I had a headache all day today which I get often that prevented me from accomplishing anything productive. It so irritating that I get hostile sometimes Wondering if any of you people also suffer from chronic pain and if so how it affects your day and behavior. And how do you cope?
I struggle with neuropathy (chronic nerve pain) in my hands and feet, due to chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma I had last year -- diagnosed in January 2017, had treatment through July, and declared on remission in August. The neuropathy may be with me for a while, as there's no way to determine when or even if it will fully leave my body. I'm learning how to manage it and live with it the best way I can, but it does limit my every-day functioning as well as my ability to work and socialize. So, many times I get frustrated and feel worn down, just wishing for it to go away. The rare moments when I feel "normal" feel amazing; sadly they don't last... yet.
Yes a bad knee and shoulder both need to be replaced but they will not operate because of my kidneys. I have a pain remedy for you depending on where the pain is. It is called Olbas oil and can be purchased at any vitamin store. It is $9.00 an once but well worth it. It is not a drug but brings almost instant relief for legs ,shoulders backs etc.External use only.
I've been struggling with pain for most of my life; it started in my teens.
I think I forget about (or try to ignore) my pain until it worsens, but, if I can get through a week or so, it just becomes my new norm... or I get on some new drug regimen it may take the edge off but I've already become used to the new "norm". I find it difficult to really know how much pain I'm in. As they say, there's always a new "10".
With that comes my biggest question - How do people figure out what number to give their pain.
One doctor always asks me to rate my pain from 0 to 10; 0 being no pain, 10 being the worst pain I can imagine. The scale really shouldn't depend on my ability to imagine pain. Seem like a bogus system.
If I pick any number as 'tolerable' maybe a 3 or 4, and my pain keeps getting worse, but I keep adjusting, I could, theoretically hover between 3 and 5 forever, even though the pain is always increasing...
I could be at someone else's 11 by now (little Spinal Tap reference there - Oh - how much does a Spinal Tap hurt?)
Anyhoo - I smile and get on with life... or try to.
#AKF
There is definitely a “sliding scale” in terms of pain variance from person to person. You can only judge your pain in the moment. I included an image in my reply to your reply on my reply. Haha.
Seriously though, the image is really helpful.
I’ve had so many medical situations, and my doctors have commented numerous times through the years about my pain threshold. So yea, we definitely find new “normals.”
Have you tried investigating the cause?
It could be anything from coeliac disease to carbon monoxide.
I suffered neuropathy in my left foot, it felt like having 3 little toes chopped off, from 2000 till 2008. It stopped after I switched my diet to vegan. But, it occasionally comes back for a few hours or a bit longer. No cause has been discovered for the pain or it going away. No meds helped. I finally used meditation, self-hypnosis to manage the pain. Perhaps that's why it stopped. IDK
Your headache may respond to the addition of Magnesium. Magnesium may have a relaxing effect on the body by dilating the blood vessels, which allows for more efficient blood flow and this will sometimes alleviate headaches and muscle pains.
@SACatWalker Yes sit does.
I feel ya. I had a spinal coed contusion (plus other lifelong back problems) as well as a debilitating knee injury in the 80s (that knee was finally replaced a few years ago). I'd recommend you seek out a pain management doc. I have one that's helped. Not magic, but definitely helped. Good luck.
I’ve had a headache since 2007. There comes a point where you simply have to decide if you’re going to be an asshole and alone, or if you’re going to be nice despite the pain and have people in your life.
I have moments when I’m an asshole (in fact one of those moments got me blocked by someone on this site), but after a decade of constant pain I do pretty well considering. When it gets really bad I just sequester myself.
My average daily pain is in the 5 range. I get monthly infusions, quarterly bowtox injections, and take meds daily. It gets worse as the bowtox wears off, and the monthly infusion needs a 5-day/15 dose inpatient boost about once a year.
As I type this, my pain is about a 7. Bowtox next week though! The following week the pain will be back in the 5 zone, and that’ll be a welcome relief. In the past decade the headache pain has been a 0 once, but that was because I was on morphine due to a kidney procedure. Otherwise the lowest it’s gotten is about a 3.
Have you been to a neurologist or other specialist about this?
Oh Man - Sounds like you're making the most of a miserable situation.
I struggle as well - decades now - with a variety of issues.
You seem comfortable at putting numbers to your pain - I'm never able to do that.
I wonder if you might share your strategy on what the numbers mean to you.
Obviously 0 is no pain, but how do you determine what a 5 is vs a 3 or 7?
Any insight would be appreciated.
@scurry Stanford uses a version of this. It is really helpful to put a face with a number.
@SurvivorSteph Thank you!! I'll give it a try.
I find it depends on the pain for me. My headaches respond well to ice packs and Excedrin. This lower back pain I've been having for over a month now responds decently enough to CBD and a TENS unit, and cyclobenzaprine at night, but only temporarily. Distraction doesn't really work for me, I have to throw /some/ kind of treatment at it.
I was reading an article on CBD just yesterday and it seems that the efficacy of CBD is enhanced by THC.
@patchoullijulie it, does, but I've found the THC makes me groggy. ?
@memorylikeasieve I get that. It makes me paranoid!
I have chronic debilitating vestibular migraines. The pain not only centers around one hemisphere of my head, it spreads down along the nerves into my ears and teeth. I suffer from light and sound sensitivity too. I can easily overwhelm my equilibrium and go into a vestibular attack that lasts up to around six hours. I just try to do what makes me happy, I write, sketch, and watch movies.
I broke my back and became permanently disabled in 2012.
I play drums for a living.
Played, really. I don’t work much anymore, because every time I play drums, it’s like moving house. The pain has become unbearable. CBD is the only thing that even marginally helps.
Im very sorry that you're experiencing that. Pain is an awful monster. DoTerra oils might help. I used to take lots of drugs (prescription) for pain. Now I just suck it up & wear my big girl pants. It ain't childbirth. I should clarify & say I have a spinal fusion & a neurostimulator implant that helps a bit.
Sometimes I HAVE to go to the ER & get shot up with multiple drugs for pain, but only when it gets so bad that nobody can stand me. I'm also terminally ill with a brain tumor. Again, I suck it up. Laughing helps quite a bit. This site is FANTASTIC for that.
If I wake up tomorrow, it's all glittery unicorn farts & rainbows because it's a day that I'm alive. I make the choice to be happy & use the time I have well. And spread some joy. Although i have paralyzing pain & I'm gonna die, I can't let all that get me down. EVERYTHING is a choice. ?? There's a lot of support here. I hope you find relief.
No chronic pain of any magnitude. I'm in decent shape for my age. I smoke some ganja now and then, and take a few supplements, including turmeric and glucosamine (mainly for my knees). I get a few little weird, sharp pains here and there, but nothing debilitating. Can you use/acquire cannabis legally where you are?
I don't always cope well. I just try to acknowledge when I'm not rational, and to some extent you get used to it.
I have fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, and Raynuad's. I've been in a flare of continous pain since October 2013.
I try to find small joys. It keeps me going. I love my life aside from my health. Am I productive? Not compared to most people, but I can't be held to the same healthy standard. I work part-time, I do most of the grocery shopping for my husband and me.
Is my brain as sharp as it was? No, definitely not. But I have slightly better days and worse days. One day hopefully this flare will end.
If you have more specific questions, feel free to ask.
There's a few groups for people with chronic pain. Yesterday i could not accomplish anything amd that gave me severe anxiety on top of being unwell
Identify the cause and eliminate it.
Do you suffer from sinus allergies?