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Posted 10/14/2009 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Howdy Y'all! My name is Jeff. I was looking around the web for a support group for chronic pain, and I found y'all. I have been a CP sufferer for 7 years now. I see we have some here who are way ahead of me there. Each year feels like a lifetime to me.

I was in a car wreck on the job, that's what did me in. I've seen all kinds of doctors for my back now. Right now I am still undiagnosed. They originally thought the wreck aggravated my Spondolylisthesis. I had a Very painful fusion done on l4-l5. It was only a more painful surgery because my tolerance to opiates was so high. Anyway, after healing I was still in pain. The surgery was a failure and years later the doctors all gave up. So I am still undiagnosed with severe chronic back pain. I've has so many tests I lost count. I've tried epidurals, trigger points, chiropractic, everything except VooDoo.

I had a neuro stimulator implanted in 08. I am on Methadone, Percocet, Zanaflex, Vistaril, Cymbalta, Seroquel, Paxil, and 8 mor4e drugs. I had ZERO issues before chronic pain, but new problems pop up all the time now. I know y'all know what I mean. My acid reflux has done serious damage to my throat. It all started after the accident.

I see a Therapist and a Psychiatrist. I have been locked in the looney bin once for contemplating suicide. I still have those thoughts occasionally, but I learned not to tell anyone or they'll have me back in the psych ward again.

I hurt every day. No relief. I know y'all know the story.

I have a wonderful wife who never knew me before the pain. I also have a 3 year old boy, a 7 month old girl, and boy am I happy I had them when we did. My Testosterone level is lower than that of a woman. Seriously. Too long on the narcotics. I'm all but sterile now. The Testosterone issue only adds to the depression. I am doing fairly well right now. I'm not in m,y low end of my cycle right now. Oct 3rd was the 7th anniversary of the accident. I'm holding up pretty good. Another month, and who knows?

Thanks for having me, and I'll answer any questions you have about me.

Jeffro
Posted 10/14/2009 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah, I'm a Navy Veteran, worked on lasers before the accident, and am too well educated for SS. (They're words not mine) I only have a high school diploma. Also I live in Western Kentucky.n I also trust God to get me out of this someday!

Jeffro
Posted 10/14/2009 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Just one last thing. I am in a minority in the CP community. I am a Reagan Conservative. I just wanted to get that out up front. I know it angers some, but I like to be truthful about who I am.

Jeffro
Posted 10/14/2009 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
I don't care much about politics cause I think their all crooked. Anyway, welcome to the forum Jeffro. Love the name, don't tell me you have a Granny and a Uncle Jed right. Been through your state numerous times and it is just beautiful down there, I'm in Ohio. Let us know if we can be of some help, we're not doctors but we've all seen enough of them and I love watching House so I am becoming more experienced all the time, especially if there is blood coming from an orifice which normally happens on the show at least once.
Posted 10/14/2009 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Jeffro

Your everything except VooDoo... made me laugh..... yup... totally understand!

Thanks goodness we don't talk politics here.... just support and understanding.

Welcome!
Posted 10/14/2009 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Jeffro,
I also wanted to welcome you to the chronic pain forum of Healing Well. It's the best support group on the internet, IMHO! We're not doctors, but share a lot of our experiences and just from reading your initial post I know you'll have much in common with many here.

Like you (and many others) it seems so much else gets worse after CP enters our lives, and I also have recently be diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus with mild dysplasia, which is precancerous. I never had chronic acid reflux problem except over this past year. Was very healthy until I took a bad fall and then life unravels, like you know.

A few things about the forum. One, there are other forums on Healing Well that address other conditions (I post sometimes to the GERD forum for the Barrett's). You can post to more than one, and it's easy if you just use the Quick Jump menu at the top. Also, you can edit your own post (add more, delte parts, etc.) by clicking on the pencil icon in the upper right hand corner. If you click on the 'X" you can delete your entire post, but only moderators can edit others' posts. If you've been reading here awhile, you know we have several wonderful moderators here - Chutz, Lindaloo, White Beard, Straydog, HelloKitty and Stella (have I missed anyone?). They're volunteers and suffer from the same problems we all have, but they can be helpful, plus aid in keeping us all playing within the rules of the forum. It's a good idea to read through them, so you'll see that discussing politics isn't permitted, so you don't have to share that, and may even want to delete it. Keeping away from topics like politics and religion helps keep arguments down, IMHO, and I think Peter, who is the administrator and started Healing Well, did a brilliant job the way he structured this.

So anyway, others will be along to add more.

Again, welcome!

PaLady
Posted 10/14/2009 9:46 PM (GMT 0)

 

 

Hello Jeffro....Welcome to the funny farm. yeah   Just a little Pain Humor.

