Living with chronic pain

[Golden Gate Geckos]

There was a time, like everyone else, when I had no way to conceive of anyone dealing with chronic pain. After all, it's something that is invisible. We all have had to deal with severe pain in our lives... like childbirth, toothache, a burn, a migraine, a sprained ankle. But we know this pain is only temporary, and we can deal with it because it will eventually go away.

How can I describe what it is to feel pain, in some degree, every single day of my life knowing it will never go away? The only way I can think of would be to compare it to a horrible toothache that nothing can cure... an oral surgeon telling you that you will have to live with it for the rest of your life.

Sometimes my pain defines who and what I am. I am not even a person... I am agony. I am despair.

I am not afraid that I will die. I am afraid that I won't.

 

[Jeanne]

Hey Marcia,

I hope you don't mind me asking, but, what exactly causes you the cronic pain, is it the Bone Deterioration thing? The reason why I am asking is because I just found out that one of my sisters has it.

 

[Jeanne]

P.S. I am sorry you are going through this

 

[BalloonzForU]

Marcia I wish there was some way we could take your pain and wash it all away. Here I'm bitching about all this crap that I'm dealing with, and I can't even imagine what you must go through on a daily basis.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Marcia, Im sorry you have to live with that pain, I deal with it with my dad and I think the worst part is some people just do not get it at all. My mom is always on him about doing things that the man just damn well can't do well he could but it would lay him up in bed for a week.

I hope they come up with a miracle pill or treatment for you!

 

[Grinning Geckos]

(((((((((BIG HUG)))))))))) Marcia! I want to weep just reading that.

I don't remember if we talked about it (I think we did), but I was in process for being diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years back. For whatever reason, it went away after about a year and I feel so lucky that it did. I remember not being able to function on most days because of it. I'm so sorry that what was in my past is your reality.

There was also a time in my life where I was afraid I was NOT going to die. I've never been more terrified. That too passed, and I pray it will pass for you.

Look for the small victories in your day and hold on to them dearly.

Somewhat ironically, I'm faced again with chronic pain. Some days I handle it well, and others I have a melt down. I'm trying not to think too long term about it...but it's now been 3 weeks of pain that no pain killers can help, and I'm having to swallow that there is a real chance that this could last me the rest of my life. My Mom, Mother-in-law, and Uncle-in-law have had the same type injury...and ALL of them still experience some level of pain every day even with therapy and surgery.

You're so strong, even when you think you're not. I know that if you can make it, I can certainly make it. While my arm is like apples and oranges in comparison, in some small way I understand. I'm with you. Today might be bad, but tomorrow could be better.