Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

I was trying to just throw some of the treatments out on here and to give an overview of where I have been in the past with the beginning stages of how my treatments began and the reasons they started and how things have changed along the way. My problems first began in December 1998 when I was driving a city bus. I was on my way to the start of the line where my route started at 6:00am. I was making a right hand turn from a double yellow line lane where no passing is allowed turning onto the side road that was where I parked to begin my route. While making the turn I didn’t see any other traffic on the road and halfway through the I felt and heard a loud crash that almost through me out of my seat and because I had my seat belt on I was able to keep control of my bus and stop and got out of my seat to see that a dumpster carrying truck had hit me and he truck was pinned in next to a telephone pole which he had knocked halfway down trying to pass me on the right side of the bus which I could tell that he was trying to pass me before I completed my turn. He thought he was going to be able pass me on the wrong side of the street for one thing. He was still trying to start his truck and move it but he had pinned himself in by the phone pole. I have add more later .

@al4terry Welcome to Mayo Connect. That was quite a bad accident to have, can you tell us what the initial diagnosis and treatments were, and how they have modified over time? I find it educational to listen to what has worked for others.

Some days my pain is a tough thing to deal with, other days, not so much. Counting fibromyalgia and arthritis among my disorders, it seems humidity and weather have played a factor in comfort levels.
Ginger

It's an honor to find a group of people that have been, and are still going<br />
through, what we all face 24/7. I'm getting worse but a lot of this startup<br />
group have alot more problems than myself. Let's try to grow this group<br />
into one large enough to let our "FRIENDS" in Washington know that we are<br />
indeed human beings and could use some representatives in D.C. to open<br />
their minds and hearts to the millions that suffer daily with very little<br />
to look forward to. I want to write, a novel, book, articles to whoever we<br />
can reach. I just need some ideas. Do you suppose there is a pain monthly<br />
magazine. LOL briansr<br />

I have horrible peripheral neuropathy pain from my toes to my knees. I can no longer walk. A couple years ago my so-called pain doctor took all pain meds away from me and all his patients due to the “Opium Crisis.” Now what? All of us are being punished because of a few druggies who want to kill themselves. Many chronic pain sufferers have killed themselves due to the pain. Any suggestions for pain relief?

Magnilife foot cream and marijuana really helps me. Marijuana doesn't kill the pain it just relaxes you so you can retire tolerated better. It just makes you feel better and that's half the battle I think when it comes to THC. Went through PRC and mayo and it's a fine program but the problem is there is just some pains you just can't forget about especially when it keeps you up at night. I wish you all the best and we're going to hang in together somehow some way. Maybe the election will help us. I don't know God bless and stay safe

Hello @donfeld. I'm interested in your Mayo PRC experience, if you dont mind sharing. I have been recheduled (for 3rd time due to Covid) to now go in October. Did you go while on opiods and if so, were you weaned off while there? I understand your comment about some pains you just cant forget. I'm assuming this is why Mayo touts various percentages of success rates. Each person is different, each case is different. All in all, did you feel it was worth participating in the pain program?

There is no question that with the physical therapy and lots of deep conversations it does improve your situation as long as you're in classes and dealing with in a daily basis. Once you leave there you've got to keep this regiment up which is not the easiest thing in the world for the average person and I guess you got to be really have a tremendous desire to keep that regiment up. I did get off the opioids during that time which was great but months later my strong pain came back again and I bought that for some time, but I've learned that opioids are not the answer. So I fight that everyday and unless I did a severe injury is the only time I would ever consider opioids again. Physically when I was done there's no question I felt much improvement so I said go experience it and everybody gets different things out of it which is hard to say whether it's a good for you or it's not something that would fit. The staff is great people are great and you're beating lot of nice people who are in the same situation you already. That alone you get a lot out of and you make some new friends. Hope it works for you

Thank you very much for your insight. May I ask how you handle pain now? Just medical marijuana?

You caught me at a bad time. I injured my hip playing golf and in fact I'm on my way to see you orthopedic doctor as they think I got a tear possibly in my hip joint and so I'm in severe pain and I've got to be on opioid temporarily until they get this under control. It just seems we can't get away from it and when it gets the pain gets above 5 and so what a workout through but basically I take Tylenol and marijuana and some nice wine. The key of your pain is exercise walk keep moving and that's the real thing that helps the most especially the pic they just diagnosed with me last year with a arachnoiditis. Look it up but it's caused by surgery incurable disease. Take care and again I hope you are C gives back some hope for you . , thanks