Introduce Yourself Here.....

Thank you, Wendles. I'm enjoying reading through a lot of old discussions.

Ah - horses. At one stage I had 7. Now I live in a suburban townhouse. I miss them.

Hi, my name is Glenda and have been suffering with CRPS since 2007, although this went undiagnosed for some time. I had 3 arthroscopies as well as a lateral release on my left knee after an injury. The condition set in after around 3 months and worsened with each procedure. I have had numerous sympathetic lumbar blocks as well as a Ketamine Infusion. Now I am just taking pain killers as well as using local anaesthetic patches over my knee. This helps but does not take the pain away. I have become compulsive about finding a cure but now may have to accept that there may not be one. It is as it is. I have overdosed friends, family & work colleagues with my plight and am suffering depression. I need desperately to have an outlet to discuss my pain and problems with people alike and who understand.

Hi Glenda and welcome!

I am sorry that you have had to go through all those procedures to no avail. Unfortunately, we do seem to get worse with some of the procedures. i think that some people find they help, but usually only for a short time. Chronic Pain alters the nervous system and it can be a difficult thing to reverse.

I think we are all compulsive about finding cures at some stage, but as it stands right now, unfortunately there is no real cure. However, the good news is that once you get over that hurdle, you can actually regain your life again, despite the pain. That probably sounds like hogwash to you as it did to me, but it can happen.

You are on the right track with some medication to help with taking the edge off the pain. I am assuming that you have been treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist for your depression? We CPers all need psychological guidance at some stage, but the people who provide it must be familiar with chronic pain and be able to treat you accordingly. It's not a bad idea to see a physiotherapist who is also used to treating chronic pain patients too because they can encourage gentle movement or hydrotherapy if it is suitable.

I found that I eventually stopped overdosing my friends and family. I did it all the time but I think it makes them feel helpless. Then I discovered that if I just went along with other conversation, I started to feel "normal" and focus on other things. It also helps if you can find something that you are able to do that you love.

There are plenty of people here for you to talk to and we all understand, so I hope we will see you hanging around with us!

Mary

Hi Glenda
Welcome, this is a great place to come for support. I have CRPS too. if you go to the forum heading Pain and Pain Conditions I think it is called, and find the topic CRPS and My Virtual World , you can read my first entry and realise you are not alone as there are more entries from other crps people in this topic. I have had it for nearly 7 years now, it took close to 4 before I was diagnosed and found a suitable pain management specialist. At this stage I have not heard of a cure , so acceptance is important because without acceptance we create more stress and continue to suffer disapointment after disapointment. Like Mary I assume you are seeing a psychologist?I was lucky to see a very good one for two years who helped me move forward and come to terms with the overwhealming grief that I felt for all my losses and changed world.

As if crps isnt enough we also have to contend with others lack of understanding which is a huge frustration for most chronic pain sufferers.
Please excuse typos but my spell check is not working on the ipad tonight. Have you been offered a spinal cord stimulator trial? I have had my SCS for a year now and it helps a lot, I still can get severe pain but not as much or as often. Ketamine also helps and I had my first lot this year, does Ketamine give you any respite?

Hope to hear from you again and do keep in contact, ask questions, vent if we can help.

Josie

Hello Josie & Mary,

Thank you for your welcome. I am finding it a bit hard to navigate at present but I am sure I will eventually get there. If nothing else I am persistent. I see a Psychiatrist who has helped me heaps, he keeps me motivated. I see my Pain Specialist & G.P regularly as well. Physio is also in the team. She has done a lot of study about CRPS, so that also helps. I sometimes come from the Pain Clinic feeling like slapping myself, there are others that I see who are much worse off & at least I can cope with 3 days work. Reception and Admin. which I really enjoy. Hydro does not help as even the pressure from the water hurts and Ketamine really knocked me about with very little benefit.

I will certainly keep in touch and so glad to be part of this group. And a BIG Thank You once again.

