Is anyone else battling a chronic pain condition

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Replies

  • a_new_life_2016
    a_new_life_2016 Posts: 17 Member
    Your very lovely I've had a lot of treatments I do believe something will come out of this year and a new hospital... I know what it's like to lose hope and this year I'm staying strong and keeping the faith that they can give me something ...
  • mistydawn1118
    mistydawn1118 Posts: 12 Member
    Something I have invested in lately is a "ninja" and a subscription to bountiful baskets. The juicing and fruit smoothie recipe's I find on "Pinterest" for inflammation and pain management have really helped. It increases my energy level too.
  • HippySkoppy
    HippySkoppy Posts: 725 Member
    Yes I have had RSD since 1997 after a fall from the 2nd floor of our house.

    3 years ago I developed Lupus, with vasculitis migraines, osteoporosis and fractured my back last year. I too am in constant pain....I'm writing this from bed after a terrible night and loads of pain meds are yet to kick in.

    Anyone dealing with Chronic pain is a Hero. The toll is overwhelming and it can take you over if you are not careful. I admire everyone on here who has contributed and like others have said even without exercise weight loss is most definitely possible.

    Op - use MFP as much as you can. Do as suggested an plug in your stats and take on a reasonable deficit and eating plan where small steps get you to the point that you are hoping for. I read that you feel you eat terribly....well maybe that is a place for you to start the process of looking after yourself as best you can. Swap in more water, learn how to prepare veggies and meat in appetizing, new ways.....something, anything to get you inspired and keep you committed.

    Be patient and persistent. Don't lose the plot if you don't have a good day....it is all about the long haul (for everyone) but especially those with special needs.

    Look at this (sorry for the cliche word) journey as Self-care not self-punishment.

    Being overweight does not do chronic pain any favours.....I used to be 278 lbs and am now 110 lbs and have been successfully maintaining for 3 years despite all the changes and now no exercise and of course steroids et al.....I'm now 53 and started doing this in my late 40's so nothing is impossible.

    Wishing you all the best.
    <3
  • a_new_life_2016
    a_new_life_2016 Posts: 17 Member
    Thankyou what lovely kind words, I agree starting with the food is deffinatley my goal, I've been good so far this year lol, I know it's only just started, but it's not going to come off over night like we all wish huh... I'm sorry to hear your in bed in pain it is terrible living with constant pain isn't it. Much love and respect to you x
  • Reneey14
    Reneey14 Posts: 1 Member
    Hi there, i have complex regional pain syndrome in my ankle and leg. It has been a long and hard 3 years of rehabilitation. I have worked so hard and was even starting on some small bits of running and higher impact exercises. 2 weeks ago i had a fall and reaggravated my ankle injury. I am absolutely guttered and so fearful of going back to square one. Still working hard to stay positive and to beat this. Much love to you all, don't lose hope.
  • hugrabug
    hugrabug Posts: 10 Member
    All of you are so incredible. Chronic pain is so hard to cope with, especially when it limits a person's ability to become healthier. I've had pain and chronic illness issues since I was in my teens (initially diagnosed with fibromyalgia and depression, then more recently hypothyroidism, CFS, and chronic anemia).

    A few years back my doctor recommended I try a new medication therapy which resulted in severe flare ups and massive weight gain. While I have since then managed to find medications to manages my pain (and found a new doctor) the weight has been much harder to lose.

    I managed to lose about 10lbs over the course of 2015, but my long term goal is get to a healthier weight and hopefully it will result in better pain management. Right now it's incredibly difficult for me to exercise without causing flare ups so my main goal is to try and eat better and maybe do some modified yoga and stretching when I can.

    Feel free to add me -- I would love to have any support I can get!
  • lilsanti
    lilsanti Posts: 3 Member
    I too have chronic pain, GI issues, chronic fatigue and so many other problems. In the past year I've gone from relatively active to finding it hard to walk across the parking lot. And i'm pretty young still! I know how hard, frustrating, and harrowing it can be to have issues because you want so badly to be healthy and active.

    Feel free to add me and we can go on this journey together.
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    Last spring, right after I obtained a personal best on my 5K time, I developed bilateral calf pain. It was bad enough that I had to stop all activity, limiting myself to moving around my work and that's it. I went to so many doctors this summer, having different testing done, specialist consults, etc. and the end result was "sometimes people just have pain". None of the possible diagnosis' fit my symptoms-it wasn't chronic exertional compartment syndrome because my pain was at rest and didn't worsen with movement. It wasn't popliteal entrapment syndrome for the same reason, and scans were negative. Not rhabdo, not metabolic, not vascular. Not myofascial pain syndrome because it's limited to one part of my body. Physical therapy didn't help. Chiropractor didn't help.

    Ultimately I decided to stop with the testing and referrals and learn how to live with it. Fortunately I was prescribed Cymbalta, which was helped tremendously with the pain. (meloxican and flexaril didn't even begin to help). Also I began swimming for fitness-I swam competatively in school, so I got back in the pool and was able to maintain my level of fitness. Now I'm back to running and high-impact, with the assistance of compression sleeves, but my calf pain is still there-some days worse than others. I notice it more when I stay away from the pool too long. Could you try some aquafit classes or swim some laps?
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    Yes, I guess I am. I'm used to being in the gym 6 days a week, and have done so for the past 12 years.

