Chronic pain

[Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)
in General

Does anyone here suffer from chronic pain and how do you deal with it? I’ve been diagnosed with septic arthritis before and it’s extremely painful. So the doctors say that I definitely have arthritis but it’s hard to say when it’s septic or not without going to the emergency room every time. The pain I feel usually occurs in my right knee. I’ve also had gout before which usually hits me in the ankles and sometimes the big toe.

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Comments

  • SunsetSnugglesSunsetSnuggles

    I have chronic fatigue, but not chronic pain, I'm so sorry, my friend. hugs you...gently I know from work experience that pain meds can be very difficult to navigate; I hope you have a doctor who understands and believes you, and does all they can to help.

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

    🦄 Enthusiast 🏞 Travel Fiend 🐘 Animal Lover

  • RobynsNestRobynsNest

    That sounds very painful and frustrating if you have to keep going to the ER to get checked. What have you tried so far? What are you willing to try?

    I have chronic pain from fibro, POTS, and vascular compressions. I have been using low dose naltrexone. It helps some. Without it, I'd be way worse and probably bed-bound. But it doesn't take all of the pain away. I also use cannabis oil and flower daily. Even with all of that I sometimes take Tylenol, as well.

    I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I hope you can find something that will help. ✨🌷✨

  • Minestrone101Minestrone101

    I'm a lifetime martial artist and have been doing Tai Chi since I was 14. I'll say Tai Chi specifically has kept me feeling good - even through the back pain of working at a recycling center at 19, a pulled groin at a similar time period, and various knee and ankle injuries from training or sports. It's hard to find a good , qualified teacher (vs a quack who's good at marketing or a mediocre practitioner who tells lots of stories).

    My grandmother used to do a set of qigong (meditative exercises) that kept her healthy into her 80s. I've recently relearned them from my uncle (whos now in his 80s and super healthy). I wish I had more time to train it bc I used to imitate my grandma when I was very young and or practice with her or just watch from the hallway.

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @RobynsNest besides the usual prescriptions of Norco I’ve tried CBD oils I’ve tried physical therapy none of which seems to help it just something that I suffer with and it’s like I’ll go through the usual round of tests which for sepsis they need blood draws from two different locations, which is not easy when you’re a hard stick patient like I am sometimes they will drain my knee which is also painful. I’ve tried changing my diet for the gout and I constantly tried to make sure that I’m drinking enough during the day and that I’m emptying my bladder on a regular schedule so I’ve been taking the steps that the doctors recommend , but I still get hit with this and the sad thing is is before it hit me a few days ago like the last two months I was feeling so good like I had no pain I had so much energy and so much stamina so I thought that whatever I was doing was working, but apparently it wasn’t

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @SunsetSnuggles @Minestrone101 thank you for your comments you know that’s one of the reasons why you see me on these forums so much is because it helps take my mind off of the pain especially when I’m laying in bed and I can’t move. It’s one way to help keep my sanity.

  • velvetsnugglesvelvetsnuggles

    @lonelytauros have you looked into any copper therapy or acupuncture? both highly beneficial and recommended for your particular situation

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @velvetsnuggles hi thank you for the suggestions. Acupuncture I have not tried probably won’t try that because I’ve had a friend that’s tried it and it didn’t really help him. I know it doesn’t mean that it won’t work for me but I don’t do well with needles as far as the copper therapy I haven’t even heard about that, but I can look into it

  • [Deleted User]YabYumist (deleted user)

    I had open heart surgery last year, so I deal with chronic pain in my chest.

    When I'm active, I can forget about the pain. When I'm idle, it's all I can think about. It gets tough at night at times when I'm trying to sleep.

    I don't take any pain meds for it. However, I will use cannabis. That seems to help in small doses. I'm actually in more pain if I use too much of it.

    Cuddling has been a great activity for making my chest feel better. Specifically, the yab-yum position. I love it when I can feel someone's heart directly next to mine.

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @GrayKunz I agree with the staying active part. That’s why I try my best not to miss any work even though I have FMLA and you’re also right about staying idle a lot of negative thoughts creep in that way and like you said night time is especially difficult for some reason with pain. But for me personally, I can’t cuddle when I can’t move.

  • PeopleLikeUsPeopleLikeUs

    Consider incorporating a predominantly plant-based diet with minimal animal products (around 10%), emphasizing raw foods (about 80%). Include daily isometric exercises using a jungle gym for a foundational routine. Boost selenium intake with Brazil nuts, but be cautious not to exceed recommended levels. Integrate 1 teaspoon of turmeric with 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon with 1/8 teaspoon of clove into your daily routine. Follow the NutritionFacts "Daily Dozen" for a comprehensive guide. Quit alcohol and smoking permanently. Opt for natural remedies over chemical interventions, acknowledging potential food allergies. Exercise.

  • pmvinespmvines

    When I wake up I often feel like ive been locked in a suitcase all night , like sore and stiff . My head usually hurts and my stomach is often sore and nauseated. Usually as the day goes on and I move around and get my blood flowing it is better .

  • CuddleDuncanCuddleDuncan Mod

    @lonelytauros I'm really sorry to hear about that. It must be totally grim.

    Does anyone here suffer from chronic pain

    Yes. Or rather, I did for years although I'm happy to say it's pretty minimal now. Was never as bad as yours though, from the sound of it.

    how do you deal with it?

    Ultimately, I ignored it. I did what I could to minimise it, learned the triggers and how to avoid them, and what to do when I couldn't. Never stopped learning because the details constantly evolve.

    But the big simple truth is that it's going to be with your for a while, so you just have to get used to it. Do what you can, and when you've done it, just move on emotionally. Let the pain do its own thing: it's going to anyway.

    I thought that whatever I was doing was working

    It was! It worked for two months! