Chronic Pain

hello to Everyone & All are welcome to come and visit!

For the past several days, I've been trying to think of ways to utilize the forums here at Care Central and today I decided that I would like to begin a discussion that may be of interest to everyone.
It's a thread about Nothing, but about everything! I'd like to create a discussion where people would like to get a cup of coffee, tea or your favorite beverage and we all come daily or as often as we can and just discuss our day with others who understand us, will provide support, love and exceptance.
A place where you can set goals, and if your pain is too bad and your only goal is to get out of bed and turn on your PC to say "I did it" So be it! You've accomplished just that & we love and respect you for trying and joining us.
I'm not a medical professional, but I can offer the years of my own experinece and If I can get some others with more experiece to join in, then we may just have a wonderful colorful group here, that can help and support one another.
I only ask one thing from participants. Please do not try and pass judgement on anothers pain. We all have pain and trying to judge or out do anothers pain is useless. We are the only ones who can feel our pain and we all have been judged harshly at times from the rest of the world, we don't need to be judged and have our pain rated by others in pain. Pain is Pain is Pain! And we all suffer.

So, Lets do this and I hope we can get something fun on going that will last a very long time.

Greetings All,
Another cold and rainy day in southern ky.
So, I'll skip my 30 mins of walking and pay for it tommorow.
After my hearing yesterday I'm still in recovery mode some what.
Hope fully I won't have to go through that again!
My daughter and I were supposed to go to our pastor's house for
lunch with the sunday school class but, I chose to pass.
It's hard to be conversational sometimes. They are great people but,
it's hard to get away from them.
Think I'll try a nap!

chuck

Hello All
Well, today the sunshine decided to come out in Southwest Washington state, my husband said the weather was supposed to turn some time tonight and we may get some snow flurries tomorrow, above 500 ft, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm having a pretty peacful lower pain morning and that is always a welcome thing. My husband was called into work early for the swing shift (3-11pm), so I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon and whole evening all by myself. It's a good thing for the pooches x4, they will keep me entertained and moving. I think I'll make a tuna melt and soup for dinner, as I'm not really feeling like making dinner for one.

My cold seems to be in better control today, I picked up something for it at the country store, could not take part of my meds though, so it's good I am not having a very high pain day and can just get the congestion and cough back out of my system.

I wanted to start this thread so we could all support one another on a daily basis, if you want to be notified by e-mail when some one posts their daily grind, then click on the notifications flag under your post, and you will be sent an e-mail, everytime some one makes an entry to this thread.

Chuck, I'm so happy your long SSDI process is over, it gives me some hope that my own will be over soon and I have gathered strenth from your sharing of your experience too. I've never done anything like this before and neither has anyone in my family, so it's kind of hard to even have any idea what to expect. when you feel rested and recuperated, if you'd like to share the days events here, maybe it will help the rest of us that are waiting our turn to face the day of our hearing.

When I went to the SS doctor's physical exam. There own doctor told me and wrote in my report that my pain was obvious and dibilitating. there would be no way that I could hold down any kind of work, as I'd not even last two hours at any position, without needing to lay back down from too much pain. He also told me that he would be shocked if I was not excepted the very first time and also with his report? WOW! Now it's been over a year, since that exam and I'm still having to mess around with this paperwork and all the garbage that goes along with it.
It's very obvious to me that they don't really listen too much to their own selected doctors. I was told by many people on another pain site, that disability always denies you at least twice. I thought, Oh, that cant be right? Apparently it is.
I don't have any idea why any healthy person would go through all this to get disability. It would be so much easier to go back to work. I enjoyed my job and loved to work. I loved to be out in public and helping people with their pets, I loved assiting in surgery and everything that went along with my job in the veterinary hospital. It's just rotten when your body falls apart and your mind still wants to live a full normal life. It can be so painful to look back on your hopes and dreams and know that you'll never achieve them. My hopes and dreams have changed so drastically, that sometimes I'm not really sure what they are anymore.

I think I'll make a share post and invite some of our other pain friends to come into the forum and join our thread, we'll see if anyone would like to just talk about anything.

Get some rest Chuck! You certainly deserve it.

