intercostal neuralgia

Hey BadHeart, welcome to Healing Well's chronic pain forum. While I am glad that you found us, I am very sorry that you have to be here.

First off, please, please don't be so hard on yourself, it is not like you did something that caused all of these problems. It is difficult enough as you know trying to survive the chronic pain, but I assure you, you are not finished and you just need some help in getting yourself back to an acceptable functioning level. Now granted, you may have to lower your standards a little in that area, because we do tend to put standards up there a little higher than they should be. We have a way of expecting more out of ourselves than is possible sometimes.

You are going to learn with CP you go through so many different emotions and feelings about things. It is really a step by step process to get through it and you will. You can learn to do things differently than you use to, thats ok, it is not written stone that it has to be one way only.

I remember when first I became disabled, the first year was the pits and that was pretty much where I stayed. I realized that I needed to get my head back above the water or I was going to drown. Depression had me down in a black hole. I ended up getting put on medication for the depression which helped a lot. Then at my PCP's recommendation, I found a psychologist to go to that helped me sort this mess out.

One of the first emotions we usually feel is the loss of everything, our jobs, financial hardship, self worth and loss of friends are just some of the things that hit hard and fast. Through the help of my psychologist I learned I was actually grieving for the loss all of these things and of course many other things I felt that I had lost. With her help I learned it was ok to grieve for these things, but I also learned life was not over.

Acceptance is the hardest thing of all, to accept yourself as you are. You have to make peace with yourself and your new life. This did not happen over night and in some ways its still a work in progress with me. I have been at this since 2004.

Coming here and getting things off your chest is a very good thing to do too. No one here will be judgmental at all. We understand how you feel better than anyone because so many of us have been there or still are there.

I have heard of your condition before, but I just cannot remember much about it. But, I will look into it and see what I can learn about it. if I am remembering correctly it can be a very debilitating type of pain too.

If you are not getting much relief with your current medication perhaps your dr needs to consider putting you on a long acting pain medication with something else for break through pain, instead of chasing your pain the way you are now. There is a lot of different pain medications out there that can be tried along those lines. The thing with pain is you have to stay on top of it instead of under it.

Anyway, I wanted to pop on and tell you welcome aboard. But, most of all, don't be so hard on yourself, this is not something you did to cause it. Take care and keep us posted on how you are coming along.

Hi badheartdude - just wanted to welcome you to the group.

Not being able to afford the med - I don't know whether it's applicable to the oxycontin, or whether you'd be eligible - some drug companies have a 'compassionate supply' program that you can apply for. I'm putting in an application at the moment for one of my meds. Worth investigating maybe?

Laura

 

         Hello badheartdude!

               I wanted to jump in here and also Welcome you to the CP forum!

       I was wondering if your PM has mentioned Methadone, as I know it is a very cheap med to buy, and many CP patients do quite well on it. You might want to inquire about it on your next visit.

      I also have a stent that was placed back in 2002 after having a massive heart attack at the age of 46. That was not a fun day in my life!

          Again Welcome, and we hope you stick around and enjoy the forum with us!

        Take care,

      SE

hello all,
I had a question regarding my meds and side effects. i have been on pain meds for about 2 1/2 yrs now and have recently developed muscle spasms or twitches, whatever you want to call them, all over my body.Its bad enough my wife has noticed. Is this something anyone else has dealt with? any advice would be appreciated i have mentioned it to my GP and he acted lie it was no big deal, but he is not the one going thru it. Thanks..

hi badheart
i was reading about your condition and the article mentioned nerve blocks along the affected nerves. Have you tried this

to help with your pain? have you had shingles? it says the neuralgia can lead to shingles. Sure sounds painful.

Why did you need the nephrectomy? your kidney was no longer functioning? can your urologist help you at all? is there

any other specialty doctor that can help you? I'm just trying to think but nothing comes to my mind. It might well be worth

trying methadone for your pain. Perhaps a muscle relaxant could help. Have you tried massage or acupuncture.

When do you see your doctor again? Sure hope you can get some relief soon. Sorry you lost your job due to your illness. I know

that is a tough one to go thru as i have just recently lost my job as well due to the chronic pain. What was your profession?

I'm glad you've got support from your wife because it is a rough road this chronic pain journey. I find myself quite lonely all

the time. Do you have children?

Hang in there and keep us up to date.

Suzane

had to do a little bicycle repair on my grandsons bike and afterwards I was in excruating pain! Pretty discouraging that I can't change a tire on a 6 yr olds bike without having to take some meds and sit on a heating pad for 30 minutes afterwards. I really am getting drained and reaching the proverbial edge of the cliff dealing with pain like this everyday, if someone can brighten my spirits I would greatly appreciate any kind words as I sit here suffering....

Hey Erik, please look in CP101, there is a list of places to get help with scripts. I have a 6 yr old grandson who is the reason I continue on as I do. I keep him as much as I can and we always have such a great time together.

Guess what, it may have laid you up a bit working on the bike for him, but think about what it would have been like if you would have had to tell him you could not fix his bike. So, give yourself a big pat on the back that you came through for the little guy. You moved a mountain for him all because you fixed that bike.

Take care.