You have definitley come to the right place for advice, stories, and a great deal of support.  Don't worry, we were all Newbs at one time.  We aren't Dr.'s but we each have s story to tell. We have all been at the same place as the other at one point or another.  Don't be afraid to ask for help.

So, what brings you here?  Give us the WHOLE STORY......

 

Me.

Posted 10/15/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
 

   Dear Jeff,

 

      Good evening. My name is Dani. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am very glad you found the Healing Well Community. Even better, the Chronic Pain forum... if you havnt noticed, were the cool ones! :-)

 

     I am sorry that you are, as of yet, undiagnosed. You have been in very sever pain for a looong time, and it breaks my heart that you have to endure through so much pain, without an answer.  *warm huggs*

    

     I think what I like the most about the Healing Well community is that it matters not who you are or where you come from or your station in life. What matters is that you are here and need support, knowladge and understanding. We all do. We come from all walks of life and from all ends of the globe. But, we share one thing in common.. pain. And in pain, we are all equal.

 

     Again, it truly is a pleasure to meet you. I hope to get to know you better as time goes by.

 

  *huggs*

     dani

Posted 10/15/2009 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jeff,

Welcome to our HW family! You'll find that we are a wonderfully supportive group. It's so wonderful to have a group of people who actually understand what you are going through!

Skeye
Posted 10/15/2009 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, nice to meet you, but heck sure wish it was under better circumstances,
most of my cp was end result of a car accident too (1997 in December)...
Maybe we should give VooDoo a try might help. hehehe just a jokin...
Sounds like you have a nice family, 2 kids is a perfect size..I have just one
child...Chartreux is a cat breed, I like cats as I'm very very allergic to dogs and have Asthma..
I would be intrested in knowing how well the neuro stim is helping and how long you had it
as I might be getting one in another year or so...I have lower back pain, moderate Lumber spinal stenosis,
(s1 thru L3, 4) and neck pain (C5-6 pinched nerve and C8 to T1).... but enough about me..
Hope you can get a low pain day soon..
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jeff))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
hugz.
Posted 10/15/2009 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you for welcoming me. It's a pleasure to be part of the group. I was just wondering how many of you have suffered depression because of your pain. My mother seems to think I can "just get over it". I try to tell her most CP sufferers are depressed. It sucks the life out of you!

Jeffro
Posted 10/15/2009 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Cat Lady,

I am just happy that I found a place where other people understand. Even though my wife is great, she still doesn't really "get it". Only people who go through this really understand it. I live in a small town and even the BIG city of Paducah doean't really have a program or group for CP sufferers. I'm glad I found this group, because everyone here knows how it feels. I guess what has kept me UP and not spiraling down is watching my baby daughter. I just don't have the time to worry about myself or how crappy I feel. Thank again to you and everyone for having me here. Birds of a feather....
Posted 10/15/2009 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Jeffro.... chronic pain and depression go hand in hand,

For me it's not being able to be so active and giving up things I love.... so "yes" it affects all of us.

I have good days and then days where I want to just die than to go on like this.

Do you find talking to someone helps... I think I ought to try this myself.
Posted 10/15/2009 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Draka,

I went the first 2 years without professional help. After that I had to get some or I would have plugged myself. Sometimes it's the same old crap they spew at you. Sometimes it helps. I haven't seen my therapist in 3 months, which is really bad as I usually go every 3 weeks. I was just tired of the psychobabbel. I'll get back soon before I hit a slump.
Posted 10/15/2009 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Jeffro,
As others have said, depression and chronic pain go hand in hand. Yes, part of it is all the losses and changes that come to our lives. But it's also physiological, as the physiology of pain and depression are very similar, so most CPP's also have some level of depression. An anti-depressant helps, but so does a therapist - especially one who knows about dealing with CP. Perhaps you need to discuss that with your therapist - if he/she has background in deaing with CP. Because there are skills that can be taught specifically to help pain patients, plus that person will have had special training in understanding a lot of things about CP.

I'm on an anti-depressant, and absolutely need it. Would see a therapist if I had the resources, but right now my unemployment has run out and I have no insurance.

Don't let your depression go untreated. It's very common for others to not understand it, and even going to webmd will yield basic information on depression that you can share with loved ones and hopefully help them understand. Clinical depression is different from just having a down day.

But I'm glad you found us. The support here is wonderful!

PaLady
Posted 10/15/2009 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
PALady,

I'm on all kinds of anti-depressants. I have a psychiatrist too. I deal with my depression the right way. I was just wondering how many other people suffered from it as well. Sometimes I wondered if it was just me. Thanks for your response and your concern. It's nice to have people who understand around.
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