Hi, I'm Michelle, from Central Coast NSW,
I have been dealing with joint pain for about 8 years progressing in the past 7 months to really interrupting my life. Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on top of osteo Arthritis in SIJoints. Currently unable to work and difficulty with day to day tasks. Extremely depressed and looking for some info and support. I have my first pain clinic appointment on Monday.
Looking forward to reading thru this site. Found it thru the cronulla sharks jerseys on tonight's footy!

Hi MichelleO,

For the arthritis you could try panadol osteo it's an over the counter med. and it might relieve some of your pain .
I am not a doctor but it has given me some relief allowing me to at least reduce some of the pain and be able to work as well .

Johnno

Hi Michelle and welcome!

I am sure that you will find plenty of people here that will understand what you are going through and provide a shoulder to lean on. Good luck with the pain clinic on Monday. Hopefully they will be able to give you a management plan that will work for you.

Let us know how you go!

Mary

Hi Jrp
Yes once horses have played a big part of your life the neeed for them never really leaves. I am sorry to hear you no longer are able to be around them. For me we still have one but my support group have banded me from touching , which is a really sensible thing but it is not what my heart wants. Mostly to try to limit my time around them as i just get too tempted and others dont understand why I cant hold their horse etc. But gosh I miss the touch and smell of them.

Wendles

Hi Glenda
Welcome to our wonderful community. I am sure you will find that this is a great place to be able to chat about you pain and all that it encompasses but you will also find this site a fantastic place for support and information too.

I too have CRPS, mine is in my left arm and is the result of having my arm rolled by a horse. Cant recommend that activity. I also have CP in my back and neck due to several other incidents with horses starting in 1986(there does seem to be a trend) and these also cause migraines and jaw pain. So that is a very quick history.I am really looking forward to chatting with you. You will find some old discussions on CRPS in the forum that might be interesting reading.

Wendles

Hi Michelle I'm Lynda in Melbourne and don't follow the footy but am impressed that you found this group via the game.

I have a couple of conditions including fibromyalgia which is pretty bad to the point that I couldn't move in bed. I would lie where I landed and couldn't turn over and day to day activities were near on impossible. I recently, about 6 weeks ago, started on Panadol Osteo, 2 x 3 times pd and they have given me a bit of relief. I was sceptical but they do help a bit as I can now get myself into a position in bed if I'm gentle and I'm waking less often when I turn in my sleep. Get a script from your doc as they are cheaper. Good luck with your pain clinic apt on Monday.

Thank you Reefsider and Johnno,

I have recently tried them after being sceptical too. They don't help my neuropathic pain, but I am also riddled with osteoarthritis and I find that they do help with that somewhat. Handy at bedtime!

Mary

Me too Wendles. It's the best feel and smell in the world. I'm glad you still have one.

Hi my name is Natasha. I am 63. Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Neuropathic, Musculoskeletal Pain, Sciatica in the hip affecting the legs, Slip disc mostly in Cervical and Lumbar Spin. Every bone in my body hurt including spine, facial bones etc. At one stage I required being pushed around in a wheelchair. Foggy minded, lost my husband to cancer 3 years ago etc. can go on and on.

What I wish to share is that, I have not had the need for use of wheelchair for years now. I am not foggy minded any longer. I am in pain24/7 but am coping like the rest of my fellow Chronic Pain sufferers. I feel proud for the many who have been simply very brave (lot of efforts goes into it, I know), and continue to motivate us into soldiering on. Thank you.

Hello everyone.

My name is Peter.

Short history, 5 years ago had L5-S1 6mm disc protrusion+bony spur. Had to have surgery as I was unable to stand for more than a minute and was in pain even when lying down. 2 years ago the problem came back and began living with chronic pain. It eventually became manageable but 3 months ago somehow I hurt myself again.

Currently in that "will it heal?" "why me" "damn it again?" "where is my life going now?" phase.

🙂