No you are not talking in circles. I understand you completely. As I read some of the messages I wonder how people can do so much and I can barely do anything. I guess it comes down to a few things: Where is the pain? Is the pain severe (not all chronic pain is unbearable)? Are these people taking something to help make the pain more manageable? Are they pushing through the pain? Do they do what they do because there is no other choice? So on and so on.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

I think a lot of us actually do what we do because there is no choice. My husband is worse off than I am and so I push on to care for him. Also we have a little dog that needs to be walked and cared for. We have no family here and I'm sort of "it". Probably a good thing because it would be tempting to sit down and give up. I don't work straight through the day. 😉 I do a little and take time out. Of course, we've had to hire someone to do the yard and clean the house and realize we will be able to do less and less. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Really want to stay in our home. Meanwhile I'll keep trying injections, exercise and Tylenol. Our only son is in another state and has Parkinson's. 🙁

@Parus, I've lived with chronic pain since I was in elementary school. A rare genetic bleeding disorder left me with a lot of internal bleeding in my joints which led to early age joint arthritis. One of the more frustrating things my entire life has not only been living with chronic pain, but not being able to articulate it to others. Even the loved ones who have known me my entire life can't possibly understand completely. It is not a knock on others, it is just impossible to know unless you have experienced it. Furthermore, each one of us has such different injuries, tolerances, triggers, mobility, etc., that even us who live with chronic pain can't fully understand one-another.

But, there is one thing that none of us are, and that is weak. I appreciate everyone's strength in this group. Writing about our vulnerabilities, bad days, fears, and frustrations does not make a person with chronic pain weak, it is a show of strength - whether that be for your or for those of us that read it.

You're not weak you're in pain. Everybody's paying is different and some people's is have more pain than others. Before I got my pain pump, I was in constant pain around the clock 24 hours a day. I'm still in pain most of the time but it's an easy paint to live with nothing like what I had before. I'm also dealing better with my depression now so my experience of pain is different than it was before. we do the best we can do we take advantage of what resources we have and we just keep going. There's nothing wrong with you except for the fact you have a lot of pain you're fine.

Where do they put the pain pump? Did it hurt? After they filled the area where Vertibra was crushed, I was able to walk. In the beginning I think I had so much pain med while putting concrete be in my back. The result was me thinking there is no pain. Ya right. I now cannot stand to long on bad days. In church I cannot stand but I think because I cannot walk the pain off. I see my pain mgt in 2 weeks. I cannot believe how long be we have to wait for appt.

@JustinMcClanahan Your words are so true. Yes, dealing with and accepting chronic pain is a display of inner strength. These words are encouraging for me and hopefully others as well. We keep fighting for ourselves as well as others. Each of us in our own way are an everyday paladin. The thing that impresses me with this community is the empathy, strength, wisdom and support for one another. We all are in this together!

@oregongirl It does take a long time to get in with a specialist. Typically once you are in it is easier. Hoping good things for you.

@wsh66 Your words are uplifting.

They installed my pain pump on the left side of my belly a couple of inches above my belt. Then they run a catheter up your spine. they couldn't get the catheter in Beyond where the discs were fused or covered with scar tissue at the base of my back but they got it in the rest of the way. I had minor pain from the incision where they open me up to put the pump in but no pain from the pump itself. I have lymphedema so I have to massage the left side of my body everyday from the toes up to the shoulder and occasionally I get a little soreness from running my hand over top of the pump but it's nothing to write home about. other than the fact that the pump relieves your pain the best thing about it is being able to go back to those doctors and nurses who accused you of being a drug addict and show them the pump and say up yours it's obvious I'm not a drug addict or I wouldn't be settling for 3 mg of Dilaudid a day. then you tell them to kiss your pump and you go on your way.

I refused the concrete in my back it was offered to me but I was afraid to have it done so I have lived with minor pain till now but with back injections ,now this pain pump sounds interesting I will ask my pain Dr. about it.Thanks for this conversation