I have to fill 8 prescriptions each month for my daily medications.
Credit: Tara Bartal | ©Tara Bartal
Many people think of chronic pain as being associated with a particular physical condition or disease and in most cases this would be correct. Most of the time, chronic pain leads a physician to diagnose a medical problem--such as a fractured bone, bursitis, cancer, bone disease, or spinal stenosis, for example. But, not all chronic pain has a direct and diagnosable cause. Not every sufferer can discover the cause of her chronic pain, as strange as that may sound to some.
How do I know? I am one of the unfortunate sufferers without a medical diagnosis, without a known cause for my chronic pain. I do know how and when my pain began, but the doctors do not understand why it has progressed the way it has. Believe me, I wish I could get some kind of diagnosis-it would likely make things at least a little bit easier. But as it is, I just have to live with it, and it sure isn't easy.
So, what is it like to live with chronic pain? It is really kind of hard to describe, at least in my case, because it is different from day to day. Each day I get up in the morning, not knowing how much I am going to be hurting that day until I start moving around. Usually, my pain level depends upon the kinds of activities I did the day before, how well I slept, and what kinds of things I have to do that day. For instance, if I had to do a few loads of laundry the day before and then didn't sleep too well, I will be hurting more the next day than if I had a more relaxing day. But, regardless of my pain level for the day, I have to take my many medications.
The medications I take have changed over the years. When my pain first began (I fell down a flight of steps at home), I was simply taking some over-the-counter pain killers, like Tylenol. That lasted for a couple of days, until I decided the pain was too great and I headed to the hospital to get checked out-it turned out that I had fractured the very tip of my tailbone when I had fallen. The hospital gave me some Vicodin, told me to use some ice packs, and sent me on my way. At this time, I was working as an assistant manager at a busy drugstore, so I had to take a few days off from work.
How do I know? I am one of the unfortunate sufferers without a medical diagnosis, without a known cause for my chronic pain. I do know how and when my pain began, but the doctors do not understand why it has progressed the way it has. Believe me, I wish I could get some kind of diagnosis-it would likely make things at least a little bit easier. But as it is, I just have to live with it, and it sure isn't easy.
So, what is it like to live with chronic pain? It is really kind of hard to describe, at least in my case, because it is different from day to day. Each day I get up in the morning, not knowing how much I am going to be hurting that day until I start moving around. Usually, my pain level depends upon the kinds of activities I did the day before, how well I slept, and what kinds of things I have to do that day. For instance, if I had to do a few loads of laundry the day before and then didn't sleep too well, I will be hurting more the next day than if I had a more relaxing day. But, regardless of my pain level for the day, I have to take my many medications.
The medications I take have changed over the years. When my pain first began (I fell down a flight of steps at home), I was simply taking some over-the-counter pain killers, like Tylenol. That lasted for a couple of days, until I decided the pain was too great and I headed to the hospital to get checked out-it turned out that I had fractured the very tip of my tailbone when I had fallen. The hospital gave me some Vicodin, told me to use some ice packs, and sent me on my way. At this time, I was working as an assistant manager at a busy drugstore, so I had to take a few days off from work.
Comments
Beth
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/22/2008
(got cut off) injections, two series worth of facet injections...I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It's horrible, dehumanizing, and depressing. I hope all the time for the strength to cope and for a treatable (preferably fixable) diagnosis. i, too, have to use the carts sometimes. I have to remember not to push myself when I'm having a relatively good day, but those are the days where I feel almost normal, and it's really damn hard to say, "Yes, but I still need to limit myself because I'm sick and no one knows why."
I hope you're finding ways to cope. Thank you for this.
Beth
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/22/2008
I'm 30 and have been suffering with chronic back pain with no apparent cause for four years now. It's miserable, and among other things, I've been to the ER once and didn't go once for suicidal thoughts because it was so bad. I'm not the person I was, nor am I the person I want to be. Apart from the fall, your story resonates. How am I supposed to live the next 30-40 dealing with this, only worse? I have trouble caring for my 3.5 year old. I want another child, but it wouldn't be fair to that baby, nor would it be a reasonable risk to my health. Unless it is fixed, I can't, and that makes me even more miserable. I've been jerked around by the pain management clinic so haven't seen them yet, but I have been treated as drug seeking, had physical and massage therapy, TENS, acupuncture, meds which work increasingly less, meaning that standard doses don't work and the docs won't increase the dosage when I end up in the ER for related or non-related issues, MRIs, Xrays, trigger point
FMS
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/06/2007
Have you had an eval for Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
I understand completely. I also suffer from chronic pain with no diagnosis. My doctor has basically given up looking for a cause. It's so incredibly frustrating, especially when people don't understand what you're going experiencing. I use a cane to walk on bad days, but it's hard because my wrists hurt too. I'm only on one med though. It's bad enough that I don't want to try anything else. I hope that you and your doctor find some relief for you soon. Good luck.
I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I hope it improves.
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