Take Care all and I'll tald a bit more after bit.
Betty

Hi all,
After deciding to forego my walk for the day I
decided to go to walmart( the only dept strore within 70 miles).
Talk about a reality check, the place was a zoo. I think it was kick the
cane day. But, the walk was good.
I even grilled some burgers on the foreman when I got back.
For those that are preparing for a hearing: The judge asked about what I could'nt
do.In my research I had focused mainly on my affliction(S). While he did ask about
that that was not his focus.
How I slept, how long and why. What did I do at home?, did I cook(I love to), did i
help with any chores? How the meds make me feel, when did I take them.
Be prepared to say more than it hurt too bad.
Even about my Navy time from 20 yrs ago. Make sure you go over files and work history.
They have it all it front of them(on computer).
To their credit they were friendly and courteous and I didn't have to wait long.
I had to stand up during testimony and could hardly sit still, they were patient
and listened.
Here is an excellent link http://disabilityblogger.blogspot.com/ to a blog
with a kinds of good info.

Hope all have a low pain nite

Chuck

Chuck
My friend, I really, really appreciate you sharing just every little detail of the day. I'm really very shi, I know, you cannot tell here, but truely I'm terrified to speak in public or to a group in a court room or even at a party, although come to think of it, it's been years since I've attending even a childs birthday party, as It just causes too much pain.

HMMM Wally World Mart in December on a weekend, Are you nuts? I'm glad you got out with your wife and did some walking, I'm sure it felt good and your probably having a mood eleivation from finally having your hearing over with and excepted. It seem difficult to enjoy anything when your working and worrying about the upcoming hearing and it's outcome.
I'm interested in every little detail that you are willing to tell. I'm afraid that when my pain flares and I know it will, that I'll not be able to really speak very well, as that's what happens at home when the pain goes up, I get quieter and quieter.Poor husband is always thinking I'm mad at him. NO IT"S THE PAIN!

Take care and have a great night, talk to ya tomorrow
Betty

Good Morning my friend,
Here it is 130 in the morning and its me and the remote again. My pain is not really bad but, steady (even after the soma) I just can't seem to turn my brain off.
I was telling my wife earlier "I've worried so long about that stupid hearing I'm lost now" and I've never really been a worrier, it was just kinda always on my mind.
I under stand about the shyness. My wife was painfully shy for many years, while she has gotten better she still has troubles at time.
After talking with my rep before the hearing I knew I had a tough case. But, I think if you're honest and look him straight in the eye you'll win the day.
Remember, they're not GIVING you anything. Take your time and If you have stand up-do stand up.
You have truth on your side.
Do you keep a log or a journal? Even if you just jot some notes for your self it'll give you something to look at when you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach.
Well, now that I've had a couple macadamias I think I'll try a nap again.

Chuck

Hello again
Good Afternoon
Today is one of those lousy days that the pain is high already when you wake up. you don't even want to get up, except to take some medicine and see if it will go down some. I don't understand why I have to feel this crappy all winter long. It's just gets on my nerves. After grabbing my little cup of coffee, I stumbled out to my recliner and turned on the heating pad and watched an episode of Monk on the USA channel. They're having a monk A Thon today and I normally will have a whole day of reruns. He makes me laugh and I can some times relate to some of his issues with germs. Scary thought though!
I do have a bit of a hand wasing issues and have to always use lotion to help with my chronic dry hands.
I was up late last night too, waiting for my husband to get home. He worked until midnight and I'm about 2 or 3 hours behind chuck, so I was up too. We like to DVR one of our evening shows and then we watch it together after he gets home. It gives us some time together.
It's been spitting snow all morning and that helps my mood, when it pretty out side, not much accumulation to it, but all the trees and bushes have a dusting and the yard is all white.
I hope you have all had a nice morning and Chuck my friend, I'm really taking in all you have to share about the hearing process, thank you!
How about I create a share post and ask others to come join us over here? At least they will know we've started this discussion and know they are welcome to join us.
Talk to ya in a bit.
Have a wonderful Sunday with your family.
Betty

Evening all,
Kinda glad this day is done.
The pain has been rough this afternoon I've been in my
chair for most of it.
I did get the walk in and it wasn't bad.
Normally it'll settle down some after a while, not today.
Hope fully sleep will come sooner tonite then last.
Me and the remote again.

chuck

Hey Chuck
I'm sorry that your having a high pain day, unfortunately I've joined you and have had a very rough day.
I just cannot get over this flare this week. I can only hope tomorrow will be better. Have my night meds to take yet, but I did take a good dose of BT meds and it did slightly lower the pain. I've been here at the puter for awhile, but I think I'm going to make something to eat and lay in the recliner for the rest of the night.
I'll talk to you in the am, hope to get some sleep for the both of us.
I made the sharepost to invite some others and I hope they decide to come by and visit.
Take care my friend
Betty

What a great idea this thread is, Betty! I hope more people will find it and join in the chat.

