Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hello Fran,
I'm wondering if you have tried working with a psychotherapist to come to a level of acceptance--not surrender, but acceptance. Understanding that this will likely be a part of your life for the rest of your life, and learning to live again even with the presence of pain. As a therapist, there is an approach called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT that is really beneficial for folks dealing with chronic pain among many other things. If you can find an ACT trained therapist in your area, I think that you will find it beneficial. I did regarding the chronic daily migraine I experience 24/7, but have learned to not let it control my life. Best of luck and I hope you find something helpful soon!

I am saddened and distressed by all my fellow commenters who say they are in such great pain but their doctors have no answers for them. I know that the common practice is to label something "idiopathic" if the source is not known. It would be nice to hear that more medical "experts" are taking the time to dive deeper into their patients' sufferings. Instead, it's too often, "here, try these pills, creams. stimulators, etc". For every effect(your pain) there is a cause. As some have mentioned, there needs to be a concerted effort by the healthcare system to find better ways of helping those of us in severe pain. I have tried just about every pill, cream, device, procedure known to man. Yet, here I am, in a state of chronic pain that averages a steady 8 on the infamous pain scale. Soldier on, my friends. There may be help just around the corner. Until then, let us lift each other up in prayer. God bless you all!

Thank you. I had never heard of an ACT-trained Physical Therapist. I will look into this!

Hi all,
I've dealt with chronic pain issues over a variety of things my entire adult life, I'm near 40.
My first issue started around 18 when I suddenly developed motility issues in my colon, there is still no clear cut diagnosis. After that I found out I was experiencing reactivations of the epstein barr virus.(Mono type symptoms, fevers)
I developed chronic, widespread inflammation that resembles Erythromelalgia.
Painful swelling, red, hot hands, feet, face, ears.
I was diagnosed around 28 with Lichens sclerosis.
I've had trouble with different infections in different chunks of time. Sinus, ear...these have been normal awhile.
In the past few years diagnosed with idiopathic PN and some early onset osteoarthritis. I have neck and back pain and stiffness that I treat with trigger point injections and PT.
Ibs, gerd, chronic gastritis.
Recently had surgery on my little toe because of falling down the stairs. Healing well but miss my walks!!

Hi everyone, I’m Carmen, 63 years old, mostly retired now. (I decided last year that I was tired and would rather live poor on social security and working part time than deal with more BS and be unhappy.)
Anyway, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around 1993 but was told, based on my past symptoms, I’ve probably had it since I was 19 (1981) or before. I had a neck injury in 1984 from a bicycle wreck (bodies bounce on concrete) that causes stiffness and pain in the tendons and muscle. Torn medial meniscus in 1997 from an assault and surgery to repair it has brought on arthritis behind my right knee. Sciatica, mostly in my left hip. Carpal tunnel since around 1983. Arthritis in my right foot stemming from breaking my big toe in 1981. TMJ that causes head and jaw pain, especially because I don’t have a proper night guard (store bought). And now tinnitus after losing most of my hearing in my right ear.
Whew, when I put it all down at once it sounds like I am falling apart. But I’ve had chronic pain so long that it just seems to pile up instead of being dumped all at once.
So mentally, I have bipolar II disorder with hypomania. The physical and mental disorders kind of feed off of each other. And I’m a recovering aside (abstinent since 1997).
I’m not looking for any treatment ideas or cures. I do what I do to get through each day. Some are worse than others. I take the minimum amount of (mental health) medication necessary to keep me functioning as I don’t like having a foggy brain and I won’t take painkillers or muscle relaxants.
So hi everyone. It’s a beautiful day at the Oregon coast and I have the windows open.