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Chronic Pain
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Posted 4/5/2012 2:13 PM (GMT -5)
I had a serious fall a couple of years ago and now have a fused lumbar spine and a SCS implant. I also have arthritis in my knees and a bad hip (the hip is from the fall). I used to be very athletic and fit. I still try to be and am always exercising but with my back and my knees I feel like I can hardly move without horrible pain. I am 47 and feel like 90. I just get really bummed about this and don't know how to handle it. Any thoughts?
Posted 4/5/2012 5:03 PM (GMT -5)
Beyond taking it one day at a time and try to stay focused on what you can do instead of can't do...not really no.

I can say that I know where you are coming from. I am 42 and am going to have to hire out my lawn mowing this summer and I have a small yard. I used to be able to push mow it in 30 minutes or less. Last year it took me over an hour spread out in 2-3 day segments. This year I tried and got about 10 feet before having to quit. A decade ago I could unload a semi truck by hand with no problem.
Posted 4/5/2012 6:49 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you, Jim. Sometimes it helps to know I am not alone.
Posted 4/6/2012 1:13 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Tangled, and welcome here.

Jim is right - the only way is one day at a time. Sometimes you even need to take things hour by hour. Is something like hydrotherapy an option for you if the exercise you're doing is too hard on your back and knees?
Posted 4/6/2012 4:46 AM (GMT -5)
Morning Tangled!

Welcome to the Chronic Pain Forum!

I have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind. Is your SCS unit working ok?….and are you seeing a PM (pain management DR)? I would highly suggest that you see a PM if possible if you are not seeing one. I also had a Double Lumbar fusion back in 2010….and still suffer from pain to this day. Have you or your Dr considered any of the med's being used for nerve damage?…like Cymbalta, Lyrica…..and Gabapentin? Many of these med's work well on nerve damage and may provide you some relief.

I and many of us understand just how you feel…as I have told my wife this many times…..I'm 55 and too feel like I'm 90 or so. I urge you to get to know the members here and stay with us. Post your rants and share your experiences's with us as well all you want. This is a great forum for doing so!

If you are on med's, please share with us what doses and the type of med's you are on. Tell us as much as you are willing to share about your health history, as it helps us to understand and then we may be able to point you in a better direction.

Take care, and Enjoy the forum!

SE wink
Posted 4/6/2012 9:46 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Tangled, Welcome to the Forum.

First and Foremost you are definitely Not Alone. All of us who suffer from Chronic Pain get bummed out from time to time. It goes along with the pain we have and realizing we can no longer do what we did before and may never be able too again. If you have Depression and Anxiety you may find you need to see a counselor and there is nothing wrong with that. Many of us deal with depression and anxiety issues caused by our chronic pain. I am one of those people and I now try to stay optimistic and look for other ways of doing some of the things I used to could do. Besides, It is good to stay as active as you can and it will help you keep your D & A levels in check.

Coming to this forum, making friends, and talking to others helps me a lot to keep my sanity. It has also made me realize that things could always be a lot worse and we all have a lot to be thankful for. Even if doesn't seem that way right now you will realize it once you get to know some of these wonderful people on this site. My problems now seem small compared to what some of these people go through daily. To talk to many of them is inspiring when I think about what all they deal with but how strong they are to take things in stride and make the best of a bad situation.

My advice to you is get on here and get involved, make friends and jump in on some of these threads. I'm sure you will find you will get a lot out of it and will also find out you have a lot to offer others as they deal with their Chronic Pain issues.

I look forward to seeing your post.

Dale smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/6/2012 12:22 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Tangled,

And welcome to Healing Well.  So glad you found us and that you posted.  Like the others have said, keep coming back and get to know us.  I promise that you won't be disappointed.

As for one day at a time, I only do ten minutes at a time.  Lately I feel like I'm 90 also, and there are days I cannot move.  I went to walmart yesterday to buy some things for my granddaughters for Easter.  Well, I have to use one of those electric carts, while my 91 year old aunt walked and pushed a basket.  How embarrassing and frustrating!  And today I feel like I can't move!  Just wanted to share.

I hope you get your strength back and you have a wonder weekend.  Happy Easter to you, if you celebrate Easter and God bless.

Lindaloo

Posted 4/8/2012 8:49 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Everyone. Thanks so much for the replies. I do have a pain management doctor. My SCS is incredible. Right now my major sources of pain are my hip (where I hit first when I fell) and my knees. I've tried so many meds and there are two things that always bother me about them. The first is the side effects. Narcotics give me blurry vision. It is weird. I don't get the common side effects. I can't drive or go to work with blurry vision. Second, I do not want to follow all of this up with a stint in rehab. I am terrified of getting addicted to pain meds. One doc told me not to worry about it because bodies get used to the side effects and adjust. That hasn't happened for me. I live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and I've considered trying it but I am afraid of not functioning well and also doubt I could work using that either. Right now I take an enormous amount of ibuprofen.

It is nice there is so much support here. Thanks again.
Posted 4/8/2012 8:59 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Tangled, I understand the feeling very old feeling as well. Doctors can give you medications or can refer you to couselling but they do not know what's going on in your head you need to speak up.
With that been said I find more companionship here than in a meeting with a shrink. We all understand pain so vent away, we might not all have the same ideas that's the joy of this group. Welcome to HW, I hope you feel comfortable already.
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