I do hope both of you (Betty and Chuck) start to feel better this week. Last week was a rough one for me, too. I'm sure the change in weather played a part, but my biggest problem is I can't seem to bounce back from the cold I got at the end of October. Every time I thought I was over it, it came back again – three times! Even though the cold symptoms have been gone for awhile now, I just can't seem to get any energy back. And my pain levels are a little higher than normal, too. That's one of the things I hate about fibromyalgia – it takes forever to get over even the smallest illness.

I know what you mean about the crowds at Wal-Mart. Between now and Christmas, I'm not sure there's a good time to go. I was there mid-day on a weekday last week and it was packed.

Here's hoping this is a better week for all of us!
Karen

Great opportunity to keep in touch here. I have been kept busy this season and have found the cold weather to have increased my pain significantly. I got my initial appt at the pain clinic behind me but have a full day of tests on the 19th. Will be having several nerve tests done on feet and legs and my primary care doctor has decided to repeat the tests for autoimmune problems since it has been about six years since I had the last round. Because my symptoms have changed significantly he wants to look again. I am pretty sure he suspects the possibility of diabetes and with my family history it is time to look at that again as well.

I did most of my shopping for Christmas (what little I was able to afford) on line because I just can't bear the crowds in the stores this time of year. I did break down and finally get a handicapped sticker for my car due to the ice and snow. Sometimes those little concessions are the hardest to make. It would seem once I accepted using a cane and walker I would have just conceded I needed the handicapped tag, bbbuuuttt nnnoooo this stubborn, hard headed, mulish Marine has to fight every little thing down to the bitter end.

I have been working on my art via a new medium and actually left the house for a lecture and workshop on altered books at our local library a couple weeks ago. I am enjoying this tremendously and am prepping a book to become a pain journal. It will be filled with much more than just a log of symptoms as I travel this road that pain has taken me down.

I will be starting relaxation and Tai Chi classes at the VA Hospital in January. They are designed for chronic pain patients and are meant not only to help with pain but also movement and preventing falls. I haven't taken a fall for six months since I got Chesty (my cane which is named for the famous Marine Corps General Lewis B. "Chesty" Fuller, I figured who better to kick my butt when I don't want to move than a three star Marine General).

Well now that I have rambled on I need to get moving and get some cleaning done while I have energy enough.

The Cane,
Sometimes I hate but, I do need it. Especially out side the house.
In side our apartment there's enough to hang on too.
I finally got the handicap placard about a month ago and bad as I
hate to admit it, it does save me some walking.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, been all over the world now I don't
leave the house by myself hardly.
I made the mistake of going to walmart saturday evening, it was a zoo.
But, I hadn't been out in a couple days and was going over the edge. That
trip reminded me I don't get out much!
Got my 30 min walk in today between downpours.
Now that I got some feeling back in my feet I thought send a quik note and
see how everyone was doin??
What little shopping I'll do will be done on line too, which won't be much
since after being approved for ssdi it still takes 3 months to get paid!
I can see a new laptop in my future though
chuck

beakerless how long were you on active duty??
I was NAVY from 76 to 86

quote:

Originally posted by Karen Lee Richards:
What a great idea this thread is, Betty! I hope more people will find it and join in the chat.

I do hope both of you (Betty and Chuck) start to feel better this week. Last week was a rough one for me, too. I'm sure the change in weather played a part, but my biggest problem is I can't seem to bounce back from the cold I got at the end of October. Every time I thought I was over it, it came back again – three times! Even though the cold symptoms have been gone for awhile now, I just can't seem to get any energy back. And my pain levels are a little higher than normal, too. That's one of the things I hate about fibromyalgia – it takes forever to get over even the smallest illness.

I know what you mean about the crowds at Wal-Mart. Between now and Christmas, I'm not sure there's a good time to go. I was there mid-day on a weekday last week and it was packed.

Here's hoping this is a better week for all of us!
Karen

Hello Karen
Good to hear from you, hopefully you'll be feeling better soon too.
FM & winter just do not mix. I had such a good summer and was feeling much better, lower flares and the pain was manageable. But as soon as the weather went to fall cold, chill, burr! I was down like a rock and even when I have a few days that I feel better and think it's passed, I'm right back down again. Just distressing while it's happening.
I tried something new this am. I woke early with the alarm, got up took my morning meds, then layed back down for another hour 1/2. When I go up, the pain felt much more controlled and I'm actually feeling much better for a cold monday morning. I may even get dressed today yet

I really hope some others will want to come over here and participate, no pressure, just talk about what ever they want and share there day with people who care and except them just the way they are.

