Not going to let chronic pain stop me

slwhitter78

am a 39yo who has spent the past 20 years having over 30 surgeries and suffering from chronic pain. If you have ever suffered from chronic pain you will know that It’s a tough road and that health/ fitness can end up at the bottom of your priority list. Just getting up some days was hard so the thought of doing anything physical as far as exercise etc was something I avoided. There were many dark days and I was happy just to make it through each day. I was depressed and struggled to accept that even though doctors can medicate me I will need to accept that I may suffer chronic pain the rest of my life. At some points I was on so much medication and I didn’t care about if I was eating the right things or looking after myself. I avoided any physical activity because it made the pain worse. Pain was the enemy and it was kicking my *kitten*.

Maybe it’s because I turn 40 in a few months but I started taking a hard look at my life and how I want the next 40 years to be. I’m blessed in so many ways with the most amazing family and there are so many reasons to want to live a long happy life but for that to happen I need to change the way I think as well as the way I take care of myself.

So that’s how I have ended up here writing this. I am trying to really treat myself better through the things I eat/drink and the physical activities/ exercise I do. I think for a long time I have seen pain as the enemy so since I already suffered daily pain, I avoided exercise or any physical activity because I didn’t want to feel any added pain. The way I think about pain is changing as I have embarked on this new journey to take care of myself. As I slowly start being more active (at the moment it’s fast walking and some basic yoga) I keep telling myself that feeling some pain is ok and that I am making my body stronger. That not all pain is bad. I am not letting it control my life anymore. I am trying to be kind to myself and making sure I am doing everything I can to help make sure I am around for many years to come. Watching what food/drink and activity I do using this app has really helped me be mindful of how I am caring for myself and how I can improve the way I look but most importantly how I feel.

We all have our different journeys but we are all trying to do better for ourselves. I think this community we have here is fantastic because we can all learn from one another and support each other even if technically we are strangers. If we can motivate and support each other I think we have a greater chance of success.

It’s still early days for me in this journey to being fit and healthy but I feel hope and that’s huge for me. I apologise for how long this post is but to anyone reading this please know that i am here cheering you on. Chronic pain is my challenge but we all have challenges and I hope we can all help keep one another motivated.

jgnatca

My very favourite Weight Watchers leader was crippled up with arthritis but was also so very positive. You earned a sticker from her just for showing up.

She described laying in bed in pain and reflecting that she could continue to lay there - in pain - or get up and do stuff - in pain. She chose to get up.

snickerscharlie

Welcome to MFP!

There are lots of people here who live with chronic pain daily as well and have still managed to lose weight and get healthier.

You're among friends.

mrsjray

I need all the encouragement I can get. I’m in so much relentless pain.

GaleHawkins

slwhitter78 wrote: »

am a 39yo who has spent the past 20 years having over 30 surgeries and suffering from chronic pain. If you have ever suffered from chronic pain you will know that It’s a tough road and that health/ fitness can end up at the bottom of your priority list. Just getting up some days was hard so the thought of doing anything physical as far as exercise etc was something I avoided. There were many dark days and I was happy just to make it through each day. I was depressed and struggled to accept that even though doctors can medicate me I will need to accept that I may suffer chronic pain the rest of my life. At some points I was on so much medication and I didn’t care about if I was eating the right things or looking after myself. I avoided any physical activity because it made the pain worse. Pain was the enemy and it was kicking my *kitten*.

Maybe it’s because I turn 40 in a few months but I started taking a hard look at my life and how I want the next 40 years to be. I’m blessed in so many ways with the most amazing family and there are so many reasons to want to live a long happy life but for that to happen I need to change the way I think as well as the way I take care of myself.

So that’s how I have ended up here writing this. I am trying to really treat myself better through the things I eat/drink and the physical activities/ exercise I do. I think for a long time I have seen pain as the enemy so since I already suffered daily pain, I avoided exercise or any physical activity because I didn’t want to feel any added pain. The way I think about pain is changing as I have embarked on this new journey to take care of myself. As I slowly start being more active (at the moment it’s fast walking and some basic yoga) I keep telling myself that feeling some pain is ok and that I am making my body stronger. That not all pain is bad. I am not letting it control my life anymore. I am trying to be kind to myself and making sure I am doing everything I can to help make sure I am around for many years to come. Watching what food/drink and activity I do using this app has really helped me be mindful of how I am caring for myself and how I can improve the way I look but most importantly how I feel.

We all have our different journeys but we are all trying to do better for ourselves. I think this community we have here is fantastic because we can all learn from one another and support each other even if technically we are strangers. If we can motivate and support each other I think we have a greater chance of success.

It’s still early days for me in this journey to being fit and healthy but I feel hope and that’s huge for me. I apologise for how long this post is but to anyone reading this please know that i am here cheering you on. Chronic pain is my challenge but we all have challenges and I hope we can all help keep one another motivated.

@slwhitter78 there are many here that can relate as you are reading. At the age of 63 with high pain levels for 50 years and especially high the last 30 years even after surgeries my health was crashing and the doctors wanted me to start on Enbrel injections. Finally on a hunch to try to avoid starting on the Enbrel injections cold turkey I cut out all foods containing added sugars and or any form of any grain Oct 2014.

30 days later at my doctor's appointment I passed on the Enbrel option for pain management because my long term pain levels of a subjective 7-8 were down to like 2-3 levels. Four years later I am doing so much more physically speaking and for the most part the pain level is under 1 most of the time.

We are all different but this is what gave this old man hope to make it to 110 walking and talking the entire way.

Take the advice of others with a grain of salt and listen to what your body/mind may be telling you that will be helpful in your case as it seems you are already doing.

Best of success.

DeniseWilson43

Pain makes things harder but will make u stronger I have fibromyalgia everyday An night sucks. But I work in hospital an see what happens to my pts so no thank you . I know I get to keep moving regardless same with u . You still have a life to live Denise