Chronic Pain

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Does anyone here suffer from chronic pain of any sort? I have back pain from a misaligned lumbo/sacral vertebra and a smushed disc. Unfortunately, surgery won't help. I take pain killers and they keep the pain manageable.

I notice that people who I know know that I have back trouble seem to forget. They will expect me to do physical things that I can't and when I mention that my back hurts, they ask why. It's very frustrating.

I find I am taking extra pain pills to be able to sleep at night. I will have to talk to my doctor about that.

So how do you cope with chronic pain?

Have two bad knees and a bad back. The back is partly from scoliosis, and partly from too much weight. The bad knees are from too many falls, and too much weight. I tried cortisone shots in the knees, but it didn't do a thing for me. Was on prescription strength Ibuprofen for a while, which upset my stomach some. The doctor's office was terrible about faxing over the prescription renewals to the pharmacy, so I would often run out of the pills, and have to take aspirin in the mean time. I found that the aspirin worked the same, but were easier on my stomach, so I finally stopped having the prescription renewed. My knees kept getting worse, so I was taking a lot of aspirins for a while, but then I bought two offset handle quad canes. They take some of the strain off my knees when I walk, so after using the canes for a while I was able to reduce the number of aspirins I was taking per day. These canes have been a really big help.

Maybe there is some kind of back brace you can use to help stabilize and support your back, so it will hurt less. Check with your doctor about this.

Yes, I'm in chronic pain that the doctors only described as "musculo-skeletal inflammation and tearing," but because of fund cuts they didn't investigate further as to why I'm getting chronic "inflammation and tearing". I still have no idea what's actually wrong with me, but I regularly experience pain at a 9 level across my chest, shoulder, neck and arm, and repeatedly over the years get a thing that seems to fit "frozen shoulder" or rotator cuff tearing.

Over the course of seven years I've only gone to the doctor twice with this, once was to the emergency room and the second time was three years later I was still having the same severe problems but had just "lived with it" until thinking wait a minute, I need to see someone. She just wrote a pain prescription but did not send me to a specialist. I need to go back but I never get around to it due to issues arising from executive functioning -- long story, but bottom line it's hard for me to get to a doctor and coordinate what it takes to do that.

So I live with this sh!t. Recently a "frozen shoulder" was so extreme that if I just moved my arm slightly the pain was so at a "10" that I would scream, literally involuntarily.

I have just self-medicated and over the months one part gets better but in the meantime another section of my body is flaring up.

It has made life unbearable. I'm also missing a ton of work but I'm afraid to apply for disability because where I live there is a notoriously tough system that refuses people in wheelchairs with MS or dying of cancer -- seriously, that was an actual case -- so what chance do I have.

I have also had a lifelong hip problem they couldn't bother to identify also. I have worn out knee cartilage, going by the sound of it and the pain on stairs.

None of these issue are being addressed or under the care of doctors. I just get on with life but life isn't much good with these pain levels.

I take ibuprofen when the pain is at its worst, but sometimes that means I'm taking it all day long for days on end, and I'm worried about how bad that is for my organs.

I have scoliosis (which is probably responsible for my left leg being shorter than my right) which was "manageable". Then I quit smoking and gained too much weight. I started trying to lose it, and about six months ago I got really severe muscle spasms in my back, which led to a diagnosis of sacroiliitis and sciatica.

At least now I understand why for years I've been getting random stabbing pains in my feet, and sometimes legs...

If your pain is getting worse, you should definitely at least tell your doctor that. It could be signaling physical degradation.

If you're specifically having trouble sleeping, try turning around on your mattress? I've been doing that every couple days. If that helps, and you have the option financially, a new mattress might make a HUGE difference. If not that, a memory foam topper is a tenth or less the price of a mid-range mattress and might help.

When my pain is at its worst, my best bedtime routine is:
- take an anti-inflammatory (Alieve is my pref, cuz I'm on percoset - which has acetominophen) and homemade marijuana extract pills
- hot bath with a cup of epsom salts (I put my laptop on the toilet because otherwise I couldn't stay put for the 20-30 minutes it takes to work... scientifically unproven to pull edema [fluid swelling] out of the body, but I swear on personal anecdote it helps me)
- gentle stretching (alternate knees to chest and hold for five seconds while laying - can be done in bed if yoga mat is too hard/painful, then on hands and knees on floor doing a few transitions from table pose - flat back - to cat pose - back arched up)
- lay on ice pack for twenty minutes, smoke a joint (and then I can't move for at least 15 more minutes because I have to let my back thaw - so if you do this gather at least half an hour's worth of supplies beforehand)

A physical therapist might be able to show you a few stretches specific to your body to help mitigate the pain.

Like, mine has me doing exercises and stretches that arch my back OUT but never IN because I have lordosis.
He also showed me how to correctly stretch my kneecap by sliding it down while my leg is in a neutral position, which definitely helps with some of the sciatica referral down my legs. It grosses my husband out like nothing else - he has to look away until I'm done.

