My Thoughts - My Opinions - My Views
  • Welcome
  • Thoughts - Opinions - Views
  • My Life is a Meme
  • Tis I (About Me)
  • Contact Me, if you wish

Chronic Pain

8/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Chronic pain affects millions of people. 
There are forms of pain:  pains, aches, itching, etc.  Did you know itching is a form of pain.  I didn't know that until a dear friend was ill with cancer and she itched, a lot.  Her doctors said it was a form of pain.
Chronic pain is associated with many different types of illnesses/diseases.  I won't go into the many forms lest I miss a type and offend someone.  (Our society, by the way, is overly sensitive these days.  You know that I do not believe in political correctness -- that is a bunch of crap, and a different subject matter.  I simply do not want to have someone who is hurting to think that I discounted his/her pain.)
If you do not have pain in your body, cherish it!  Most days I have some pain; many days I have a great deal of pain; some days my pain overwhelms my ability to physically 'work' and initiative to do so. 
I am not here to whine or ask for sympathy.  I want to bring awareness to a massive pain problem in our country, even on our planet.
Our pharmaceutical companies churn out painkiller after painkiller and still we have pain.  There are many treatment programs from physical therapy and home exercise to in-house treatments such as injections, surgery, and devices to wear.  Guess what?  We still hurt.
There are homeopathic remedies, folklore remedies, yoga, and diet possibilities.  Guess what?  We still hurt.
Clearly, there is a theme here:  we hurt.  We don't like to hurt.  We don't like to take a bunch of drugs that consist of chemicals that were never intended to be absorbed by our bodies and have side effects of their own which we then have to handle.  We don't like scheduled physical therapy because it hurts.  Yes, it hurts.  Sometimes we make progress, but it hurts in the process.....and when you start the process hurting, it makes you less anxious for the process that hurts.  Vicious circle!
Treatments can hurt too!  Have you ever had injections into your neck or spine?  How about into your hip?  They are nothing like the prick of a subcutaneous injection for a regular shot in the arm. 
Sitting hurts.  Standing hurts.  Walking hurts.  Stretched out /curled up in bed hurts.  Seems there is no happy medium.
And then, and then........we share that we're hurting.  With friends.  With family.  With strangers.  And we get those looks.  Pity.  Disgust.  Boredom.  Yes, you've heard it all before.  You know we hurt.  You wonder why we point it out at every turn.  You wish we'd keep it to ourselves.  Surely no one really hurts THAT much.  Why don't we just suck it up like everyone else does when they hurt?
BECAUSE WE CAN'T.  We try!!  We really really do try!!
We go to work, we go to church, we go to school, we go get groceries, we do laundry, we drive, we climb the stairs, we try!!!  And some days, we can't work.  Why go to work if you're going to be inefficient?  That only wastes the boss' money and makes you hurt more!  Some days we can't make it to church.  Just getting ready to go puts us into a sweat from the pain and exertion of getting ready on the day of rest.  Everything and anything can make our pain worse. 
Sometimes we have an almost pain-free day -- we cherish those.  On those days we feel we can conquer the world, so we run about with a surge of energy as if we have been cured -- doing errands, cleaning our houses, accomplishing great things at work and at school.   And then......and then.....the next day we crash.  We crash with pain and exhaustion because we felt so very good and did so much that, for our bodies, we overdid. 
We get judged because some think we're lazy, some think we're faking it (why anyone would want to fake living in this kind of pain is beyond me), some think we are attention-seekers.
Why do I write about this today?  I've had a good bit of pain for many years and I tried to keep going.  As the pain started winning, I found it harder and harder to keep pushing and accomplishing the 'everything' 'everyone' expected and was used to me producing.   I kept wondering to myself if this was what aging was really like, if I had messed up somehow, if I were really lazy......  I worried about all these things, and the resulting failures in future accomplishment situations.  What would people think as I began to let them down. 
Fortunately, I had already started backing out of several committees.  I kept a few.  And then came family illnesses and needs.  So, I kept pushing and pushing.  And finally one day I met a man, a chiropractor, who said we can work on these things and we can start getting rid of some of these medications.  That's almost two years ago.  We've made great headway, but there are times (days and sometimes weeks) when the pain reminds me it is a part of my life.   Then I met a pain management doctor who agreed that we can work on this.  He sent me to a rheumatologist for the first time in my life who agreed with the chiropractor and the pain management doctor:  we can work on this and that the less drugs the better!! 
Pain is a vengeful creature, it doesn't like to be pushed to the back burner.
  It reminds you it is there - most often thought of as a symptom.  Chronic pain exists.  
Why do I write about pain today?  Because today is a high pain day for me -- it is getting in the way of my accomplishing physical activities, of going to my office, of mowing my lawn when it is sunny, of carrying laundry, of feeling like doing anything.  I write today because I am reminded that there are others who haven't found the healers, the support network, the friends who will say that 'it's ok, we still love you' and 'we can work on this.'  I write because those who hurt need to know it's ok to hurt and take time to rest.  It's ok to work on yourself and looking to the future. 
I write because I want the world not to look down on those who hurt, but rather lift them up and help them move through the pain.  Chronic pain is nothing like the pain of working out and building yourself up physically.  Chronic pain is exhausting and
debilitating. 
I am not cured.  I hurt.  I live.  I will go on.  Thanks to my good chiropractor and other doctors, to my husband who understands me, to my siblings who understand, to my extended family who put up with me, to my friends and fellow committee workers, to my friends at my office (they are, indeed, friends, not just colleagues), to my social media friends who've never met me but send me cyber hugs -- thanks to all of these folks, I am lifted up.  Thanks to God above for peace of mind and strength to tough it out when I don't want to, I am lifted up.  I know there is far greater pain, even when, on a day like today, I doubt it.  I have never been a Prisoner of War.  I have been blessed in so many ways, that I know I will get through this day and many more! 
(Some days, I will grumble and share that I'm hurting.)
   I figure if someone has the nerve to greet me with, "Hi, how ya doing?"  I'm going to answer and I'm going to answer honestly.  If you don't really want to know, don't ask!!  The greeting is, "Hi!" if you don't want to know how I'm really doing!!
Why am I writing about pain today?  Shouldn't I be writing about something political?  This blog is for my opinions, my viewpoints, my observations.  Topics vary.  There is much in the media about world events and our country that has me livid with rage, heartbroken beyond belief, and in shock.   Some of those gaining moments of media attention don't deserve our time of day.  For that very reason and the fact that I hurt, that is why I have written about pain today. 
We, as human beings, are hurting.  We can work through it.  We need to support each other.  We need to lift up each other.  We need to strive to comfort, to alleviate the pain of our fellow men and women.  We can work through this to enjoy other days.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    This is MY blog.  For my thoughts, my opinions, my views.  Get it?  Self-centered, this is for my outlook on life, politics, religion, family, friends, and any other topic I choose for my ramblings.

