I don't feel ashamed of venting, but I do understand the part about people being tired of hearing it. It hurts most when it's those you love and who you should be able to talk about such things with. It does impact every aspect of life and as someone already mentioned-unless they've undergone something similar, people just don't get it. I find that being thought of as someone who just complains about 'minor' things and that people acting as though you being in pain is "nothing" and "not that bad" to be one of the tougher aspects of it.

I so understand

I absolutely feel that way! You are not alone. I have recently started counseling to deal with this very issue. One of the most important things that I have learned about myself is this: Pain makes me live in my emotional brain. It takes me to a place mentally that is hard for me to manage. It takes me out of my rational and wise mind. I feel neurotic and out of control when it is not managed. I am not neurotic and out of control. It is not in my head. I am in pain. Journaling has helped me manage my feelings about pain. Meditation has helped me separate my mental state from the body sensations of pain. I have also posted things on here or fb and wanted to take them back. The pain makes me feel needy for something that I haven't quite figured out yet. I want to reach out to people, but don't want to be complaining or a downer all the time. It is so hard when I am in pain to think about much else. I recently asked a supportive family member if I could text her random, emotional gripes about my pain so that I would refrain from posting them of fb and then later regretting them. I haven't needed to send her a message, because just having the option to reach out to her was all I needed. I am relatively new to chronic pain. This has been a very difficult thing to deal with and figure out. It's definitely a learning process. I am learning to cope one day at a time. Thanks for the post, I don't think we will regret this post because the people here "get it"

I also understand how you feel. I live alone with my dogs, and I think they, too, hate hearing me talk about the pain.. or that "mama's getting old" (I'm only 35). Many of my "friends" don't really understand, nor do I think they really care about my pain levels. When someone asks me "Hey, how are you?" sometimes I just want to break down and cry and say "Lousy.. I feel lousy. My joint pain is everywhere and it hurts so bad to even sit." But I just smile and say "Ok thanks, you?" We have a girl here at work who is a hypochondriac and I see how she's treated and I never, ever, want that treatment nor feeling. Because I'm not. I have fibro, I'm in pain and I work through it. I try to manage it. I still run and I'll run til my body no longer allows me to. Don't ever feel bad or ashamed for how you feel. God dealt you this hand. It's up to you to make the most of it and if it means talking about it, then find someone, anyone, a confidant, a family member, to just sit and chat with. Can you possibly find a psychologist that deals with chronic pain issues?

I completely understand. People look and treat me as if I am making it up, I get told I should start cutting down on my pain meds.

For over 20 years I've been looking for a diagnosis. In 1989 I had two rear end car accidents in one week. I was diagnosed with MS, then after three years told I did not have MS. No one could give me any answers for the increasing amount of pain I was in. It is hard having an invisible disease and it is hard to try and explain why you can't do things. My Doctor recently suggested I research Chronic Myofascial Pain as she believes that this is what I have. Over the years I've moved from one pain med to another, I've managed to keep my pain somewhat under control with medication.

I joined this group because I have been using Wii DDR for my chosen cardiac work-out, but I have been told that it is not good enough to help me loose weight and become active. I also have osteoarthritis which adds to the pain, I have sleep apnea, and am a right below knee amputee. I'm hoping this will be a good place to be when I need to vent, No one wants to constantly see my posts on fb, so I try to keep my comments on my health to a minimum. I think we all feel vulnerable but there is no reason to be ashamed. I'm very sad at times because I cannot do the things I used to do, finally having a diagnosis is a relief. Sorry this is longer than I intended.

My turning point came when I had my leg amputated. I did not want to spend more time than was necessary in hospital but was so ill, having caught a respiratory infection just after the surgery. It took about three or four weeks before I came home and wait for my leg to heal so I could be fitted with my first prosthesis. Once more I would be in hospital, for about a month I was told. There was no way I was going to be away from home in the rehap. hospital for a month. With great determination I planned to be up walking unaided as quickly as I could. I practiced every moment I could, I didn't just wait for my therapy sessions, but I walked up and down that hall near my room, every few moments. I was told, now don't over do it, you don't have to rush at this, take you time. I wanted to get home, I wanted my life back. I was home after only two weeks, the fastest rehabilitation they had seen in a long time.

I was determined that the amputation would not take away what last bit of mobility. That all happened in 1980, I have lost count how many legs I have had over the years, but I am told time and time again that if you didn't know I was am amputee you wouldn't know to watch me. At least not before my other knee went on me. If you've read my other posts you will know that the amputation is a minor part of my health issues. I have determination not to let any of it slow me down. Of course it does and I have to limit any activity, gardening is limited to 1 hour. Shopping depends on if I am trying clothes on or just walking around the shops. the stop and go type of grocery shopping I can't do, it is far to hard on me.

The trick is to learn your limits and work within them, you might not be able to do all that you did before but you never give up. If you are in pain then work out the best way to do an activity that won't make the pain worse. Dress with pride, stand up straight and do it for YOU! Never hide who you are and never let your disability define you.

You're definitely not alone. It's tough when it rules so much of your life, you know? I totally get the lack of a diagnose part as well. In the very least, we're all here and there is strength in numbers.

I too suffer from chronic pain and fatigue (FMS/CFS/ME) and all the horrible head trips that go with it. I am lucky that I was approved for disability and no longer have to work, but just living from day to day is enough hard work for me. I have secluded myself from the world because I feel so weak and ashamed. I no longer have friends, other than on FB, but I think it's easier this way, because I don't really have to live up to the expectations of others, except for my own and my family's. It's hard to live in a house full of people who have "normal" pain and "normal" fatigue, because they assume that I feel like they do, and I cannot explain to them that merely taking a shower or holding a book can make me need a three hour nap, or that putting air into my tires will cause such mind numbing pain, that I will lay in bed, moaning and screaming in pain for days. It's hard to think better of yourself when no one else will. And besides my significant other and my kids, I have lost everyone else, my mom, my dad, etc. So I always feel so alone, and scared that I will end up alone and broken and no one will care. My hubby says I need to let go of who I was and embrace who I am, but honestly, who I am is a weak, fragile, emotional basket case. Who wants to embrace that? I am trying to improve my overall health and am hoping that some of the benefits of this will be weight loss, less pain, and more energy. We shall see. I have gone gluten free, grain free, and dairy free. It has helped some. I get excited over the smallest things, like my 6lbs weight loss, considering that I am quite sedentary, this is amazing. Also, I get all proud when I can cook dinner and it doesn't take 3 hours and everything tastes good, because cooking is a huge expense of energy so when I'm just looking out for me, I go with hemp protein drinks and raw spinach covered in something lean and high in protein, like tuna, so my family has no idea how lucky they are to get prepared dinner most nights! I try to keep busy so that I don't have so much time to brood, but I'm pretty good at brooding. I don't expect everyone to "get" me, but it'd be nice if a couple people out there did get me, I'd feel so less lonely and I think it would encourage me to keep at it.