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Chronic Pain
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Posted 2/4/2008 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm currently unemployed. I was working over the summer and ended up in to much pain and he kinda phased me out. It's hard to even think about finding a job. I can't do any physical labor, or else pain will go back up to 8 non-stop (instead of the 5-7). I can't sit for long periods of time, and I don't really "fit" the office part (think punk, who has "grown" up). My wife works full-time and just keeps saying "you just need to get well, don't worry about a job right now". I do go to school pt, and I sell stuff on Ebay and do some random odd jobs. We manage to keep our bills paid, and live comfortably (haha... live comfortably) but it is stressful. So I was just curious what others who suffer CP do? If this is to intrusive of a question, sorry. I'm just looking for some ideas I guess.
Posted 2/4/2008 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mach03,

I, like you have the same worries. Right now I'm on Long Term disability through work, but if that is ever stopped I really don't know what I would do. I know I couldn't do the type of work I was doing and my pain is so wide spread I there isn't much that I can do for long periods of time.

I'd like to hear other members comments on this. Thanks for bringing it up.

Raven
Posted 2/4/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mach,

Feel free to vent anytime you need to. That's why we're here...to help each other and listen. I took me a while to get used to the idea of 'chronic' anything. I had diabetes before I got a dx of fibromyalgia so was sorta ready by that time but it still puts a halt to your plans. I'm lucky that I'm not the bread winner of the family. Does take the pressure off, but I still work part time. It's partly for ME and partly for the extra money. Give me pocket change to spend on the grandkids...lol.

The biggest thing I can suggest that you do is relax! The more worry you work up the more pain you'll have. Next, find a pain counselor. Yes, the do exist. They are a great benefit in getting your mind around living with chronic pain. Also they will help with pain control. Even if you only go a couple of times, give it a try.And finally, keep coming here and talking to us. We may not have answers but we do care how you're doing.

Hugs,
Chutzie
Posted 2/4/2008 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Take care of yourself first and foremost. I was so fortunate that my husband just said "stop killing yourself, you don't have to work". I'm a high school teacher, and quitting was so hard for me, but I just couldn't do the job anymore due to the continuous pain from fibro and the neuromas.
Posted 2/4/2008 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
I am a medical transcriptionist and I work from my home. I sit and type for a while, and I have made adjustments to my station so that I can stand for a while, if I hurt to badly after varying between the two I will clock out and go do stretches or lay down for a break then come back to it. Unfortunately, working this way makes for a long day, it usually takes me close to 12 hours to complete 8-9 hours of work. But, the money I make is the majority of our income and pays for our insurance so it is a necessity for me to work.

Mach, to me you sound like you would be a computer savy kind of guy, have you ever thought about getting into information technology somewhere? I've worked with quite a few IT people and your "punk grown up" would fit right in....it's the grunge guys that were more difficult to be around!!!
Posted 2/4/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I had to leave the working world after working two years at a 9 level. I loved my job and it has been very tough. I think fighting for benefits was one of the hardest things and the constant worry that I would not be able to provide for my family. I was on the verge of financial ruin when I finally received my benefits.
I was lucky that I had a great doctor that referred me to a phyc. doc and with talk therapy and medication I have accepted my new life. I feel that I am happy again thanks to a great family and the support i got from my doctors.
Good luck and know that you can have a good life with chronic pain and you are not alone.
Posted 2/4/2008 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm unemployed too and I've never really had a job. I'm still pretty young. I do want to have a job, and mostly work on my own. I'm studying programming more and I like to do web design. I actually study pretty much everything... computers, medicine, linguistics, astronomy, history, you name it. I am reading all the time and absorbing as much information as possible. I think I will be one of the foremost geniuses of the world, so I have rather high aspirations as you can tell. The problem is... I am aware of a large issue (most of the world is unaware of) that should be at the forefront of my studies and goals, but if I went down that path, I would not be able to have a normal life. It is a difficult decision.
Posted 2/4/2008 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I thought I'd add my two cents tongue

