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Physical pain

I have been there. Truly. I take my 84 year old mother shopping in town once a week which isn't so bad, but I take her to the nearest big town (40 minutes away) and go to several stores while she shops in one and I'm done for the day. The pain is so bad sometimes and sadly it's getting worse. I know it doesn't help to say I feel you, but I do.

I've had one really nice pain doc, she used to be my supervisor, and one funny one that I have now. If you can take the steps, we can back you up from here. I do know how hard it is to go. When I moved here I had to get a new pain doc and I was a complete mess until I saw him. I kept my old one until I saw that I could manage to go to him. I see him through zoom now so it's easier for me to deal with. I hope you find some relief.
 
Whiteraven, I hope you are feeling better.
In one of your posts you said how you keep pushing thru and working and volunteering and everyone thinks its not that bad, and maybe you should just quit and rest. I seriously dont advise that. I pretty much did that and not having a schedule and demands only reinforces my feelings that I am not needed, and have lost purpose in life, causing more depression.

I dont take any prescription drugs for pain but live on NSAIDS. Doesn't help much but does a little bit. It is getting harder to take care of basic housekeeping these days. I have fibromyalgia too, also herniated discs cervical and lumbar and stenosis, and other stuff too. Being sedentary has made me weaker as well, and not conditioned to do much. I also have COPD so breathing problems.

I can't say things like cutting vegetables have made me worse, that really is sad to have to go thru. I do go thru periods where pain is so bad I dont even want to try anything in the kitchen or drive because I feel so distracted. When like that, I make mistakes, like walking away from cooking something, or ruining the food anyway.

I have just tried to remind myself that our worth is not judged by what we do and find acceptance and enjoy what I can.
Sure hoping you feel better. It saddens me that others have to go thru this, but glad someone can relate.
 
Sorry you are dealing with pain, too, @brat17!

In one of your posts you said how you keep pushing thru and working and volunteering and everyone thinks its not that bad, and maybe you should just quit and rest. I seriously dont advise that. I pretty much did that and not having a schedule and demands only reinforces my feelings that I am not needed, and have lost purpose in life, causing more depression.
Yeah, it's a vicious cycle. I don't feel any better pushing through stuff than I do when I sit back and rest. But sometimes I think people only pay attention when they can *see.* It's like people who are super depressed and are ignored, until they try to kill themselves (or actually do). And not having the support of people is really hard.

Like, I was asked to assist at the church service this weekend, and part of the job is to hold a very heavy bowl of stones for people to choose from. Have to hold it for about 10min, and I just can't because of the arthritis in my hands. When I prepared last week's service, I arranged for someone else to do it for me. It's hard when people can't see. They don't understand.
 
I have sat back, and am forgotten. Im not complaining. Im just saying that people forget quickly. I doubt if anyone even remembers all that I use to do. My kids say they do. Im just sorry you are going thru this and have to feel this pain. Physical pain is a monster to have with ptsd. Always trying to assure its not psychological....and its not.
 
I just lost my job, a week ago, because my pain spiked too high, and stayed too long.

I feel increasingly incapable of surviving a zombie apocalypse, much less being useful in my own life.

I’ve had chronic pain for over 30 years. It’s not like it’s something I’m not used to. But this is a new thing, that doctors haven’t figured out yet, is kicking my ass. Because I don’t know how to deal with it, or how to work around it.
 
I just lost my job, a week ago, because my pain spiked too high, and stayed too long.

I feel increasingly incapable of surviving a zombie apocalypse, much less being useful in my own life.

I’ve had chronic pain for over 30 years. It’s not like it’s something I’m not used to. But this is a new thing, that doctors haven’t figured out yet, is kicking my ass. Because I don’t know how to deal with it, or how to work around it.
Oh, I'm sorry @Friday, on all fronts. If I had to work on-site, I couldn't. I was fortunate that, at my new job, they let me work remotely. It doesn't solve everything, but it's definitely better than the 2-3 miles I had to walk every day just to get to the bathroom and the parking lot.

The last 2-3 weeks for me have been awful--every issue I have that causes pain has been triggered. I just want to sleep (Ha...that requires getting comfortable in bed, so...).
 
I am so sorry to read that so many are dealing with chronic pain. I've had what I've called the "Summer of Suck" due to so many fractures and lesions on my spinal cord. Fortunately radiation and chemo have relieved a lot of it so its much more manageable. Not sure if heat helps as everyone has a different source, but I found the therapy pool is my favorite thing in the world since it is so warm and helps me not to feel like Quasimodo. Its hard to get moving in the beginning, but just a stroll helps and when it gets bad, I too use NSAIDS and muscle relaxers.

Don't let the docs discount your pain and yes, I found when the pain spikes so do PTSD symptoms; but stand your ground as pain is not in your head. Wishing you all the best as some days its just taking it hour by hour.
 
I found the therapy pool is my favorite thing in the world since it is so warm and helps me not to feel like Quasimodo. Its hard to get moving in the beginning, but just a stroll helps and when it gets bad, I too use NSAIDS and muscle relaxers.
Thanks for talking about this, @intothelight. My rheumatologist has recommended aqua therapy, but it freaks me out just thinking about it. When I was young, there was an incident where I felt like I was being drowned, and I have mostly stayed away from the water since. I don't swim, and water just scares me. I know aqua therapy is different, but...ugh.

At any rate, glad you are getting help, and glad the meds work for you, too!
 
I just want to sleep (Ha...that requires getting comfortable in bed, so...).
I hear that! The first 4 days of this spike I slept a total of 20 minutes.

Not sure if heat helps as everyone has a different source, but I found the therapy pool is my favorite thing in the world since it is so warm and helps me not to feel like Quasimodo.
I’ve been taking up to about 30 showers a day.

Heating pads don’t work, but the water really does, for some reason.
 
I have several chronic illnesses, which is shorthand for chronic pain." I take gabapentin and occasionally a muscle relaxer called tizanidine. I am not sure but I don't think I am allowed to take NSAIDs. Yes, PTSD worsens as pain increases, I get grumpy, irritable, and depressed. And so, I have a bit of mmj as I find that it helps me to tolerate the pain, (tho it doesn't totally rid me of it) and lightens the depression.

I refuse to take opioids. A cautionary tale;... (I lost one family member to accidental OD from fentanyl being placed in pain medicine/street drugs. By age 40, she had been through 13 surgeries and became addicted to the pain meds the doctors gave her. She struggled and was clean for a year before falling back into it). The last time I saw my niece they were wheeling her out of my apt on a stretcher.

Lots of love and warm, gentle hugs to all of you who are dealing with pain!!!
💜🦁💜
Lionheart
 
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