What is chronic pain

As the headline says what is chronic pain, well I was told it's a pain treated or not that lasts longer than twelve weeks , it's there all the time some days better than others , it can go worse with stress , it can be neuropathic etc it's how we deal with it because it won't go away I wish it would so we adapt as best we can and listen to our body and what it is telling us , because all of you me included knows we over do things it's going to make things hell of a lot worse , I for one was against any medication but I have no choice , I have had infusions etc to no avail , I like you wish I had a answer to this problem but hopefully in time we might have but until then we have to battle on together x

[Amk31]

I think some people have different pain levels than others as well. It's just complex.

[Hidden in reply to Amk31]

Hi there, you are right it is so complex ,it's just like someone breaking a bone another person as the same break but they might have different pain to each other , the medication I take just masks over the problem doesn't fix it.

[Amk31 in reply to Hidden]

I know. Hope they can.do something else for u..I was reading now they are able to regrow bone so who knows what will happen. Just we have to suffer in this moment 😭😭😭😭

[Kels1974]

I have chronic pain I have been suffering with chronic back pain for 5 years.

[Hidden in reply to Kels1974]

Hi there, thanks for reply, in those five years would you say you have it under control to some degree .

[Kels1974 in reply to Hidden]

Hi unfortunately not it has just got progressively worse,hopefully my discectomy operation in October will help.

[Hidden in reply to Kels1974]

I hope so for you good luck.

[Zippy9]

Hello I have chronic pain probably for around 8 years and I try to keep it under control but sometimes u have to do things by having no choice even though u know u can’t!! It’s frustrating and cruel ....... I can’t do so many things I love and find so much just too difficult and it stresses me out which makes the pain worse

[Amk31 in reply to Zippy9]

I am sorry. How do you manage your pain?It's Just so hard. I thought people heal but they don't lie. I've to lie to myself everyday and say things will be fine 😭otherwise wouldnt be able to cope.

[Zippy9 in reply to Amk31]

I don’t know how I cope take one day sometimes one hour at a time ......... I’m always tired and exhausted and try not to get stressed out about stuff I can’t do but it does still get to me ......... I just wish I could do stuff and not ask people for help!! Always done everything myself!! Ur welcome to message me as I do completely understand how u feel

[Hidden in reply to Zippy9]

Hi zippy , even though we have chronic pain it's what the pain level it's at and how it's controlled that matters , I try and relax and try to meditate .

[Zippy9 in reply to Hidden]

Yes very true indeed

[katieoxo60]

A good summing up Longsider, we can only stick together and keep asking for more consideration towards help for those with long term chronic pain and often the side effects of long term drug use.

[Hidden in reply to katieoxo60]

Hi Katie, thanks for the reply, as I have said to others chronic pain is different from one person to the next person in time im hoping there will be some kind of breakthrough for us all .

[Macblank]

I've had chronic pain for over 20 years, and constant pain but manageable for 10ish!

After 2 accidents 6 months apart, I've had a damaged spine n other issues for 31 years this year 😜... An 8 birth static caravan fell on my back while working underneath it, and 6 months later was involved in a serious car crash (70mph impact, I went from the back seat to the front n back again).

For 10 years I was able to cope with the ache, but it started to get too much, and went on meds... That about 20 years ago. 6 years ago, I moved onto morphine ... Slow release and quick acting. I have 9 pills for super, plus 2 more to help to sleep (which don't work most days), and I take 9 for breakfast, plus more during the day as needed.

It's not controlled, but the level 5 constant pain is bearable, it's when it jumps to 7, I take my quick morphine (I was on oramorph, but the stoned feeling was too much). Multiple times a day I get 7s, and on average at least 4 days a week it shoots to a 9, and as I've already taken my morphine I can't take any more. So just have to grin n bear it.

I finished work 10 years ago, due to the extra constant pain. I've had injections, but didn't find they helped, but while having them found a new level of 12!

I'm happy in my relationship with my fiancée who has Rhumatoid Arthritis and is constantly fighting pain.

It's important in chronic.pain, to remain as active as you can... And I do my best. Humour.is so important in pain management.

Good luck to all, and hope they can sort your pain. For me, there not much hope and they refuse to operate due to their made up specs!

[Hidden in reply to Macblank]

I know how you feel mine was through a accident , misdiagnosed chronic pain for 20 plus years cord compression led to cervical myelopathy had op in 2013 waiting to go back as changes above and below fusion c4c5 and I thought the op would take the pain away , nevermind I get up each day thinking I won't let it best me.

[Emma2017]

Hi yes chronic pain is a bummer. I have had 3 microdiscectomies which took away the unbearable pain each time but left me with a chronic pain. Some days are better than others as you said. For me the nights are often the worst. I wake up with horrendous pain down my leg and all I can do is get up and go to the study where I lay on the floor and it gradually goes away a bit or I have to take another pregabalin. And yes that medication has an effect on me by making me angrier quicker and causing me to forget things. It’s a fine balance between pain and other things. Hope it will get better soon.

[Hidden in reply to Emma2017]

Hi Emma, thanks for reply , sorry to hear about your health lumbar will not be nice when you go to bed , I get pain and numbness round there from my neck there all connected to the spine I take pregabilin like you which helps a little I tried gabberpentin before that , have you tried Indian balm I use it round lumbar and neck it helps to , what you must try is to teach yourself how to cope and do things differently and try and not push yourself.

[Emma2017 in reply to Hidden]

Not tried Indian balm. ATM I have/do spinal physio, myofascial therapy, oscillating massage, Alexander technique and see a psychologist. I think the combination of all this is relieving my pain and helps me getting stronger in my leg. But I do need the medication at night, I take tramadol as an extra at night. I am trying to reduce the pregabalin but it’s not easy. Pushing myself makes things worse as you say. Will get there though.

[Hidden in reply to Emma2017]

Hi Emma, have you tried a hot bath before you go to bed , might relax the muscles just a idea,

[Emma2017 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I have, it does help at times but other times it does not.

[Kels1974 in reply to Emma2017]

Hi Emma I hope it gets better for you,I am having a micro discectomy in October.

[Emma2017 in reply to Kels1974]

Hi Kels, I have had kind of emergency microdiscectomies and never have had to wait a long time for it. First one I saw the surgeon and was in theatre 6 days later. Second one I had 2 weeks and the third one followed very quick after the second following an emergency MRI. I must stress though I am not the norm. Hope yours goes without a hitch.

[Hidden]

Battle on together is right !!1 Chronic Pain is a living hell from my prospective, BUT if u can find ways to cope with it..laughter , music and etc.. it makes it at least tolerable SOME days.Being able to talk to others in the same or similar shoes as u .. is also comforting. Ive been suffering 25 years this August with chronic pain..

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi hippolove1, im like you had it 23 yrs have to live with it , mine is controlled by medication no other options but I have learned not to over do things and then have to pay for it.