Chronic pain moan

[Careofcell44]

There's an advert on E4 at the moment wanting funds for arthritis research, I have chronic pain from a spinal injury but this advert makes me so sad. It shows someone in pain watching themselves pain free and doing just normal stuff and I really relate to it.

There's so much I can't fucking do; I can't work, can't walk round the supermarket, can't do simple things I used to take for granted, hell because of all the pain relief I can't even put together my meds together in daily pill boxes because I can't think clearly, my husband has to do it.
I'm sick of having to choose whether I want to function enough to knit or to take liquid morphine to reduce my pain.

I've tried so many meds, some didn't work, some worked but made me suicidal, some made me sleep constantly and some made me not sleep at all.

My pain seems worse when its cold but I'm not sure if I'm imagining that.

I want my old life back.

Careofcell44

It's the versusarthritis advert isn't it?

I so know what you mean.

I have a mixture of osteo and inflammatory arthritis and hypermobility syndrome.

I acquired a nerve root injury following a procedure to treat back pain and now have a spinal cord stimulator for the pain (which is amazing).

I've struggled with this for a few years now. I find it so hard to accept that this is my life and I'm trying so hard to just carry on but it is just gradually getting harder and I'm losing my quality of life piece by piece.

The treatment for the inflammatory arthritis is horrible and the side effects really take their toll and the pain is getting me down now.

I've just finally agreed to take tramadol again but I am so worried about addiction that I only take it once a day (rather than 4) and only on days when the pain is unbearable.

I get some relief from physio and have had some sessions of hydrotherapy which is bliss but none of it is often enough to make a big difference.

I work and go to the gym to do yoga and Pilates when I can but I used to go 3 times a week and now I'm lucky to go once a week because the pain is so bad.

Amongst other things I need a knee replacement but because I'm only 48 they want to wait. I'm not sure that I can stand the pain much longer though.

I'm sorry that we are going through this. Chronic pain is just unbearable and no one can understand it unless they have it. It's not like being in pain for a short time. It's eroding my life slowly but surely.

for us both.

back at you.

I don't even know which arthritis charity it is, sorry.

I broke my back and now my vertebrae is a funny shape which puts pressure on muscles and the adjoining bones, spinal fusion surgery isn't advised. It's hurts more to stand still than walk and bending is a no go. I get that I'm lucky not to be paralysed.

I agree with you that it's so hard to accept that this is my life now.
It's hard to justify my existence somedays.
I do bits of housework in 5 or 10 minute bursts, try to keep on top of home admin and knit stuff for woolly hugs and local charities.

The addiction to pain meds used to bother me but I don't even think about much anymore. It's not like my pain is going to stop so I'll have to come off them, although tolerance to oramorph is something that I think about. But when I really need it I take it.

Losing independence is really crap, I can't drive anymore which I really miss. We've just moved and the house is set up really well for me. I have voice activated lights, a stairlift, eye level oven and dishwasher. But the thing that gives me the most pleasure is a gadget for putting my socks on before that H had to put them on for me.

Trying to be positive sucks, but people telling me that I'm brave and that they me really pisses me off.

I hope you do get your surgery and try to celebrate the little things. (Advice I should take but don't)

That sounds really tough OP. . I was only thinking about how people cope with long term pain earlier today.

I have got a kidney infection and something painful going on in my uterus/ovaries and I am in absolute agony, short term agony though, 12 days so far that’s all. I have cried with pain for the last three days. Oramorph is barely taking the edge off it. Short term though I will be fine soon enough.

I was thinking how extremely hard and depressing it must be to have to cope with severe pain this afternoon.

I don’t have anything wise to say but again.