I hope you get feeling better too Karen. Take Care of yourself and please come check in with us, when you have time or feel up to it.
Betty

quote:

Originally posted by chuckm11:
The Cane,
Sometimes I hate but, I do need it. Especially out side the house.
In side our apartment there's enough to hang on too.
I finally got the handicap placard about a month ago and bad as I
hate to admit it, it does save me some walking.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, been all over the world now I don't
leave the house by myself hardly.
I made the mistake of going to walmart saturday evening, it was a zoo.
But, I hadn't been out in a couple days and was going over the edge. That
trip reminded me I don't get out much!
Got my 30 min walk in today between downpours.
Now that I got some feeling back in my feet I thought send a quik note and
see how everyone was doin??
What little shopping I'll do will be done on line too, which won't be much
since after being approved for ssdi it still takes 3 months to get paid!
I can see a new laptop in my future though
chuck

beakerless how long were you on active duty??
I was NAVY from 76 to 86

USMC from 1977 to 1979. I got out a year early after my dad died to take care of my mom. She passed away five months after my discharge and only 11 months after dad died. After that I was pretty emotionally FUBAR for awhile. I was one of the last females to enlist in the Marine Corps under the old 3 year enlistment contracts so yes the numbers do add up right.

quote:

Originally posted by beakerless:
Great opportunity to keep in touch here. I have been kept busy this season and have found the cold weather to have increased my pain significantly. I got my initial appt at the pain clinic behind me but have a full day of tests on the 19th. Will be having several nerve tests done on feet and legs and my primary care doctor has decided to repeat the tests for autoimmune problems since it has been about six years since I had the last round. Because my symptoms have changed significantly he wants to look again. I am pretty sure he suspects the possibility of diabetes and with my family history it is time to look at that again as well.

I did most of my shopping for Christmas (what little I was able to afford) on line because I just can't bear the crowds in the stores this time of year. I did break down and finally get a handicapped sticker for my car due to the ice and snow. Sometimes those little concessions are the hardest to make. It would seem once I accepted using a cane and walker I would have just conceded I needed the handicapped tag, bbbuuuttt nnnoooo this stubborn, hard headed, mulish Marine has to fight every little thing down to the bitter end.

I have been working on my art via a new medium and actually left the house for a lecture and workshop on altered books at our local library a couple weeks ago. I am enjoying this tremendously and am prepping a book to become a pain journal. It will be filled with much more than just a log of symptoms as I travel this road that pain has taken me down.

I will be starting relaxation and Tai Chi classes at the VA Hospital in January. They are designed for chronic pain patients and are meant not only to help with pain but also movement and preventing falls. I haven't taken a fall for six months since I got Chesty (my cane which is named for the famous Marine Corps General Lewis B. "Chesty" Fuller, I figured who better to kick my butt when I don't want to move than a three star Marine General).

Well now that I have rambled on I need to get moving and get some cleaning done while I have energy enough.

Beakerless
Thank you so much for joining us!

You sound like your doing pretty well, despite the cold, snow and ice.
I had to break down and get a cane a couple of years ago, I have trouble with my left leg deciding to give out, with an added electric shock that runs up or down or both my leg that begins in my lumbar area and goes right through my groin area. Very painful and my leg just folds. I am scared of falling down, as if I get the slightest extra injury, I cannot walk or barely can, so It can be very distressing. I've slipped in the bath twice and that's been a major problem, so I have to be really careful. For some reason with all the other pain, I feel like I'm very uncordinated these days and I think it's due to protecting my self from pain and I seem to stiffen up too much.Your right about all the concessions we have to make being really difficult to give in too. I finally got my parking permit last summer too. I have a hard time trying to run even two errands and normally have to turn around and just come back home as the pain ramps too much, I thought If I could eliminate the long walks in the parking lots, then maybe I could finish at least two errands. I go for walks and exercise that way, but I also am able to come right back home and then use ice or heat to help get the pain back down. I live 1/2 hour from the nearest town and the car ride is a pain trigger, so it's just much easier with the sticker.
I'll be interested in hearing about your classes your starting in January. They sound interesting, I hope they are helpful with your pain.
Finding just some type of exercise or activity that can either lower pain or at least distract from it, can be like find a golden nugget.

Your pain journal idea or art project sounds interesting, can you elaborate any more on it?

Thanks again for coming over to visit and share your life with us.
Take Care and hope your tests come out for you.
Betty