Introduce Yourself Here.....

Hi Kerrie
It's so hard medically when you live out rural. My sister lives in rural Victoria and has the same problem. I'm also sorry to hear about your children leaving you in the lurch. I don't know if your still in contact with them or not but why can't they help you find somewhere closer to medical facilities. I understand that it would have been hard on them with your condition but your still their mum. I have 2 daughters who have been to hell and back with my condition and they would not even consider not helping me. I'm sorry if you think I'm speaking out of turn it just really upsets me when I hear about children treating their parents so badly, especially after everything the parent has done for those children.
Anyway, if your feeling down because you feel nothing is happening give us a buzz on here. We will listen and support you every step of the way.

Cheers and Hugs
Jacquie

Thanks Jacquie

Hi Jacquie,
Sorry for the late reply but I've been in excruciating pain for days. I won't bore you with my tales of why my children have chosen to no longer remain in my life but suffice it to say, my son had his own demons and has been gone for 12yrs now, he'll be 28 in 4 days time. I miss him terribly and pray he has found peace in his new life. My 30yr old daughter on the other hand has manipulated me into handing over the proceeds of the sale of my home with promises to care for me until the day I died if I bought her, the granddaughters and the gambling alcoholic husband a home with a flat for myself. Let me just say I've lost over $300,000 because I believed in her. Instead of paying the small mortgage, rates and other bills, they decided to purchase 2 brand new vehicles last April. I have spent over 7 yrs raising both granddaughters full time, including weekends at my cost. Before they deserted me and the property they inflicted thousands of dollars worth of damage to their residence. The bank has repossessed and I was left penniless, homeless and utterly heartbroken. I haven't seen or heard from her since even though she still lives in the town and has had another daughter. I was forced to rent an old asbestos house with holes in the floor and no heating or cooling, plus it's ridden with vermin. I no longer have any aids for my disabilities and it's difficult to cope with it all, but I'm trying. She was the last person I thought would ever treat me this way, but if you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas. I don't know who she is anymore, certainly not the kind hearted daughter I raised.
Kerrie
??Can you shed any light on why my keyboard keeps disappearing and I can't get it back whilst writing on this website? It's driving me crazy because it's takes more than several attempts to do replies. ☺

You sound like a very impressive young woman Heather and great that you are managing to study and sing. I am also a singer and still lead a couple of community choirs even though it is through pain. Could not bear to give up all work and music. Keep going and keep singing!

I'm completely new to all this and don't really know what to write... I guess I'll start with a bit about myself and why I'm here. I'm 24 years old and for the last 6 years I've been suffering with chronic pain. I don't even know what its like to have a life anymore. Because of my pain im unable too work, I cant go out with my friends and do all the normal things people my age do, I feel like im a huge burden on those few remaining friends and family that I have left. I'm completely lost and don't know how to keep fighting what feels like a loosing battle. I cant talk to anyone about this because no one seems to understand, I guess that's why im here to connect with people in similar situations so maybe the world wont seem so lonely anymore....

Hi FadingDreams29,

Welcome to the forum 🙂

Such a young age to be carrying such a burden 🙁 I'm so sorry! I was 30 when I was in a car accident which led to my path of Chronic Pain but 24 is so young.
I really hope you stick with us on here as you will find friendship, support and plenty of understanding.
We all understand what you are going through and know what its like to not be able to go out and enjoy life as we should be, what its like to feel like a burden and how hard it is to maintain good relationships with friends and family 🙁 At the end of the day they have no idea what we are going through and its taken me many years to come to the conclusion that only those who live with chronic pain fully understand!!! So you've come to the right place and hopefully we can share in your highs and lows and help support you when you need it most, and by the sound of it today was a brave start for you 🙂

Have a good look around the site and the forum as you will find lots of valuable information and feel free to private message me any time if you want to .

I'm going to move your post to the Introduce Yourself thread as it will be the best place for it. (have sent you a private message to explain)

Don't feel lost anymore as you are not alone in this 🙂

Looking forward to getting to know you

Jo xx

Hi Jo!
I can not thank you enough for your reply! I had mix feelings about sharing my battle and reaching out for support as no one seems to understand. They look at me and all they see is a young girl who is probably faking her pain for attention. This is why I never talk about it and only direct friends and family know. They are amazing people for putting up with me and giving me there on going support but I see the way they look at me and little things they say shows me that they don't quite understand the battle I go through every day and i cant blame them as I too never truly understood until it happened to me. I've reached a point in my life were I've never felt more alone and I hate that so I thought maybe its time to reach out to others who know what its like, who truly understand. Your message has confirmed for me that I made the right choice in coming here xx

Hey,
You're definitely not alone 🙂 and each and every one of us on here have felt alone at some time during our own journey (and more than once I suspect for most of us too) but knowing that someone has your back is so important.
I'm known for being able to talk lol but when it comes to my pain I'm not a big talker as I've spent most of my life avoiding the subject so as not to burden people around me, but it's been my downfall sometimes as then I can't blame those around me if they don't get it!!! Its a vicious circle 🙁
It's been 16 years for my journey so far and I know for sure that when I have the right team of professionals looking after me, my journey is somewhat easier. So if you haven't already got a good support network (professionals) then this would be a good start. Have you attended a Pain Clinic?
Once you connect on here you will find people can share their own experiences. We just can't advise you as we are not professionals!!
Some of us also meet up for coffee, so maybe thats something you might be interested in doing if there is a group somewhere near you? Visit the coffee club thread 🙂 I'm on the Gold Coast and meet up half way with the Brisbane guys.

