Jass' Questions!

Jass, are you not reading my replies to you fully or are you not understanding what I am saying to you about the psychologists?

They are not there to talk to you about your problems or to talk to you about how pain is making you feel miserable. That might be a very minor part of it, but the main reason they are there is to TEACH you about pain and TEACH you how to self manage your pain condition.

Now please read that again, because I want you to let that sink in. You need to be taught about how the chronic pain is created and maintained, this is what their job is. They will then teach you what you can do about it. It is like going to school in some ways. You are going there to do a bit of anatomy and physiology, so that you can understand what is going on inside your body. Once you are armed with this information it makes life a whole lot different.

Don't go into a pain clinic with the hope of getting a cure, because you will probably be disappointed. Go into the pain clinic with the hope of coming out the other side with the ability to live a better life than the one you have today, but accept the fact that you will be living with pain.

Remember, the psychologists are there to teach you, not sit you on the couch and talk to you about your problems!

Peter

I got what you meant Peter, I was just explaining why I dont like them. Well i guess that answers my question... pain clinic will be a waste of time for me, as will talking to people. If there is no cure for the pain I need to at least be treated for it, learning about anatomy or talking about pain wont benefit me. Right now im in severe pain, i cant focus on anything but that. sitting in a room listening to some expert dribble on about how the brain and nervous sytem works is the last thing I want to do, its physically impossible for me to sit through a 6 hour class. Maybe if i get some pain killers that work I could handle the prospect. At the end of the day if i dont think its going to help then theres no way it will. Maybe after ive been on tramadol for months it may start to look like a better option.

Jass you have to try to be more positive and if you are in that much pain and it was me, I would be giving anything a go. You never know, it just may help to speak to the psychologists but if it doesn't at least you have tried.Please don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you want pity from people. You have to get out of that cycle. I was like that and it really got me no where, my family got sick of me so I put on my big girl pants and started to act more positive.....mind you it wasn't easy with the pain I was in. I have had days lately where my pain levels have been beyond the 10 mark and I have wanted to punch the walls. I know it is hard but you have to carry on but at the same time pace yourself. Have you tried heat packs or soaking in a bath as hot as you can stand it? I do this and also put Epsom salts in the bath water and by doing this it eases the pain to a degree. Sorry if I'm rambling on but I hope this is making sense. My pain meds (2nd lot) and the sleeping tablet have kicked in so I'm going back to bed and I'm sorry if I have offended you in any way; I'm just trying to help.
Take care

Hey Jass,

It's very difficult when you are suffering as you are to realise we are only trying to help you understand what,why and where a multi discipline pain course is not just a psychologist they have physiotherapists,occupational therapists.nueroloogists etc etc .
They spread the help between the specialists and they know that you are in pain and if you need to lay down during the day whilst they are running a class/lesson they fully back you and try to make you as comfortable as possible , if you come away from the clinic with 1 way of helping you our it's well worth your time.
The 1 major thing I came away from the course I did was pacing yourself and doing only what you are able to do without causing any further pain

Johnno

I don't want pity, I don't know anyone here personally and you don't know me. All I do want is ideas of things I could try that don't involve a pain management clinic because I can't access one until next year anyway. I need information. I could learn all about the pain via the internet without me needing to sit through hours of classes, while I try some other methods to relieve the pain. All I have been given so far is pills, surely there are other things I could try?I thought maybe someone here could point me in the right direction. For me I do not think a pain clinic is going to be helpful right now, it can be something I visit down the track when I've exhausted all other options. What would be helpful is knowing what to ask my dr, knowing who can give me a cortisone shot, who can give me a nerve blocker thing, and who can do all that without it costing me half of my pension each fortnight.
So you see why I don't participate in forums, people get the wrong idea and I end up feeling like I'm being attacked for having a differing opinion. It's not a nice feeling when you've come here for information and just to vent, sorry if I've given away too many details. As soon as I mention I have a mental illness I get treated differently and get judged. If that's not the case then great I'll stick around but if that's how the majority feel then I'll leave.
If there's anyone in Victoria that knows where I can go to get treated properly please message me.

