Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Very well put Justin. I and my sister-in-law both have been dx with chronic pain. We have both had back surgery 3 months apart. But here's the difference. I make every effort to get better. I went to physical therapy, I took my medication as directed, I do my PT exercises at home and I try to eat right, drink plenty of fluids including water every day. My sister in law, on the other hand, wants to stay in bed, eat junk food if she eats at all, only drinks Mountain Dew and has overtaken her meds to the point Dr. and hospitals refuse to give her any more.She complains constantly but rejects any suggestion anyone gives her by saying, "you/ they just don't understand, I am hurting" She lives in utter filth because she claims she hurts too bad to scrap her plate after she eats. I understand she is depressed and has chronic anxiety, PTSD etc. But she is so very non- compliant that no one can help her. Her diabetes is uncontrolled to the point that it has caused her to have to have part of a big toe amputated, her circulation is so bad, both her feet and legs up to her knees are purple and without pulses. She manipulates everyone she comes in contact with and no one will help her anymore. I am and have been trying to take care of her for the past 5 years. I have bought her food, paid her bills, cleaned her house, taken her from one Dr. to another. I have made appointments only for her to cancel them saying she just doesn't feel like going. I've tried, love, patience and understanding, I tied tough love but nothing works. I am the only one that looks after her, period and I have to confess, it is taking a toll on me. I have been told by HER Dr.s that I need to take care of myself first but I find myself back in her clutches again and again. I have bought her 2 cars both of which she wrecked within one year apart due to taking too many pain pills or Benzodiazepines, in her case Klonopin. I have given so much of myself to this woman, my family is almost ready to disown me. I simply have nothing else to give. Yet I find myself buying her soda and Cigs. both I know full well she doesn't need. I have tried to break free but can't leave her stranded. She had one other friend but she used her too many times, talked bad about her behind her back and the thing that broke the camels back was she put her cable bill in her friends' name without her consent, that did it. Her friend wants nothing more to do with her. I do understand she is in pain, but she thinks the only thing that will help her is pain pills and Benzos for her anxiety and the Dr. and hospitals are wise to her and refuses to give her anything. Writing this is my last attempt to find help for her. If anyone has any suggestions I would deeply appreciate it. I am a retired nurse so I do understand pain and anxiety and HAVE pain and anxiety myself and have for years. I have the patience of Job but I am making myself sick in my efforts to help her. I seriously feel that I am going to find her dead one day when I go to check on her.And I feel that time is getting nearer each day. Thanks for reading this. any suggestions.

I use Lyrica which is also known as pre Gabapentin. I previously tried very large doses of Gabapentin which had no effect on nerve pain but Lyrica was really good on my neuropathy.

@cognac

Sorry it's taken so long to respond to your question. I just now saw it. My husband gets my CBD and THC from a dispensary here in southern California, where both are legal. He uses THC vaping for pain. I use tincture only. It's not cheap, but they work. I also like the CBD Living Water @$5 a 16 oz. bottle, which is 2 doses. The CBD water makes the effects immediately available in your body. Very mild.

GailB
Volunteer Mentor

Check with wheel chair stores, ask about used walkers. You don't need a script to get walking aides. Keep looking. This is crude but when a person dies they often leave behind walkers and other gear. I wouldn't ask at the funeral but a few days or weeks later folks are very glad to see their loved ones devices go on being used. I now use my brother-in-laws mothers walker. I do the grocery cart thing too. Ilook for the tallest ones and shop where they have them.

The pain pump works the stimulator, in my experience is useless. It is supposed to block pain signals. The pump delivers tiny amounts of drugs directly to the spine. 1 mg. of dilaudid from the pain pimp is worth 300 mg. of dilaudid taken as pills. If a tens unit works for you, then the stimulator will probably work as well. When the tens didn't work for me they didn't even test the stimulator.

Lucky guy. Tell him I'll be over in 30 minutes for a little vaping.

Good advice. Other places to check is: Craig's List, local FB groups who sell items or gives them away, a local houses of worship, Good Will (or other 2nd hand stores) and putting up a post at the local super market.

I've tried Oxy and Hydrocodone, neither work. I purposely take it only when necessary so that I don't build up a tolerance. They do take the edge off but they also make me loopy. I had a bad toothache a few months ago and the dentist gave me Tramadol. Now that worked GREAT! I kept 1 in case of an emergency.
My problem is that my pain doc will not prescribe pain killers except if I have a procedure that might be painful. So, I count on meds from other docs when I have a surgery or something like that. Sadly, that has been more often than I like.

Hi,
I know what a tough time you are having. I had Fibro for sooooo many years. I think I finally conquered it. How? It wasn't easy.....I took amitriptyline (spelling? an anti-depression med in a low dose used to sleep) to get me into a deep sleep (where you heal), daily exercise (that started with just walking (my husband literally had to drag me), chiropractor, therapeutic massage and aquatic PT.

Although I think I've got it under control, I have so many other issues that cause chronic pain, I'm just not 100% sure.

I've been on Gabapentin for a long time. I really don't think it helps. I don't believe I have bad affects, but I take so many other things, I am not sure. My brother, on the other hand, who has bad spinal issues (like me...just not as bad), takes it and finds it helps him sleep.

Ronnie

My pain doc won't either. He says I am too young to get dependent on an assistive walking device. I am 63.