From: Michael.Rooney@f737.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Michael Rooney)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: sympathectomy part 3
Date: 5 Jan 93 19:41:32 GMT
Reply-To: Michael.Rooney@f737.n106.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:106/737 - AirBoat OnLine, Houston TX
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 26958

[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference]

SW> -=> Quoting Linda Cummings to Jim Graham <=-

SW> C> yours is).  There is NO quick cure.  There may not even be a cure.  I
SW> LC> hate to burst your bubble, but the sooner you adjust yourself to the
SW> LC> possibility that you may have some sort of chronic pain for maybe the
SW> LC> rest of your life, the better off it's going to be on you and your
SW> LC> wife.

SW> Hi, I'm new. I saw your converstion and thought, whenever I
SW> think of having chronic pain for the rest of my life I feel
SW> squashed smack straight down through the floor. Tell me, how has
SW> your thinking and emotional sense adjusted to accept that
SW> possibility and still maintain the hope and positive mental set
SW> that keeps one going from one day to the next. I have had
SW> chronic pain for many years, but I still often harass myself for
SW> getting into this nightmare and panic at the thought that
SW> whenever I wake up, it will still be here. Yikes.

SW> Stefan

Stefan, read what Linda said and the answer is there. You have to accept
that fact (if in fact it has to be) and until you do it will just be harder
to tolerate the pain. Once you have determined that you will have pain for
the rest of your life you must accept that fact and get on with your life.
Make whatever adjustments you must make in your lifestyle and go to it. The
more you dwell on it the worse it will hurt. Do things that will take your
mind of it for a while. If the doctors have any drugs you can use to
alleviate or reduce the pain take them. I use several drugs that are used
to reduce inflammation and pain and sometimes they work better than others.
But a long time ago I came to the realization that I would have pain for the
rest of my life, accepted it and went on. Easier said than done but the only
long term solution. As I sit here typing this little electronic missive I
can stop an think about what is hurting now and feel every little ache and
pain. As long as I am doing something and not concentrating on it I feel
better, and it is hard not to be thinking about it if you have nothing else
to do.

One other thing, and to me the most important. You cannot do it alone. I
have a strong belief in a Higher Power whom I call GOD and this is a great
help to me. I do not believe HE is punishing me or anything like that. We
all have physical beings and we all have souls, one is mortal and one is
immortal, and the physical I have only limited control over but the soul
I have complete control over. Right now on the radio I am listening to a
show about a book on near death experiences. The stories only confirm what
I aready know, that there is a purpose to our lives merely beyond getting
whatever we can. When I need someone to listen, someone to lean on, someone
to give my troubles to HE is always there.

Take care, Mike...
 ~ SLMR 2.1a ~ Hot water heater? Hot water needs heating?

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