    Archives

    March 2022
    January 2022
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    April 2018
    November 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    2013
    2017
    2019
    2020
    2021
    2022
    2nd Amendment
    4th Of July
    9/11
    A.B.A.T.E.
    A.B.A.T.E. Of PA
    A.B.A.T.E. Of Pennsylvania
    Abe Lincoln
    Abortion
    Abraham Lincoln
    Absentee
    Absentee Ballot
    Abuse
    Abused
    Acquit
    Action
    Actions
    Administration
    Afraid
    Agent Orange
    Agriculture
    Aid
    Airman
    Alice Johnson
    Alzheimer's
    America
    American
    American Dream
    Americans
    Anti-
    Anxiety
    April Showers
    Argument
    Arrogance
    Associated Press
    Atheism
    Babies
    Baby
    Baby Boomers
    Ballot
    Ban
    Batwing
    Belief
    Biden
    Big-box
    Bigot
    Biker
    Bikers
    Bikers For Justice
    Bill
    Birth Control
    Black
    Blessings
    Blog
    Blood
    Bloom
    Books
    Borders
    Boss
    Brindle
    Bullied
    Bullying
    Buttercup
    Buzz Aldren
    Calendar
    Calendar Girl
    Camping
    Capitalism
    Caucasian
    Celebrate
    Change
    Charitable
    Charity
    Children
    Choice
    Choices
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Chronic Pain
    Citizens
    Civil War
    Clemency
    Climate
    Climate Change
    Coexist
    Coffee
    Cold
    Collaborative
    Color
    Common Core
    Commonwealth
    Communism
    Complacent
    Complain
    Concentration Camps
    Confidence
    Congress
    Congressmen
    Conservative
    Constitution
    Constitutional Republic
    Convention
    Coronavirus
    Corona Virus
    Courts
    Covid
    COVID-19
    Cry
    Dance
    DC
    Dead
    Deadly
    Death
    Debate
    Demeanor
    Democracy
    Democrat
    Depression
    Dictatorship
    Dictionary
    Disability
    Disabled
    Disagree
    Disaster
    Discipline
    Divide
    Division
    DNA
    Donald J Trump
    Donald Trump
    Don't Like
    Dutchman
    Dwarf
    Dwarfism
    Dying
    Earth
    Earth Day
    Easter
    Educate
    Educated
    Education
    Elderly
    Elect
    Election
    Elections
    Electoral College
    Entitled
    Entitlements
    Epidemic
    Epiphany
    Equality
    Erase
    Eternity
    Ethinicity
    Ethnicity
    Euthanasia
    Excel
    Executive
    Executive Order
    Exhaustion
    Facebook
    Faith
    Fake
    Fallacies
    Fallacy
    Families
    Family
    Farmily Farm
    Farming
    Fault
    February 24
    Feed The Children
    Fetus
    Fight
    Finger-pointing
    First Amendment
    First Step Act
    Flu
    Flue
    Foreign Aid
    Forgiveness
    Fox
    Fox News
    Freedom
    Free Speech
    Friends
    Fuss
    Galaxy
    Gender
    Genetically Modified
    George Floyd
    Giant
    Giving
    Global Warming
    Glory
    Gmo
    God
    Government
    Governor
    Governors
    Grace Eline
    Grief
    Grieving
    Gripe
    Guardsman
    Gun Control
    Guns
    Guts
    Halloween
    Hand Signals
    Hanukkah
    Happiness
    Harry
    Healthcare
    Health Care
    Heaven
    Hell
    Help
    Hero
    Heroes
    History
    Holidays
    Holocaust
    Homeless
    Honky
    Honor
    Horror
    Hug
    Human
    Humanity
    Human Kind
    Hungry
    Hurricane Sandy
    Idiots
    Illegal
    Illness
    Impeach
    Independence
    Indian
    Injured
    Internet
    Inujured
    Islam
    Israel
    Jerusalem
    Job Change
    Jobs
    Joe Biden
    Judah Samet
    Judeo-Christian
    Judges
    Judiciary
    Kids
    Kindness
    Korea
    Korean
    Kwanzaa
    Lamb
    Language
    Law