I am currently on SSDI and currently a student at my local University. I'm studying Biology-Chemistry with a major in Pre-Med. It has been a huge struggle but I am determined to see it through. I've toyed with the idea about going back to work after I finish but right now that is up in the air. If I could attend medical school I'd would but at this point I am unsure if I could. If I do return to work it will be in the medical laboratory setting. What has really helped me in my quest has been my state's vocational rehabilitation office. Without their help I doubt I would've returned to school.
Posted 2/5/2008 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I am somewhat computer savvy.. One of the odd things I do is help people I know with networking and some computer issues (I'm good with computer, but I'm not schooled much with programing..). The problem in that field is school. I have some sort of issue when it comes to learning about that type of stuff. I don't do well in a class like setting, most of what I've learned is self taught. I just can't seem to focus when it comes to that type of stuff... I'm in a business major right now, which I hate but it's a walk in the park for me. I'm able to stay focused and get my work done... I did some engineering classes when I first started attending college and I realized I just can't do the mathematical type of work involved in any technical field. I honestly think I have some type of add or something, I always had a hard time staying focused in school. I'm doing some psychology right now, and I LOVE it.... I'm thinking very much about going into clinical psychology! Everyone tells me I should go into computer work, and I just can't seem to make them understand that I can't seem to do the technical schooling needed.
I am in the process of starting a business (with my wife), we are trying to open a pet store but everything seems to keep clogging up the cogs. We have the building, and are demoing the inside, but we are running into issue after issue. We both have always wanted this, and we both actually attended vocational school a few years back for animal science. We are both huge animal lovers.. These are someof the reasons for our passion:


These do help to relive some stress and helps me to relax a bit:



I know the pictures are really all that relevant, but they (well the subjects of the pictures) are what often inspire me to keep going, and push through the pain to keep going and get our business started. The demo work really play heck on my back.
My mother keeps telling me I should apply for disability, I just can't do it. First off, I have yet to get a true good dx. Second, I'm not going to stop doing the physical labor I do such as the demo of our building. I think if they found out about stuff like that they'd be like "huh... doesn't look like you have back problems to me"... It's not that I don't have pain, I'm just stubborn and a glutton for the punishment of my actions!!!
I have done a lot of factory work in the past, and I think that contributed to some of my problems... Not to be racist, but a 6' person working on a machine that was built in Japan, for a Japanese person doesn't play so well on an already stressed back. I also owned my own cleaning business, and one of my accounts was cleaning the Outback Stakehouse in my area, ever tried moving a 600lb grill on a floor with zero traction due to grease!!!???! The kitchen of that place has more grease and oil in it than my crappy oilleaking jeep!! Let me just say I'm glad I don't eat meat (I could NEVER eat at that place!!!). I'm sure that didn't help my back much. I did that job for 8 months straight with no days off : ( . Just thought I'd give some what I DID to go with what I do and want to do. Also I just felt like rambling.
Posted 2/5/2008 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
Mach - I instantly fell in love with the Husky!!! And the beautiful colors of the Beta, course blue is my favorite color.
There are on-line courses you can take for information technology and they are a work-at-your-own-pace kind of setting. However, now knowing how much you love animals I say GO FOR IT. You HAVE to do what you absolutely love and it will never feel like work, just a hobby that pays the bills. Since I am always at home, I had thought about going down the the local humane society and volunteering there or maybe fostering pets...but I know myself too well, I would be adopting a new pet every time I went in. My husband loves animals, too, but I am sure he would snuff out all the adopting with a quickness!
Posted 2/5/2008 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
The Husky is cutie!! she was one of my christmas gifts from my wife! She cute but a handful :) . We had just gotten out of the puppyness with the lab, and we go right into the Husky! I can't go to the shelters, I'd end up coming home with too many dogs. 4 is enough (2 shelter dogs, 2 breeder bought)! Yeah I just got into the Betas, never had one until a few weeks ago. I have that blue one, and I also have a whitish purple one in my community 29 gallon tank.
Posted 2/5/2008 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
Your Beta plays well with others??? I always thought they had to be separated, I guess it is just separation from each other.

I have 2 rescue dogs, both are labs, one black and one chocolate. They are smart and doofy at the same time, I absolutely love them and would definitely want to be bringing them home more friends.
Posted 2/6/2008 2:50 AM (GMT 0)

After 20 some years plus as a paralegal, I had to retire due to my chrons disease. My gastro who does not believe in people retiring, infact I was his 2nd patient he ever put into medical retirement. He told me to apply for SSD and he would do whatever needed to help me get it. I applied and was approved within the 6 month time frame. I had so many problems resulting from the cd that by tryinh to work I just ended up making myself sicker. My CP is another issue thats taken on it own twist in my life. I surely would have never thought this would happen to me. I was someone that went 500mph all the time. I am very thankful that I have gone and done and seen the things I have before becoming so ill.

I too am an animal lover. I currently am the momma to an 11 yrs old golden retriever who strayed to my front door in 2000. I have a cat that was a stray and she is my upstairs cat. We are also parents to a 1yr old Britney Spaniel who is a rascal. He is awful. He has chewed the corners off of my new wide baseboards, he ate my patio chairs, he chewed hubby's cell phone & remote oh the list goes on. He is sneaky and a little thief to say the least. But one look at me with those yellow eyes I am done and he knows it. My husband keeps talking about how smart he is if we could just channel it in the right direction.

