From: Mark.Munson@p0.f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org (Mark Munson)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Pain.... not!
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:17:49 GMT
Reply-To: Mark.Munson@p0.f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:279/14.0 - Project Enable, Dunbar WV

Index Number: 24036

[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference]

BM>Hi, I am new to this echo, I have had the spinal injury echo before and
BM>I just got it again.  I had a OJI in August of 89, I then had
BM>surgery in January of 1990 to remove a herniated disk at L4-L5,
BM>I had success for about 2 months after this.  Then wham, the
BM>pain was right back.  I then had another surgery in June 1991
BM>to remove more disk and scar tissue.  This was successful for
BM>only about a month.  Now I am in more pain than before either
BM>of the surgeries and they (the doctors) are telling me that I
BM>am gonna have to live with it.  The Pain goes across the lower
BM>part of my back and down the left leg just like before the
BM>surgeries.  I am 32 years old and they tell me I will have to
BM>live with this, I have possibly 40 plus years to go, this is
BM>misreable.  In the last 3 years, I have worked very little, one
BM>thing I would like to do is be able to get back into the swing
BM>of things.  I go to work and sit in their chairs and it feels
BM>like someone is sitting on my shoulders pressing my lower back
BM>down onto my pelvis.  I have been on pain killers for the most
BM>part but really do not like taking them.  I also have a tens
BM>unit and when I wear it it works great, however, when I take it
BM>off when I get home it feels like someone hit me with a
BM>baseball bat in the back.  I don't mean to seem like I'm
BM>whining, but lets face it, I AM, hahahah, does anyone have any
BM>suggestions as to what might make my life a little more
BM>comfortable??  Please, any suggestions will do, Thanks.
BM>                                   Bob Moffatt

This is a personal opinion!

I think you have already answered your own question.. You have gone down
the line of the normal things that happen when you cross this part in
ones life... Drugs, Tens, Live with it,...  There is not one answer..

It sounds like the most recent and most painfull was like the one that
broke the camels back... I am not saying deal with it like the doctors
did,... But part of it is true..  You can do other things to get your
MIND off of it. if you want.. or you can find a doctor that will
prescribe what you want.. (I think a lot of the people in this
conference might agree)...  You meet the system... The system of ethics
and doctors..  When they don't have the answer, they say live with it or
go to a pain clinic..

So your choices are, Find the right Doc, if thats how you want to live,
Get into sports, something that will replace or equival the pain or keep
on searching and suffering....

Not much of a choice but its really not so unreal.

Theres no magic.. Just what you want and what will make you happy and a
better person for your friends and family.. One word of advice though...

If you choose the drug end, eventionally you will have to start over and
face it all again, or ....  well face the facts...

Mark

 * SLMR 2.1a * Ouch..... Maybe!....NOT!

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