Chronic pain and weight loss

babyworms · May 2012

Hey all!

I'm 23 and have suffered with chronic back pain since i was 7 years old. Recently it's gotten much worse, and is really starting to affect my ability to exercise at all. My GP and I are trying to come up with a pain relief regime that works, but in the meantime it's a daily struggle to not only get any exercise in rather than lay in bed all day, but also to not binge eat on comfort food and get take away because it hurts to do much in the kitchen.

I spend most of my days home because I can't work anymore because of the pain, so it's already harder to get any activity in!

I was just wondering if there were any other people out there dealing with chronic pain who'd like to be friends, for moral support from other people who understand what it's like having your life ruled by pain.

WeightHacker · May 2012

i dont have any like chronic pain. but i know what you mean. i have back pain myself.

like, if i dont ask my brother to crack my back, literally one whole day.. i will feel a pitching feelin.. and its not pretty. e.e for a while i couldnt stand for too long. ._.
im just starting my summer job. but, all in all. im pretty much at home all the time i never go out. <.< so i know how it feels to not be soooo actives.

were already friends. but i thought i share a little info.

shicken684 · May 2012

You might want to ask for a referral to a physical therapist if you have not tried so already. My mom is a PT and has dealt with people like this her whole career. Patients come in thinking they are just screwed up but after a few months of specific training and therapy they are back to normal(or more specifically how the normal body should work).

If you have had back pains since year 7 there is something wrong, and has been. There is an answer out there, and if you have not gotten it from your GP, then you need a second/third opinion.

AdaBee · May 2012

First off, I'm so sorry you are in so much pain! I don't have anything like the kind of pain you are dealing with. I do have some repetitive stress injuries after doing medical transcription at the computer for over 20 years. It has drastically cut down on how much work I can do and because I am self-employed and paid on production, I have no Worker's Compensation and my income is down quite a bit so it has been a hard time.

I am working with my doc too, have gone to OT, had an EMG at the neuro's office, and seen an orthopedist. Now I'm getting ready to go to a center where they deal with people like me who have these chronic injuries. I have done a lot of things to help myself - wt loss, diet change, more water, some supplements, a stretching program, ice, heat, a better work station, keyboard, chair, posture, etc. Oh, also getting more sleep helps. Ow, the typing hurts my arms and shoulder.

I know you have probably tried everything since you have been dealing with it so long but have you been to a pain management clinic? I transcribe for a pain management center and one of the things they recommend a lot is warm pool therapy, does that sound like something you would want to try? I hardly ever post on here because it hurts so much to type and my voice recognition software is not up to speed yet so I don't think I'd be a very useful friend, but I'm sending you all my good thoughts and best wishes. I better quit before my arms fall off. I'm so sorry you are suffering this way; you are so young!

thepegasus · May 2012

Hun i know exactly how you feel... i suffer from chronic back pain due to an injury i did when i was young and stupid..,

i went thru a pain specialist who has helped me heaps, i was on over 30 tablets aday from oxicontian, oxinorms, valium, lyrica, ditarum, kedamine (to name a few) .. i tried having the nerves in my back burnt and frozen, had number of facet joint injections done and had a litium infusion done... but nothing really helped until i had a neurostimilator implanted into my back.. its help HEAPS.. i 100% recommend it to anyone with chronic back pain

but it only masks some of the pain so i still need to watch what i do, the only excersice i can do is walking and swimming coz its low impact..

and im the same in that when im in a lot of pain i cant be bothered cooking, esp when my hubby is working away, so i get takeout, but theres nothing wrong with that as long as you dont go over your calorie limits, just choose the lighter option.. thats pretty much what i do..

you can only do what you can do, no one who doesnt have back problems would never be able to understand what we go thru so dont let anyone make you feel like your not doing enough or make you feel bad coz of takeout food etc,..

feel free to add me hun, and take care xx

babyworms · May 2012

Thanks everyone

I've done a lot of PT in the past, but this time it's just not working.

I know what the issue is (slipped vertebra in my lumbar spine) and went to an orthopaedic surgeon when i was younger. he said to "wait and see" how it all turns out as i get older... I got my GP to send a referral to a spinal surgeon last week. But who knows when i'll hear back.

I live in a rural town in South Australia, and there really aren't many places to go for anything here. It's a four hour drive to our capital city, and waiting lists are so long for everything... Ugh.

Fingers crossed it'll all work out well in the long run!

Pebble321 · May 2012

Oh that's tough, I know you can wait a long time for specialists anywhere in Australia. It might also be worth asking your GP to find out if there is a chronic pain management service in Adelaide that you could see next time you're done there.

Is there a local physio who can work with you to determine what would be safe movements that are less likely to cause pain?
Is there a pool nearby - exercising in water can be a lot more comfortable as your body weight is supported.
Could you walk on something like an elliptical that supports some of your weight while you're moving? (probably a question for a physio really)

Good luck, and remember that most weight loss is related to diet - exercise certainly helps but its not absolutely essential.

(I just re-read your post and realised that this isn't what you were asking at all... but good luck anyway!)

vonnywaft · May 2012

I guess on the diet side it would be a good idea to make sure you get your fridge and freezer stocked up with healthy instant food, that could mean getting someone to shop for you with specific things on the list, like ssalad foods, prepared veg and frozen meals that are either low cal, low carb or whatever fits your eating plan best. Also when you are feeling well, make up a large batch of something healthy to freeze in portions, so you can just chuck it in the microwave when you are feeling less well, if you do this from time to time you can build up a supply of varied meals that you know what's in them and you can be in control of the healthiness of them. Having convenient snacks like preprepared veg sticks and pots of hummous or other healthy dips can make a quick and easy light meal too. Also if you like fish - frozen fish fillets can be quickly cooked in the microwave and served with a few steamed veg, if you buy the veg ready prepped, or prep it on a day you feel well enough, it's again a quick and easy meal - I often do salmon fillets this way, straight from the freezer a drizzle of olive oil, a drizzle of lemon juice and a sprinkling of dried dill, cover it and give it 6-8 mins on medium heat in the microwave, seems to do it just right. Also I buy several packs of chicken thighs/drumsticks when they are on offer and often cook a couple of packs at a time (just chuck on a roasting tray, drizzle with oil and herbs and cook in the oven for 30 mins, we'll have them for dinner one night then the remainder will be cooked and ready in the fridge for snakcing on or packing up for lunch with a few bits of salad over the next 2-3 days. Just a few ideas to be going on with.

Chronic pain and weight loss

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