My boys are very comforting to me. Even the little Sneaky one lays down by me when I don't feel good. Susie

Posted 2/6/2008 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Your Beta plays well with others???
Yes, they are fine with other fish, and it's actually ony the males that need to be apart! I think you can have a bunch of females in 1 tank. Space is the only really issue. I try to keep all of our tanks understocked to reduce territorial nipping.

Labs are AWESOME dogs!! It was a hard choice with the Husky... I was either getting s black lab or the Husky.. I think it would be really cool to have 2 labs. but the Husky just melts my heart!! We had a Black Lab, she was the sweetest coolest dog anyone could ever want! 2 years ago (January 14th or 15th I think) we woke on a Saturday (maybe Sunday) to what looked like a lab with a belly ache, she was just lying there looking up at us not eating. We honestly thought it was just a belly ache, we called up the vet, thinking maybe she got into some bad food and she needed charcoal or something for her belly ache. The vet gave us an emergency visit... She was doing her exam, and felt something odd in her belly area. She wanted to do some xrays, so we said sure, ok. She thought that she might have been impacted (constipated) and some had accumulated. Well the xray showed a massive tumor, about the size of a melon. Apparently the tumor had ruptured over night and Belle had turned anemic. This type tumor is almost always fatal, and she gave her about 5% chance of living if we did the surgery. I guess it would be a slow painful death if the surgery didn't work. We were faced with the decision to either have her put down then and there, take her home to say our good bye and have her put down at a later time (she was suffering by this time and in pain) or to have the surgery which the doctor really felt was just going to prolong her death. We sat on the floor of the vet office with Belle and talked it over (my wife, her sister and I) and asked Belle, you could see it in her eyes... And she was letting out these heart wrenching sighs! We ended up having her put down then. We must have sat on the floor with her for a good hour and a half just holding her... So what we thought was just a belly ache visit turned out to be one of the most challenging day of our lives. We wanted so bad to do 1 of the other options... Even if the surgery was $5,000 and we thought it would help, the wouldn't have been any hesitation! Even to this day I cry whenever I think about her (like now). My wife blames herself for the rupture, because she gave her a bath the day before, and she feels that's how the tumor ruptured. I think it was just something that happened. For the last few months of her life I was home recovering from a hernia surgery, and she was with me all the time, which was unusual for her. She liked to sleep upstairs in the own bed, but I think she knew and just wanted to spend more time with us. about 6 months later my wife couldn't take the void left by Belle, so she got Hannah the Yellow Lab in the picture. She helped us get over some of the heartache, but I still think she was taken from us to early, she was to turn 11 on January 18th the year she died. Now that I've probably depressed everyone....

We have a whole house full of animals, everyone calls it the Zoo. Neither one of us can go to the shelter!! Every time we did just to *look* we came home with either a pup or a kitten.. The Husky mix is a shelter dog, I also have a Rott who's from the shelter and another cat (I'm not really a cat person, but my wife loves them). Strays and shelter animals always seem to be better, like they are more greatful or something

straydog,
My mother suffers from chrons, I really feel for you on that. I watched her suffer pretty much my whole life! They treated her with this or that, and the meds always made her sicker, A few years ago she went to the Cleveland Clinic and had the bad part removed (I honestly don't know much of what they did), and she was supposed to have a colostomy bag temporarily. I guess she's had some complications and she has to have the bag for life, but she feels better. I'm not sure if it's worth it to her or not, I feel like it's not really something she wold want to talk about.
Posted 2/6/2008 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, how horribly sad for you and Belle.

Dogs' lives are short, too short, but we know that going in. You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a dog/pet/friend, and there is going to be great anguish, so you live fully in the moment with her/him, never fail to share the joy or delight in their innocence, because we can't support the illusion that a dog can be your life-long companion. There is kind of a beauty in the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware that it comes with an unbearable price. Maybe loving dogs/animals is a way we do penance for all the other illusions we allow ourselves and for the mistakes we make because of those illusions.

Knowing a little bit more about you, and your wife's love of animals, maybe there is some kind of work you can do with animals...not breeding and adding to the pet population, but something...like a rescue shelter...I don't know, my mind is turning in circles, but it may strike upon something that just fits.

As I am sure you know, too many dogs/pets are abused and abandoned -- one is to many-- but somehow your and your wife's love of animals can make a difference. You two can be heros who walk among us but are never recognized.
Posted 2/7/2008 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Great response! Have you ever read a response that just hit the right place? A post that really needs no follow up?
Posted 2/7/2008 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
Then share it with your wife....and remember Belle!
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