I get sciatica. It was awful when I had to stop working. I had to use a cane for a bit. I take gabapentin for it now. But just today I had to make a 1/2 hour walk and now my hip is aching.

That really sucks. Stupid bodies, preventing us from playing as much Pokemon Go as we want...

have you considered orthotic inserts? They're not cheap - the local place here is about $400, but they will adjust or re-make them as many times as needed to get you comfortable. I can't really justify them right now, but once I'm a little more active again I'm gonna get my feet molded and get a pair. (Oh man. I just had this full body shudder at the idea of the foot exam and molding. That's gonna take a little mental prep, too, I see...)

I have orthotics and they are awesome. $500, but a local charity paid for them for me. The molding is not bad; it's quick and it just feels cold.

I have a connective tissue disease which comes with peripheral neuropathy in my legs and feet. I use a wheelchair most of the time now so that helps with most of my problems. I'm medicated but it doesn't really help much, though I've just switched to something new and am optimistic.

I can't believe I forgot this one - this is actually kind of my gold secret but it's... definitely not scientifically proven.
Blue Emu.
It's an odor-free cream that contains emu oil. You apply it to your skin, rub it in gently for a minute or so, and... it works so well I get kinda embarrassed telling people about it because I would normally want to check literature for something that sounds so hinky.
For me, it specifically works on: "pressure", local [not referral] nerve pain, and that hot-stabby nerve pain.
It's kind pricey - 4oz runs USD$15-20, but that will last me for about a month of twice daily applications on an area about 12 inches by 4 inches. You only have to use a very little of the cream each time.

Okay - I do feel better about it now.

Thank you

Hi Andro. Me me me, I've had chronic pain issues for 20 years. Although there are times when you need meds, and times when you need surgical intervention, I have found I get the most relief through physical therapy and the right type of exercise. I like to think of my different techniques as my "toolbag" that I can cycle through.

It is good to have other types of meds than pills. I have found an analgesic ointment (Voltaren) and a lidocaine pain patch to be helpful. I like them because they are local.

Although I don't use this, for some people a "TENS" unit (way of delivering electrical stimulation) is helpful.

Ice packs or hot packs can be soothing. You can make these sacks of rice inside a cloth cover, and they can be stored in your freezer or alternatively warmed in the microwave. If you want to buy one, look for "Bed Buddy." (no matter how that sounds, it's not sexual!)

Changing your sleeping posture can be helpful. Try using a recliner or lying a different way in bed. I was told for my back pain, I should lie on my side, and then I use an hourglass shaped "knee pillow" to keep my knees aligned.

For sitting, specialized pillows are useful. Look up "Tush Cush" online, that has helped me avoid lower back pain. Many people also use a lumbar support pillow for sitting.

When you are in a great deal of pain, very gentle movement (a little walking, or pedaling your feet like on a bicycle) in a warm water pool is good because sometimes you do need movement to heal. It should be warm enough though, 93-94 (Fahrenheit) is typically prescribed and is good for arthritics. A "heated pool" just means the water isn't frigid, so you have to inquire.

When one part of the body has a lot of pain, it can cause "guarding" behavior in other muscle groups, and this is one way that a troubling shoulder can turn into a troubling hip, neck, or back.

Massage, or self massage using an electric vibrator (again, not sexual! though if you have that kind, it works fine!), can bring blood flow to the hurt area and also loosen tight muscle fibers.

The list goes on and on. I'm sorry you are hurting, and hope you feel better soon.

One question: In Canada, can you see a physical therapist as much as you want? I've had several who did me a great deal of good. Honestly, I almost think I'd rather start with PT and only go to a doctor if things weren't improving.

I'm not sure physio would help my hip, but I think it would be great for my shoulder. I am hoping she refers me to someone who can snap it back into place. I think it is getting worse because it's helping to compensate for my hip, like you say. It's getting so my entire body just hurts all the time.
I have an appointment with my GP this week and I am going to bring up these issues. And there is a therapeutic salt pool in Kingston, so I will ask my doctor to send me.
I believe that physio is covered in Canada.
I have a bed in my room, but my mother's loveseat is actually more comfortable. The arm rests support my upper back.

I'm sorry you are going through pain too. How are things with your husband?

I'm actually not having too much pain at the present time. Now if I can just avoid falls and injuries... But you see, it's from so much experience with pain that I have all these tips and tricks in my toolbag, and any number of home health items.

My husband still has all the same issues, the tremor is progressing a little, he's in A-fib which makes him tired, but mood is good. The mental deterioration is very subtle but I think it's progressing. I'm managing to be "in the moment" with him most of the time, but sometimes he does things so stupid I find myself yelling at him. This is not cool. So I am trying to stay as mellow as possible and not make the kinds of demands on myself that make me tense and short-tempered. We see the neurologist again next week.