At my wits' end

Hi Wernie,
Firstly welcome to the forum I'm so sorry that you're having such a tough time but rest assured that you will get plenty of support from all of us on the forum.
It sounds like most of us here that you have been dealing with pain for a long time and although you've had times where you have managed it, now you are having a rough time
I think it might be time to get referred to a Pain Clinic so that you can get professionals helping you, who are specialized in chronic pain.
It's important for you to get back on track and find the right people to help. Where are you based?

I'm currently managing my pain with the help of a rehab provider (Gold Coast) I Have a great GP who specializes in pain, a rehab physio and an OT who I see regularly and I am following a management plan to suit me.
I can appreciate your spinal problems (although mine was C5/6) which I have had for 15 years and had surgery this year but the nerve damage has already been done and I too suffer sciatica which I agree is awful!!!
I hope you will soon get the help you need and I'm sure lots of people on here will give you advice based on their own experiences and then maybe you will be able to try something new which will help.

Good luck and keep us posted

Jo

Hi Wernie,

Welcome to the CPA Forum.

Boy you are describing a lot of the symptoms I grew up with, but the difference is, I actually had been involved in a MVA when I was young, so there was some damage.
And I know the sciatic pain when it first comes in is utterly excruciating and very hard to deal with. It does dull down in time, but that is usually after you have learned what to do to stop making it worse and how to rest it. I'm afraid that is something that you'll have to find out for yourself.

I had acupuncture on my back, hip and leg to help deal with the sciatic pain many years ago. And it didn't last a long time, because it was/is mechanical pinching. But boy when it worked it felt wonderful. So perhaps if you do get some relief, you might want to keep it up, just so you don't have to go on medication. A small amount of relief is better than no relief at all.

The one thing that helped me the most years ago, was finding a good sports physio. She taught me exactly what I need to do to strengthen my body to support my spine and how to go about it. That saved me a lot of trouble during that period.

Then the next very helpful thing was when I attended a multidisciplinary pain clinic. They taught me all about my back, brain, nervous system and how the whole lot is interconnected and how the brain is causing most of the pain, but I have zero control over it. It is apparently all to do with our "Flight or Fight" response.
All that I learned from that pain clinic helped put a lot of things into perspective for me, which made my life a lot better. I have reduced some of my medication, but am also tolerating a lot more pain than I used to, simply because I have accepted the fact I will die with all these problems and there is nothing I can do to change it, except to remain as healthy as I can be, which is also a daily struggle.

I have been doing this for 55 years now. I have learned most of these things before getting to the pain clinic, but they just joined all the dots. The one thing I found to be the utmost helpful of all, was accepting my pain condition and my situation. I stopped struggling against it, constantly trying to find a cure and get back the superman strength I use to have. Once I did that, my health improved and my pain levels dropped. It was the stress of fighting that kept me is such high debilitating pain ALL THE TIME WITHOUT ANY RESPITE!

I actually became more active once I gave up the fight. Ironic isn't it. You struggle to get better and only make yourself worse. Once you give up the fight, you start to improve and then you can get back to doing some of the things you like. Sheesh!

Apart from what I have said to you above, there really isn't anything else I can suggest. It is a very difficult thing for us pain sufferers. When we stand in front of people or doctors, we look healthy and they don't believe us. When they can't find anything broken, they are convinced it is in our psychological mind and what we need is antidepressants. None of that is true! Antidepressants are not going to help us.

Please keep reading as much as you can. But if you feel like joining an online pain clinic that is run for free, you might want to give these people a try, because this course is really good at explaining what is going on in your body: ecentreclinic.org/?q=PainCourse
Read the whole page then sign up at the bottom. I've done it and think it's really worth while.

Remember, you'll always get support and understanding here with us, because we all suffer like you do.


Peter

Hi Wernie

I have sent you a private message

Jo