    But after I fell on the ice last January my back was never the same. I still took all my gym classes but could not keep increasing the weights like I had in the past. In October I saw a chiropractor who did absolutely zippo for me - OK, he told me jokes and charged me the co-pay - so I decided to pursue physical therapy instead, and that takes us to the middle of December.

    Before work, I had my PT session, got my sheet with the exercises and stretches expected of me, then promptly fell and broke my ankle right after work. I've been sedentary every since - which has been 23 long days.

    Besides my ankle and ligament issues - I'm in a cast and use a cane for those - but now I have this interesting lower back needling pain, now that the intense NYC cold has set in.

    I think I can see the writing on the wall that Stacked, Whipped, MetCon3 and The Cut are no longer in my future, and that it'll be pilates, barre burn and maybe the Deep Extreme for a treat.

    I'm not that happy about just fading away ......
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    I have a form of myalgia. I just wrote a blog post about having to accept slowing down some days.
    I don't like it. I was never very active to begin with and now trying to do so, I hit a wall sometimes. I don't like it

    i find nutritious food helps, yoga, running, and just trying to move. the less i move the stiffer i get
  • mistydawn1118
    mistydawn1118 Posts: 12 Member
    Just got the news that I will have to have rotator cuff surgery. I am an emotional eater and this is definitely emotional. I work with my hands everyday. I have been denied for SSDI even tho they say I am legally disabled. I won't be able to afford the surgery or the time off of work. Along with my daily Fibro pain I don't know if I can handle this.
  • laurie571
    laurie571 Posts: 152 Member
    I have Fibromyalgia. I am depressed and anxious and overeating to soothe myself. I used to play tennis but now that kind of activity can make me feel like I've been hit by a truck. So... I am back on here and definitely needing some support as well.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I have chronic pain from Crohn's disease- abdominal and joint pain
  • tomteboda
    tomteboda Posts: 2,171 Member
    I have lupus and because of it arthritis. When I started logging my food daily a year ago I weighed 270 lbs and was completely immobilized by heart inflammation. I lost my first 30 lbs being unable to move at all. When I started feeling well enough to try exercise, I was able to walk 1/8 mile only every few days. As the weight came off, it became easier to move.

    Right now I think I look great. I'm down 70 lbs. I totally credit being able to track my calories. Tracking my movement has also motivated me to do a bit every day.. and that little bit has added up.

    I still have days when the pain really is too much and when my lupus is out of control. I try to do a *little* even on those days. Today was one of those days. But I realize its the healthy pattern of eating and movement I've set that will give me the best shot at a good life in the future.
  • LJNCLJJL
    LJNCLJJL Posts: 2 Member
    Hi.... I am 62 now and have had the unfortunate circumstance of nerve damage in my pelvis due to surgery back in 2007. I am not sure how I do it. There are days where I actually question how I am going to grow old. My case is very complicated and won't bore you with details here...except to know the nerve damage caused muscles in my rectum to weaken and I had to have a colostomy. Very tough price to pay. Yet, I am a very positive person and even though I gained 60 lbs dealing with all this stress, I am determined this year to loose this weight. I log every ounce of food I eat since 1/1 and I am in the middle of recovering after a total knee replacement that I had on 12/14. I had the other one done 3 years ago; I was 60 lbs lighter and OMG, do I feel the difference . I am not giving up. I would love some friends on this website for support.
    Please feel free to friend me. I have been thru hell and back and I am going to make this year a good one!! I feel for you being so young raising a child. Must be do hard ., hang in there...
  • a_new_life_2016
    a_new_life_2016 Posts: 17 Member
    I think we're all doing great keep up the good work everyone. If we're strong enough to battle pain and illnesses everyday, were strong enough to lose a pound a week.......x
  • easuess
    easuess Posts: 53 Member
    I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia too, though I think there might be something else going on. So many doctors appointments! So little time!

    At any rate, I'm about 50 pounds overweight which is certainly complicating my struggles with chronic pain. I'm glad to find others who are on this journey too, because losing weight is so difficult with limited mobility. Positive vibes to everyone, and feel free to add me as a MFP friend!
  • yelliep
    yelliep Posts: 1 Member
    Hello- I'd like to be friends. I have CRPS after two falls down the stairs and a back issue. Im disabled and the meds and steroids caused me to gain 60 lbs. the lack of activity and depression that caused me to crave carbs for 8mos didn't help either, but I used to weigh around 120 and now I'm around 190, even after cutting my meds from 40mg of methadone to 20mg I've lost a lot of swelling so my clothes fit better, but the scale doesn't move no matter how well behaved my diet is!

    Does it just take time? Do you have any secrets? I'm 30 and it's so hard to be disabled, let alone lost my body. I'm big on research and doctors. Maybe we could trade information. :)

    Ps your dog is super cute.

    Hugs.
    Danielle
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