Hi Jass,

I've tried a lot of things over the years for different types of pain and some I have found helpful are things like Tiger Balm, Ultrasound and Infrared. Things like massage can also help. There are a lot of options that one can use along with medications like those mentioned.

If I had the money right now top of my list would be a massage chair but I do have ultrasound and it helps me with my back pain.

Hi jass
No one is attacking you and I have no problem with you because you have a mental health condition. For me personally I'm finding it hard to figure out what you want besides getting pain relief.
As far as having cortisone shots or any other treatment you would have to ask your doctor, there are so many things that relate to your pain that your Dr can help you with. Write the questions down as they come to your head and give them too your Dr when you see him/her.
It has taken me since 2003 to get the right pain relief that suits me and the medication changes as my problems arise; I suffer from a few things that cause chronic pain. You have to work with your Dr and pain specialist but it's not going to happen overnight unfortunately. Some of the things I do to get a bit of relief is hot Epsom salt baths or even just a hot bath can help, using a hot wheat pack, dencorub and don't overdo things.
I don't know what else to say other than hang in there!!

Jass, no one here can give you the advise you need. We are all just like you and we are only here to get some support from people who understand our plight. And as for mental illness, no one here will judge you. Heck, depression dogs nearly all of us, so we understand the pressures of trying to remain mentally healthy.

The only thing I can suggest to you now for you to get the information you require, is to go back to your doctors and ask them. But if you want support and want to be able to chat with people who understand your pain, then you are most welcome to be a part of our group of caring people.

Peter

Hi Jess. Many people who suffer chronic pain also have a mental illness. I myself suffer depression and anxiety, so you are not alone there. There are some facts I can give you about chronic pain, but they are cold and hard. Doctors don't really know how to treat it. That is why everyone here is telling you about a multi pronged approach. Chances are you will always be in pain, but you can learn how to manage it. I know that sounds awful, but there simply is no easy answer. Even if you find a medication that works for you, it will most likely only work for a while and then the pain will break through. The reason no one is telling you where to go and get the magic pill or shot is because there isn't one. You need to try many things before you find what works for you. I use a combination of massage, gentle exercise, pacing and being with those I love. It's not easy and I'm sorry for that. It's just the way it is. We all do care though.

Hey Jass,

Every person on this site will pass on all their knowledge and skills to try and help you and others who suffer chronic pain.
Hopefully we can become friends and help you through the ordeal you are carrying ,we may not say what you want to hear we say it because we want to "help" you through your journey and try to help you find the tools and hopefully the skills to understand your pain and learn to manage your pain

Many regards
Johnno

Hi Jass
You seem to be in a very difficult situation. If you were in Geelong, I may be able to meet you and talk to you. I run a pain network in Geelong. I am a biochemist and qualified in health training for adults. I would love to talk to you. Jenn

hi Jass, I agree with the others, there is no cure for chronic pain, and no-one is judging you for having a mental illness, it seems to go hand in hand with chronic pain, many doctors have no idea. and you do have to kinda doctor shop until you find one that works for you, but you also need to be prepared to try a whole heap of things, because what works for me wont for another and what works for a little while, seems to stop and you start looking again for that something.... we have all been where you are right now, desperate for that magic pill that will fix everything but you wont find it, and unfortunately you have to accept it - don't give up, talk with your doctor, and I don't mean a 2min consult, I mean really sit with the doctor and explain how the pain is affecting your life and how you feel, doctors aren't mind readers, and so unless we tell them everything, they cant help,,, good luck

