesman for yourself. Many doctors know little and even less about chronic pain. Narcotics in a certain group of chronic patients do work. JAMA and the Journal of Pain Medicine (Dec 2017)has the studies and doctors are writing guidelines to the CDC and Medical Societies to State governments. Also, doctors are trying to enlighten them about people like us that are not abusers but suffers that have and are trying everything. I am looking for a new pain doctor because mine is closing his practise. All the new constraints in the changing laws for some medications due to my complex and extensive health issues make it extremely difficult! In my state, most doctors instead of taking the newly, required special courses in order to be able to RX some narcotics, are closing up practice. Even the benzodiazepines are included and this effects people not only with muscle spasms but with anxiety. As a former (RN Educator) health care provider in the medical field, I do lots of research to find answers to try and improve my health. I thought the dark ages of treating chronic pain was over but it is getting worse. I had a young doctor tell me what "my"pain was (subjective) and caused by my narcotic without checking my back (with my street cloths on). My neck is deviated to the left with my cervical fusion (dystonia) and I have at least various sizes of 20 knots in my back mostly in the lumbar and cervical fusion sites which he didn't feel. My chiropractor was floored. He has been working to separate these muscles that are on top of muscles to help them regrow and function for once as normal. I feel sadness reading stories of pain people because it reminds me when I first started years ago on my journey, before so many complications, wondering why certains symptoms occurred and how do I try to improve my function making my body better? Pray everyone gets good help and hope I can help someone.

Totally understand everyone's postings. So sad that many judge us and tell us how we are to "feel", even though we are using various modalities and are willing to try other non-medicinal therapies, the use of a medication makes some of us, some family members or even doctors like we should NOT be on ANY! Medical school training of doctors have poor training on chronic pain management and treatments! More must be done in their field and ancillary medical fields such as mine, Nursing. Having had chronic pain (not just so many fusions but also TKR, THR, bowel resections due to cervical nerve damage, fibromyalgia i.e), I understand your frustrations.
We have so many complications as our conditions progress and many of us, try so hard to be a part of life and try any method to just get our lives back. Most can't. We suffer and many people just don't GET (understand) us. Now the laws regarding narcotics and benzodiazepines are changing; so many chronic pain doctors rather than having their hands "tied" so much with the regulations (like in my state), are closing practice. Some friends I know (ER Doctors) have been writing our governor and law makers to please not pass some bills they plan to bring up as they affect many of us, patients coming into emergency situations, and post-op patients. Education is the answer and we also must be educated. The overuse of just using medications and not using other wonderful treatments (TENS, gentle exercises, occasional braces, psychological modalities, ice/heat, diet --foods can cause inflammation, acupuncture, chiropractic, i.e) hasn't helped us besides the illegal use of medications by addicts by "bad" doctors prescribing (there are some) and illegal drugs on the street . Our family members need to be educated to understand our health problem and that we will have good and bad days.
Our medication is to help us just as a diabetic or a heart patient. Now we are the ones suffering and falling through the cracks. We cooperate and what WE know helps us...WHO is there listening to assist us. Stop (others) throwing us ALL into one group! All pain is different and all handle it differently. Never judge another's pain. Prayers for all of you!

It is very hard dealing with the various types of pain. I have tried and use many modalities all the time. I have developed skin sensitivities from so many surgeries and use of medications/pain patches/TENS using various forms of tape. I rotate my pain sites and do use them but must be careful The sad state of affairs is the usage of narcotics and benzodiazepines. Just because there is misuse by illegal people, over prescribing, no other medication/modalities used, and these over zealous governors and law makers are putting all of us into one category, we chronic pain people that do need them will suffer. I do know after 24 years what works for me. I respect my medications as anyone with a disease (which chronic pain is) and use my medication plus other methods to try to have some life. Many years I had none! Learning to cope, space activities, having better days and sometimes very bad days i.e., we still don't live the "normal" lives of people our age. Waking up is a challenge. Exercises, TENS, medications, mediation, tapping modalities, pain patch i.e. sometimes a neck brace...just to start a day. Now the government wants to push anti-seizure drugs as if they have no serious side effect and they do. One has to do their own and be your best spokesman for yourself. Many doctors know little and even less about chronic pain. Narcotics in a certain group of chronic patients do work. JAMA and the Journal of Pain Medicine (Dec 2017)has the studies and doctors are writing guidelines to the CDC and Medical Societies to State governments. Also, doctors are trying to enlighten them about people like us that are not abusers but suffers that have and are trying everything. I am looking for a new pain doctor because mine is closing his practise. All the new constraints in the changing laws for some medications due to my complex and extensive health issues make it extremely difficult! In my state, most doctors instead of taking the newly, required special courses in order to be able to RX some narcotics, are closing up practice. Even the benzodiazepines are included and this effects people not only with muscle spasms but with anxiety. As a former (RN Educator) health care provider in the medical field, I do lots of research to find answers to try and improve my health. I thought the dark ages of treating chronic pain was over but it is getting worse. I had a young doctor tell me what "my"pain was (subjective) and caused by my narcotic without checking my back (with my street cloths on). My neck is deviated to the left with my cervical fusion (dystonia) and I have at least various sizes of 20 knots in my back mostly in the lumbar and cervical fusion sites which he didn't feel. My chiropractor was floored. He has been working to separate these muscles that are on top of muscles to help them regrow and function for once as normal. I feel sadness reading stories of pain people because it reminds me when I first started years ago on my journey, before so many complications, wondering why certains symptoms occurred and how do I try to improve my function making my body better? Pray everyone gets good help and hope I can help someone.