Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Posted by Kelsey Mohring @kelseydm, Apr 27, 2016

Welcome to the new Chronic Pain group.

I’m Kelsey and I’m the moderator of the group. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Why not take a minute and introduce yourself.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

My chronic pain is clinical depression/dysthymia. Which had also causes physical pain. Life in general is painful. Maybe this isn't the group for me? @ I also suffer from. Major anxiety.

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@jeannegordon4

I'm re-visiting "Chat" on the topic of Pain from Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, and DJD conditions. Specifically, I want
members comments on their experience with the Rx GABAPENTIN (generic for Neurontin) that my doctor has prescribed for the "global" pain/discomfort/soreness I experience from these "old age" (I'm 78/female) Dx's.
The Medication Guide indicates that Gabapentin can cause some serious side effects (and I already have enough problems) that are very off-putting to beginning this medication.

I would appreciate knowing of other users experience and /or caveats on this Rx.

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Hello @jeannegordon4 Nice to hear from you again here on Connect! I am not a medical professional and I acknowledge that each patient acts and reacts uniquely to their condition and medications. My wife was on Gabapentin for many years for foot and lower leg pain. It was the only medication that gave her any (even partial) relief. Her medical staff were careful in their titration of her dosages. She was on 400 mg a day after several months of working on this. She exhibited no adverse reactions nor did she complain of any negative consequences, but she was also on a very complex medication cocktail, of which Gabapentin was only one of the parts.

Strength, Courage, and Peace!

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Hello @tracylockhart, welcome to Connect. Connect is a safe place to share your thoughts, connect with other members with similar health conditions, ask questions and learn what they do to cope and treat their condition. I have no medical training or background but can share that you are not alone and the more you can learn about your health problems the more you can help yourself.

I am tagging other members to see if they can offer some suggestions or information. @JustinMcClanahan, @wsh66, @oregongirl, @parus, @liz223, @lioness, @hopeful33250, can you provide any suggestions for @tracylockhart ?

Tracy, if you able, can you share some things that help you get through the day?

I'm tied to my computer for a major part of the day but have a window next to my desk. I put a bird feeder outside of the window so that I am able to look out the window when I need a break. It brings me comfort seeing natures small creatures and focusing on what they have to do to make it through the day.

Hoping you have a good day.

John

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@meknight

Meknight: chronic pain, fibermyalgia, sleep issues, arthritis, female, 50's. Pain keeps me up at night, and when I do sleep, I wake up stiff and in more pain. My fingers and toes are painfully swollen and turning. I see a pain specialist, but the meds barely make life bearable. Looking for another way to survive.

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Hello @meknight, welcome to Connect. We are glad you found us. Connect is a great place to ask questions, share your health story and learn what others with similar health conditions are doing for treatments.

May I ask if you have found anything that helps you now?

I am tagging other members to see if they can offer some suggestions or information. @JustinMcClanahan, @wsh66, @oregongirl, @parus, @liz223, @jimhd, @lioness, @hopeful33250, can you provide any suggestions for @meknight ?

John

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@meknight and @tracylockhart -- I just read a discussion in the Brain and Nervous System Group that you might find interesting.

Brain & Nervous System / New Mental health discoveries about addition, anxiety and depression:
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-mental-health-discoveries-about-addition-anxiety-and-depression/

John

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@tracylockhart

My chronic pain is clinical depression/dysthymia. Which had also causes physical pain. Life in general is painful. Maybe this isn't the group for me? @ I also suffer from. Major anxiety.

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Hello @tracylockhart

Let me add my welcome to John's post above. Pain is difficult - whether it be emotional or physical or a combination of both. I would encourage you, as John did, to share with us what has helped you in the past.

As you are comfortable doing so, please share with us a bit of the history of your anxiety. Has it been since a traumatic event, such as a loss by death? For how long have you had this anxiety - months or years? As I said, share as you are comfortable doing so. We all learn from each other.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

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@meknight

Meknight: chronic pain, fibermyalgia, sleep issues, arthritis, female, 50's. Pain keeps me up at night, and when I do sleep, I wake up stiff and in more pain. My fingers and toes are painfully swollen and turning. I see a pain specialist, but the meds barely make life bearable. Looking for another way to survive.

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Hello @meknight, I would like to add my welcome to John's.

Here are a few discussions and groups you may find worth your time to read through and participate where you feel comfortable:
- Fibromyalgia pain, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fibromyalgia-pain-28e002/
- Sleep Health, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/sleep-health/

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@tracylockhart

My chronic pain is clinical depression/dysthymia. Which had also causes physical pain. Life in general is painful. Maybe this isn't the group for me? @ I also suffer from. Major anxiety.

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@tracylockhart, I would like to add my welcome to Teresa and John's. In addition to their welcomes, I would like to offer a few discussions and groups you may find worth your time to check out, read through, and participate in if you feel comfortable:

- Anxiety, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-2/
- Mental health group, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mental-health/

I also deal with chronic pain daily. It has been especially bad the past few days and today I am barely mobile. It can be tough on a person, but I do believe you have found the right group, we have many dedicated members who participate and provide insight and a listening ear to those that are willing to share.

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Hi Kelsey, My name I Cindy and Thank You for welcoming to the group. To tell you a little about myself I am a 54 yr old female who has been suffering from Adhesive Arachnoiditis for 17 years now. IN 2010 I had a Arachnoid mass removed from my thecal sac which was missed when they did a MRI on me in 2008.
I orginally am from Northeast Pa where my family doctor helped me with pain medication to keep me somewhat comfortable and also able to live my life. I have since relocated to near Richmond Va and have been without pain meds since November and am having great difficulty finding ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I cannot continue to live with this pain and do not know where to turn. I completely understand all issues regarding opiod addiction and the present epidemic of overdoses , however; WHAT ARE THE PPL WHO TRULY TAKE THEIR MEDICATION AS DIRECTED AND NEED THIS MEDICATION TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED EVERDAY SUPPOSED TO DO??? If I do not get some relief soon I will lose my will to go on. Can anyone pls give advice? Thank u again for listening it helps immensely. God bless you all!!

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@meknight

Meknight: chronic pain, fibermyalgia, sleep issues, arthritis, female, 50's. Pain keeps me up at night, and when I do sleep, I wake up stiff and in more pain. My fingers and toes are painfully swollen and turning. I see a pain specialist, but the meds barely make life bearable. Looking for another way to survive.

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No, nothing that helps other than a Miracle. I fell twice..very bad..brought out so many issues. But since my falls I have little pain from my RA. I was on a blood thinner and you can imagine the blood loss. My face and body looked like I was beaten badly. I don't recall either fall. In particular the second one. One week apart. Several weeks in hospital. They never did find what was wrong.

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