Hi everyone,

I hope I'm not speaking out of place here but I have been sort following Jess's story and my heart is absolutely breaking for her. I'm 37 next month and while it's a huge burden in my pain story being on the younger side of things can be an issue. It can be an issue in my own mind eg. This week has been a bad week and my partner has had to do things like help me out of the bath and help me put my pants on and while I can ask for help it is so taxing with thoughts like I'm 36 and can't get out of the bath on my own. Also I have felt with a few professionals I've delt with that while it is never directly said they are thinking you are to young to be having this sort of thing or it's been emplied I'll bounce back quicker or it won't develop as sever as some cause you are young. Any I know that wasn't a fronted question by jass but it might be something that's adding to her stress without it being relished.
Also I had a thought that might help jass and also the people on her explain or show her why we think it's important to lean about pain for yourself and why the different people that build our pain team are important in there own right.
I thought someone could possible pass on, post or point out some pain man clips or something similar. The one that stood out to me was a clip about the gate theory I thought it gave a simple and brief insite into why how and the journey ahead. Well it did for me and it is one of the 1 st pieces of info I showed loved ones that had any impact on there understanding and stronger support given to me.
I m sorry if it was wrong of me to involve myself or my info is way off and not helpful cause it would kill me if I thought I was making it harder for people.
Also thanks for the info and support, the kindness and honesty/truth that you are giving to people, this forum has been a place that has given me so much positive strength and hope.
Big hugs to everyone (well u can have an air hug cause I struggle with being touched) I wish everyone the best of luck on there journey. Oxox

Hi Jass,
I am sorry that the comments have upset you but as you said things can be taken the wrong way on forums, the people on this site only hope to help and support you through your chronic pain journey. So lets try again.

I have had CP since i was 16 and that was a long while ago in in that time I have tried many things for my back, neck and arm damage. For me, remember this is for my treatment so please check with your doctor before trying any new treatments Bowen Therapy, TENS and aqua therapy have given me the best results. i am not pain free but can manage to live a life with my pain. I hope you are able to find a doctor that you can work with and some treatments that help you.

Wendles

Hi Rachg,

This is a public forum and anyone can stick their noses in to any conversation. So your thoughts are most welcome.

What you have detailed in your post, those of us who have suffered CP for a long time and who have used the health system for such a long time, know what Jass is going through and thinking. Of course we will never experience her personal suffering, because we are all individuals, but the generic issues and suffering that comes with CP is pretty much the same for all of us, regardless of sex, what we do in our lives, what caused the pain, or any other issues.

And one of the worse issues is lack of validation from within the medical profession. Too many health professionals treat us less than humanely and it is a tragedy to say the least. This not only makes us very mad, but we suffer terrible depression and all of that only serves to see our pain levels skyrocket.

The unfortunate thing about CP today, is that there is really only one way to get yourself into that pathway of taking forward positive steps and that is through acceptance and educating yourself. We need to know exactly what is causing the pain and how it occurs, then how we can learn to manage it. This is not a mental issue, it is a physiological issue and it is 100% medical and not some therapy used by psychologists that is only going to be a waste of time.

The reason they use clinical Psych's in the pain clinics, is because they have studied the mind, plus they have done some study on the anatomy and physiology of the brain and how it works. So they are their to teach us the most important part about chronic pain and how we can combat this assault on our bodies.

The physiotherapists and pain specialists, are there to assist with the education, but to also help in tangible and physical ways to assist us in our journey in controlling our pain.

It does take a leap of faith to take this step forward and to be fair to Jass, just about all of us have been in her position at some time in the past. However, we all end up at that point where we have run out of options and need to just plug in to this new way of doing things, even if just to see where it takes us.

Hopefully Jass will take some time to think more about this and realise that none of us are criticising her. We care so much about the fact she is hurting, we just want to mitigate it as early as possible. And none of us can get rid of the pain completely. It will probably never happen for most of us, but we can live a pretty good existence even with the pain present. It just takes some work and commitment.

NOTE: I am going to move all of these posts out of this thread, because they do not belong here. So I will create a thread on it's own called "Jass' Questions!"

Peter