Jo 🙂

Hi Tom
I'm In a similar boat to you I'm only 24 and I'm on a lot of painkillers. Like you I don't abuse them but its like people only see my age and automatically think I'm a drug addict. I've been on my medication for a few years now and because of it I've recently found out that I have 3 tumours in my liver (thankfully there non cancerous!) so its definitely scary being on so many meds at this young age! I've only joined today so don't really have any advice for still searching for answers myself, but for me a big thing was how alone I felt with all this, so I wanted to reach out too you. I'm also very sorry about your cousin. Stay strong.
-Tara

I'm the same I can talk about anything but my health situation. People never believe me they just see a young girl, physically I look healthy so they don't understand what's going on inside. I was able to get my pain under control for almost a year and started rebuilding my life again but I got a little too carried away thinking I was fine and ended up doing damaged again so for the last year and a half things have been pretty bad. I'm in the process of getting a good group of professionals together but its been very emotional and hard finding the right one that actually wants to help and not just through painkillers at you and tell you to deal. Wow 16 years! Your definitely a fighter, I'm In Adelaide so I'll have to check out that thread! Thank you again for your reply, for the first time in forever I don't feel so alone.

-Tara

Hi FadingDreams29,

Welcome to the CPA Forum!

Unfortunately the stigma we all end up with suffering from chronic pain, often leads to being alone and loneliness. As Jo says, just remember you are now among family and we here all suffer just like you do, so there won't be any judging or doubting your word. Your pain is exactly the same as ours and many times it can drag us down into depression.
So remember, to keep a close eye on your mental health. Don't allow yourself to go down too far before seeking proper medical attention. There is nothing wrong with you mentally, but suffering so much pain for so long causes depression in every human being. It is only natural.
So keep talking to us, especially when you feel really bad. Just post. Someone will answer sooner or later.

One way of keeping the depression away, is to keep yourself busy. And get involved in activities that you like, that will also keep you as physically active as you can be. And when I say busy, I mean within reason. Don't forget to stop often and rest. Never go at it hard, because you will end up in bed for a week. Always just take small bites of the cherry and slowly teach yourself how to self manage your pain condition.

Have you been to a multidisciplinary pain clinic yet?

If not, then please ask your GP to refer you to one as soon as you can. There will be a waiting list, so the sooner you get your referral in the better. They will teach all about your chronic pain and how to better manage it so you don't end up living a life of more pain while taking too much medication. There is another way and because you are young, you should respond to it very well. There is no cure, but there is a much better life to live than what you are experiencing now, even if you have to continue suffering this pain.

Anyway, stick around and read as much as you can to educate yourself.

Take care!

Peter

Hi Fading Dreams 29 and thanks for sharing your story. The people here are very caring and understanding....they will listen and offer advice if you want it. There is a thread here that you can vent on and believe me, it helps 😛 I will catch up with you maybe tomorrow; I'm actually falling asleep while I'm typing.
Take care
Gayl

Man Kerrie you deserve a medal for what you've been through. And unfortunately some people you can never understand why they do what they do.
With your accommodation, I hope they can get on to something soon and get you out of where you are. I'm assuming your renting but are you able to contact centerlink or someone along those lines for emergency accommodation? It's just a thought.
Being interstate makes it a bit harder as things are done a bit differently here. Maybe someone from NSW? can throw you some ideas.

Hugs Jacquie

Hi Fading Dreams

Welcome to the forum hun. This is the best place to find that your not alone. You'll find support and advice and when we can we'll answer any questions that you may have.
There's only 2 things you need to do while here and that is to never give up and to keep fighting. 🙂

Cheers
Jacquie

Hi all,
New here (obviously ).

I am 46 years old and work in emergency.

I was curious about pain management as I've recently suffered trauma by being hit by a car.
I have torn ligaments in my left knee and ankle. Have fractured two ribs. So hence I was in a great amount of pain for the first two weeks. I saw my GP and asked if I could go back to work as I am not very good at playing the sick role. He asked me if I required more narcotic analgesic medication for which I declined citing that I didn't want to go down the terrible path of reliance and addiction to medication. So far still really sore (I have degenerative disc disorder of my L4/L5) and have never whinged about as I believe walking is the best cure for chronic back pain and the occasional Panadol Osteo and heat pack as needed.

My GP said most of his patients in my position wouldn't have handled what I am going through without complaining.

Don't get me wrong, it hurts like hell but I believe if I stay busy with work and caring for my special needs child, I will be too busy to centre on myself and hence just get on with life. As I said to my doctor if I start down the road of narcotics, I will let pain become part of my identity and I do not want that. As I daily see at work what my professional colleagues think of Chronic Pain patients.

I believe that checking in here on my recovery with this group will enable me to recover from my trauma and get on with my life.

Thanks for having me

Jessie