feeling hope for the first time in my life

Posted by hannarayne @hannarayne, 6 days ago

Hi all! I’m new here. It’s been recommended by many on my care team to join a support group, so here I am!
I’m 24 years old and have been suffering from chronic pain my whole life. I can’t remember a single day of my life I haven’t had pain in one way or another. Some days are easier than others, but it’s progressed to the point of needing mobility aids and days in bed. I’ve recently started giving up hope for the future. I’m frustrated because I’m so young and I’ve been suffering for so long, and things are only getting worse. I want to be able to live life like everyone else in their 20s. My favorite thing to do in the world is dance and I’ve been struggling a lot with not being able to do that.
But today I got the call from Mayo Clinic to get me into one of their programs. As soon as we ended the call, I started crying my eyes out. Happy tears! Mayo is known for how good they are and I’ve been on the waiting list for so long. I have hope for the first time in my life that maybe things will get easier. Maybe there will be a way to manage the pain. For the first time in my life, I have hope for a better future. I’ve been given the run around by every specialist I’ve seen. The only one to listen to me has been my PCP and she recommended I try to get in with Mayo. No one has been able to give me an answer my entire life. No one has taken me seriously. I have hope that I’ll finally be heard. Hope that I won’t have to suffer every single day of my life. I hope and pray that I get relief soon. I want to dance and be young again. I don’t want to be stared at when I’m using a cane in the grocery store anymore. I want to live again.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story 🙂

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

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 5 days ago

@hannarayne, I'm happy for you. If this is your first time going to Mayo Clinic, you may find the discussions in the Visiting Mayo Clinic helpful. See here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traveling-to-mayo-clinic/

Which Mayo Clinic will you be going to? Will you be taking part in the Pain Rehab Center or a different program?

lisamarie235 | @lisamarie235 | 4 days ago

I pray you get help to dance! Keep the faith.

arcuri24 | @arcuri24 | 4 days ago

Hope is one of the most important virtues to have. I remember my 20s--it was the disco era and we danced and danced to some great music. I am hoping for the best for you.

nycmusic | @nycmusic | 3 days ago

Praying for you, after so much pain…You have not lost your’’dancing spirit’’—now let’s hope your body joins the dance ! Mayo is the place to go .

arcuri24 | @arcuri24 | 3 days ago

NYCMusic, We are from the same "town." NYC was the disco dancing mecca back in the day. Dancing was very therapeutic and very liberating. We are now in a different time--and, arguably, a different space. I was doing fine until I went to the dermatologist who performed a shave removal of a lesion on my skin. Five weeks later and I still have pain and extreme sensitivity to the cold weather. I am Hoping that warmer weather will bring about full healing. Right now we're in the ice box. I still exercise every day and am set to see my neurologist on 2/25.