I'm new here to the Chronic Pain Forum

Hello everyone! I'm new here to the chronic pain forum. I was introduced to these forum and website by Whitebeard who I know from another chronic illness forum.

I am a single guy, 66, living in Chicago in a City Senior Apt. Bldg. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis to start with. (That should be enough right?). I have been living in daily chronic pain since 2003. I have had many session s of physical therapy as well as steroid injections in the lumbar area. I have had two spinal fusions (both lumbar) in 2005 and again in 2010. I am grateful to be treated at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago as well as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Right now, today, my chronic pain really is annoying me and wearing me down. I'm not sure that anymore PT at this time would be helpful. I am doing stretching exercises at home and that's about it. I did complete 8 weeks of pulmonary rehab which included alot of cardiovascular exercise (recumbent exercise bike and treadmill or Nustep) but that seems to have aggravated my foot and leg pain. So I am taking a break from that.

I also participate in a 12 Step Program for people living with chronic pain and illness. It's called Chronic Pain Anonymous and it helps us deal with the emotional debilitating effects of living with chronic pain.

Well, I've gone on too much but I would be happy to begin to engage with others here in this forum. Sometimes only we folks with chronic pain can understand and relate to what we are going through and that's why I am here!!

Chgorich

Hi chgohelp

Welcome to the chronic pain forum. It's really good to have you. I'm glad that Whitebeard introduced you to our family. There are some awesome people here. I'm sure you'll feel right at home pretty soon. I have the spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis as you have plus other things. I know the pain can really get you down and really wear you out some days. I hope your pain gets more bearable today. You take care.

love and hugs
Loretta

ps. It's true that only those of us with chronic pain can understand what each other are going thru.

Chartreux,

Thanks so much for your message. Thanks for the suggestion of
water therapy. The hospital I go, Rehab. Institute of Chicago, most definitely has hot water therapy and I am going to ask about that. Also with all the spasms I have been having , the hot water idea sounds perfect. And Aspercream on the feet sounds good too.

I want to thank all of you who have responded and welcomed me to this Chronic Pain Forum at HealingWell.com You are making me feel right at home.

Richard

Hi Richard

 

Welcome to our family here at Healing Well, I am glad to see you here! I think you will like the folks here on the forum, they really are a very caring and compassionate group. You know it is kind of ironic, because I to was introduced to this forum by a member that was on the sleep apnea forum!  I think you will find allot of simularities between the two forums,  as they both have really great people and they definitely have some of the  best forum rules of any of the web sites I have been too! I appreciate a forum that is more structured and has rules that insure that the members of the forum are respected and treated with diginity! 

 

Richard I think we have several things in common, besides living in the same state. I am in pulmonary rehab right now, I go three times a week, I have another month or so left to go. I do know what you mean about spasms I  get them everywhere and I am on Baclofen 30 mg every eight hours and it seems to, (for the most part anyway)   keep the spasms under control.

 

Again I Welcome you Richard to our forum! I hope that you stick around and become an active member of our CP forum  family!

 

White Beard

Thank you all again for reaching out and welcoming me to the CP Group at HealingWell.com.

I'm jumping in (like I could really jump!?!?!? ) to write a little more about what's going on with me tonight and the past few days. I have been having muscle spasms in my legs on and off for 2 months now. In addition, my leg muscles are pulled tight as they can go and despsite doing stretching exercises, they remain tight and painful. I also have been dealing with pain in both feet for the last 8 weeks following 6 weeks of working out on the treadmill as part of my pulmonary rehab.

I had a 2nd spinal fusion last August because my leg and foot pain was very intense (all this eminates from my spine of course due to nerve damage and DDD and stenosis and osteoarthritis).

Bottom line, I feel like I don't know what to do. All I can do right now is stay home and rest. I have the TENS unit on my left leg which is the worse. I also wear an AFO brace on the lower left leg.

I'm sorry for going on and on about all the details of my history. Like most of you I'm sure you have been dealing with CP for quite awhile. Sometimes therapies help. Sometimes they don't. I have pain meds of course. Norco 10 mg and MSContin 15mg 2x day. Also Neurontin 600mg 3x day which I don't think really does much of anything??? Celebrex 200 mg 1x day for the arthritis. And now......Tizanidine for the muscle spasms.

I guess we just have to sit back and take it easy when the pain is bad and there's not much more we can do. I don't like it!! I want to be better!! I went through that darn spinal fusion surgery and I expected to be better.

God Grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Thanks for letting me rant on. All the best to you folks!

chgohelp (I don't like this username and I want to change it....will do).

Aloha! I only recently found this forum and hope you find it to be the God send I have. Everyone here is so supportive and informative. I hope you find it to be so too.

My journey with pain began in Chicago. I loved & miss the great doctors I had there. You just reminded me to send them all a short message thanking them and their staff for the wonderful care they gave me. For those of us in pain, I wish we all had the resources available to us that they have there.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you today. It's so not fun being where you are today. I hope you evening gets better and that you find all the words of encouragement you've gotten so far to be a little comforting. God be with you my new friend!

 

          Let me pop in here and "Welcome" Kat1611!

               Hello Kat! I see that you are a new member here! I'm glad to see you taking part in the conversation and you are certianlly welcome to.

      However, we would love to have you post a new topic and introduce yourself to all the members. You will recieve a very warm and better welcome that way.

     Just go to our home page and click the "Post New Topic" at the top of the page. Tell us as much about yourself as you can, and what brought you here to this forum.

          We all look forward to visiting with you, so hurry please!   If you have any questions, just ask and we will be more than happy to help you.

      SE

 

Thanks, Chicago, for posting.  I found most interesting that there is a 12 step for chronic pain.  I did not know that.  I would LOVE to participate in something like that.  I wonder if they have that in my area, Ocala, Florida.  I will have to look into it.  But anyway, I wanted to say thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I have a thirty year  back history too.  Had surgery when I was around thirty, and have been fighting on and off with sciatica over the years.  Treatments, you name it , I've probably had it.  Right now I can't walk for any distance, but I am working on building that strength back.

I do welcome you to the forum and am so glad you are here.  God bless you and post often so we can get to know you.  I, for one, can't wait!!

Lindaloo