Tips needed for living with pain

[TempleOfBlooms]

I know many people have to get used to living with incurable pain and I would love to hear from them and share tips on how to still enjoy life.

I have bad coccyx pain. I’ve had it for 18 months. It lead me to hold myself so strangely to protect my coccyx that I slipped a disc in my back and then had acute horrific pain until surgery put it right. Now I’m back to just coccyx pain. It always hurts. Some days are worse than others but overall the trend is a slow worsening. It hurts worse when I sit, but also when I stand, walk or lie on my back. It’s not unbearable but it’s bad and always on my mind alongside with the fear it will continue to get worse and totally disable me.

I’ve seen so many specialists. Some provide theories as to cause, others have no idea. None have a cure although the private ones have all tried cures at great expense to me.

Things I have found that help include: daily workout at the gym concentrating on strgthening back, abdomen and glutes; standing desk at work; keeping active; naproxen and amitryptiline; trying to concentrate on the here and now and not a scary future.

But some days, like today, I feel so down and scared and unable to put it out of my mind. I’m 39 but I feel 80. I can’t sit on the floor with my kids or go for a picnic or sit in the cinema or go out to dinner and it bloody sucks.

So how do others stay cheerful and enjoy life despite pain that can’t easily be treated?

Hi, I am in pain all the time - generally not horrific but just always there. Try different combos of drugs until you get something that works. Has your gp referred you to a pain clinic?

Thanks dizzy. Sorry to hear about your pain. I have tried many drugs but the opiates don’t touch the pain and make me feel sick so I’m left with few to choose between. I do go to pain clinic but they say things like “keep moving” which I am already doing so I don’t feel they are adding many new ideas.

Have you tried a TENS machine ? I can't use one but my friend with lower back pain swears by hers, I have chronic pain you have to try and accept this is how you are try and pace yourself.