    Left Behind
    Legislators
    Liberal
    Liberty
    Life
    Life Cycles
    Lifetime
    Lion
    Local
    Local Business
    Long Time
    Looting
    Loss
    Love
    Madero
    Mail-in
    Mandates
    Mankind
    Manners
    March
    Marine
    Matson
    Matthew Charles
    Mayors
    Media
    Mediocre
    Mexican
    Mia
    Military
    Misery
    Missing
    Missing In Action
    Mood
    Motorcyclist
    Motorcyclists
    Mr. Trump
    Mud
    Name Calling
    Name-calling
    National Debt
    National Guard
    NATO
    Navy Yard Washington
    Neighbor
    Neutral
    Never Forget
    News
    New Year
    New Year's
    Nigger
    Novel Coronavirus
    November 3
    Obama
    Obamacare
    'older' Folks
    Older Folks
    Old Folks
    One Nation
    Operation Christmas Child
    Oppression
    Organic
    PA
    PA House Bill 634
    Pain
    Pandemic
    Parents
    Patriot Guard Riders
    Pc
    Peace
    Pedestal
    Pelosi
    Pence
    Pennsylvania
    People
    Photo-bombing
    Picnics
    Pittsburgh
    Planet
    Planting
    Play Well With Others
    Police
    Polictical Correctness
    Polish
    Political Campaigns
    Political Correctness
    Political Office
    Political Parties
    Political Party
    Politicians
    Politics
    Polls
    POW
    POW/MIA
    Pray
    Prayers
    President
    Presidential Election 2020
    Pride
    Prisoner
    Prisoners Of War
    Privilege
    Profiling
    Progressivism
    Projects
    Proms
    Pronouns
    Pursuit Of Happiness
    Quit
    Racial
    Racism
    Racist
    Rain
    Rallies
    Rape
    Readers
    Reap
    Rebirth
    Recommendations
    Recycle
    Red Cross
    Remember
    Representatives
    Republican
    Research
    Resign
    Respect
    Restrictions
    Retire
    Retirement
    Reunion
    Reuse
    Rights
    Riot
    Riots
    Roaring Twenties
    Rolling Thunder
    Romney
    Russia
    Safety
    Sailer
    Salvation Army
    Samaritan's Purse
    Santa
    Santorum
    Satanic
    Schools
    Schumer
    Secretary Of Health
    Self Esteem
    Self-esteem
    Senate
    Senators
    September
    Sequester
    Sequestration
    Sexual Orientation
    Sexual Preference
    Sharia
    Shooter
    Shouting Yelling
    Shutdown
    Shut Down
    Singers
    Slippery
    Snow
    Social Distance
    Socialism
    Social Media
    Society
    Soldier
    Soldiers
    Song
    Sow
    Spring
    Star
    Start
    Starving
    State
    State Of The Union
    Stereotype
    St. Jude
    Strangers
    Students
    Summer
    Sun
    Syria
    System
    Tax
    Taxes
    Teachers
    Technology
    Term Limits
    Thankful
    Thanks
    Thanksgiving
    Thank You
    Three Kings Day
    Time
    Timeouts
    Tired
    Titan
    Tolerance
    Tragedy
    Transition
    Trayvon
    Tree Hugger
    Trump
    Tulips
    Twelfth Day
    Twitter
    Ugly
    Ukraine
    Under God
    Unemployment
    Unfriend
    United States
    United States Of America
    Universe
    USA
    US Of A
    VA
    Vacation
    Vaccine
    Vagina
    Value
    Venzuela
    Veterans
    Victim
    Vietnam
    Vigil
    Virginal
    Virus
    Volunteer
    Volunteering
    Vote
    Voting
    War
    Wealthy
    Weather
    White
    White Suits
    Wind
    Winter
    Wishlist
    Woman
    Wop
    Words
    Work
    Work Together
    Wounded
    Writer
    Writing
    Wuhan
    WWII
    Young Folks
    Zimmerman

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2012 - 2022.
All opinions, views, and content of this website belong to website owner.  Reproduction without express written permission is punishable by U.S. copyright law.