New here suffering with severe neck pain.

I'm new to this site-actually I've never really expressed what I'm feeling on a site or to anybody really. I've had severe neck pain for several years, but recently it has become quite debilitating. I recently had an MRI which revealed that I have 3 discs in my neck that are quite damaged, severely limiting my activity. This is extremely disturbing to me, because my ENTIRE life and being revolves around being active. I'm an avid bodybuilder, personal trainer, mountain-biker - you name it I do it. I'm currently in the regimen of steroidal, non steroidal and opiate based pain relievers. This routine has been going on for awhile and now I'm at the point where I'm going to try steroid injections in my neck. I'm absolutely ready to try anything to get out of this miserable goddarn chronic pain. Here's a new wrinkle in my life though. While I'm sitting here drafting this letter, I've got tears rolling down my face and an incredible sense of doom and depression welling over me. I've felt this coming on for awhile and I'm really discouraged by it. I used to think I understood the dynamics and effects of chronic pain, but I'm getting a first hand baptism into this stuff. This is not me! I'm a strong man and I've been through alot in my life, but this is really kicking my butt. I just wanted to see if anyone else out there has some advice/experience etc....

Hello, I added a heading to your post and edited out a word. Please note this forum has rules and we have to keep things clean here, as we do not know the ages of everyone reading the posts. Thanks, Susie

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 7/1/2012 3:48:06 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Godsmack and welcome to Healing Well Chronic Pain forum. As I read your post, honestly it brought back memories, not necessarily good ones either, but of a time in my life, where all there seemed to be was pain, and I coulld not work and in the end my life changed and I had to go on disability! I think I can definitely relate to what you are feeling, because besides having the thoracic back pain that ended my working career, I have also had three fusions in my cervical spine in my neck. I do know about the pain your feeling there! Has anyone mentioned surgery to you, surgery on the cervical spine is allot easier than just about any other place in your spine, and the results are usually very good! I was in the military when I had my first cervical disk fusion and I was able to complete my career after having the surgery. It really made a difference, it just took along time for them military to diagnose it and get the surgery done to fix it. I would strongly advise you to check into that and see if that is a viable alternative for you!

Chronic pain can wear a person down and allot of people that suffer chronic pain also suffer from depression, they actually go hand in hand! So your feelings are understandable, just know that your not alone in this, you have friends here on this forum that will listen and empathize with you and give you support! We are all here for each other, and now your here your part of our family on this forum.

Again I welcome you to our forum

White Beard

Hi Godsmack, First off, Welcome to the CP Forum. Were glad you came here and hope we can give you the support you need when dealing with CP Issues.
Coming to terms with Chronic Pain can be extremely stressful and depressive. I know first hand how it is to find you are no longer able to do some things you used to do because of the pain and have that gloom and doom feeling. You will find it very common that people who have chronic pain are also on medications to help them deal with anxiety and depression. I had to take an early retirement because of low back problems when I found I could no longer work and it took its toll mentally on me.
I am on meds for anxiety and depression myself and have been for a while. I consider myself a strong man also, but having these feelings is not a sign of weakness. Like yourself at times I will still find myself with tears streaming down my face for no apparent reason at all. I occasionally have bad days but I am glad that I chose to seek counsel. It has helped a lot when dealing with all the emotions. My family Doctor started my treatment for anxiety and depression but later referred me over to a Counseling group to help me get on the meds that would benefit me the most and to monitor how I am doing. I was really reserved about going but since coming here and finding so many people who are going thru the same as me I realized I am not alone and it isn't uncommon at all.

Please seek assistance for the emotional side of things you are going through. And definitely be careful that you don't hurt yourself more doing your physical activities.

Stick around and you will find some great people here with a wealth of knowledge and can answer many questions you have.
Good luck.

Sorry you needed to be here, but glad you found us. Any type of chronic pain is hard to deal with. Hope you see some improvement over time, so you can get back to those active things you love.

david in sc