How do you deal with severe pain?

Thanks for the replies

Unfortunately I'm one of these people who also struggle with food and binging which is one of the main reasons I am this overweight, I struggle to stay on track with a lower calorie diet without exercise, I've tried it for years when I was unable to do anything at all exercise wise and while I had initial success, in the long term I failed miserably. It's only been since I've been able to introduce some exercise into the equation that the weight has finally started shifting. I also really do enjoy exercise when I'm able to do it and find that it keeps me more motivated. I have a lot going on in my life and feel better mentally after a workout too, it's a big de-stress, so it's not something that I want to give up, although I do agree with slowing things down, and taking a softer approach.

There's a new aqua aerobics class starting up at my gym at the end of the month so I'm going to give that a go, the water exercises do help, but there are very few options for pools around here, they're either overly expensive, too far to travel to multiple times a week, or like the one at my gym, is overtaken with swimming lessons, school carnivals, and swimming squads.

I'm in Australia so we have the option of private health which I don't have and can't afford and public health which has the same options as private health, but longer waiting lists. I have seen both a private Dr and one through the Public system, as well as numerous physios, I see a remedial massage therapist regularly, and three GP's who all agree with the diagnosis and that there is nothing that they can do other than alleviate the pain for short amounts of time. The last hospital appointment I had, the Dr was talking about the limitations of their ability to help and I actually said to him, "So I just need to suck it up" and he said quite simply yes and that he would refer me to the pain management clinic for a schedule of pain medication to manage my pain once they have exhausted all other avenues, of which there are few.

I have had two microdiscectomies, and two lots of steroid injections into my spine, I am awaiting a third steroid injection into the other side and then have to see about whether they will do a third microdiscectomy. I am currently researching spinal fusion and going to approach them with that to see if it's an option. I have also done my own research into these types of injuries and found that the Dr's are pretty much right with what they're offering in terms of treatment. The fact that I am 32 is the reason why I have been pushed ahead for the 2 surgeries I've had so far, as horrible as it sounds, older people with less chance of good recovery are bottom of the list and are waiting up to 2 years for an operation, whereas I've been lucky enough to have the ops within 6 months of being referred for one.

The prospects for my quality of life for the next 30 years and beyond are dramatically diminished. I've been told that I will need a knee reconstruction sooner rather than later and that is on the cards in the next few years I'd imagine. My back is done and dusted, aside from spinal fusion which comes with it's own list of risks and cons there is not a lot the medical world can do to fix it and there is no advancements in nerve reconstruction so they have their hands tied there. They do ultimately just have to do their best to alleviate the pain and make life as comfortable as possible. I want to do as much as I can on my end to improve my quality of life so that I am not in a wheelchair at age 50 and an even bigger burden on my family, and losing weight, gaining strength is the best way I can do that, which I why I've asked the question, surely there are things that I haven't tried that people have found helpful, even just mentally being able to push through the bad days would be an advantage at this stage.

Sanzza - I can't take codeine based meds and every anti-inflammatory I have tried (about 6!) I have reacted badly to. I am currently taking panadol and nurofen 3 times a day, tramadol 1-2 times a day, valium after a workout or when muscles are really tight and making everything worse, endone when it's really bad, although I refuse to take that for longer than 5 days in a row, it makes me feel very loopy :noway: And you're right, I hate taking painkillers everyday and ending up feeling sleepy or slow and I'd rather try to fix it then continually mask it.

Thanks for the suggest Caitlyn, I'll look into that and give it a go!

Patience, Honesty, Persistence, Organization: it is hard to be all these things when one is sick, in pain, and worn down but they are what will lead to the long term solutions.

I like that, they're important points and think I will print it out and put it up somewhere to keep myself in check.

Caspercb, thanks for sharing your story, and congratulations on losing the weight you have! I hope that you get some relief after your surgery, I did have nerve pain relief but the numbness is permanent due to how long the nerves were compressed for. Unfortunately for me the scar tissue left behind and further continual prolapses have made the back pain come back again, and the nerve pain is intermittent, although thankfully not as bad as the initial nerve pain when I had the major disc blow out, at that point I was being taken to hospital for pethadine injections because I couldn't move out of a fetal position without breaking down in pain

Thank you Green Goddess, I needed to hear that too, it's had to remember the positives when there's so many negatives, but you're right, I have gotten this far and should be able to make it the rest of the way.

When I have severe pain I take lots of prescription drugs, find the least-painful position (e.g. lying down in bed) and don't move until the pain has gone. Unfortunately it sounds as if your pain is here to stay for a while so I would suggest:

- get a second, third or fourth medical opinion because your current doctor doesn't seem to be helping much
- keep doing any small movements you can manage without extreme pain
- embrace the good workouts and don't push yourself when your body won't cooperate
- accept your body has placed limits on you and work within those limits
- don't push yourself to the point of agony -- there is no prize for "pushing through" excruciating pain; it is not character-building and will just wear you down over time
- get physiotherapy and rehab advice
- explore alternative forms of low-impact exercise like hydrotherapy
- find a good drug regimen that minimises side effects and maximises pain relief
- and when it all gets too much just go to sleep and deal with it another day

Thank you GertrudeHorse, all very sound advice that I will be taking on board.

Oops that was a bit long!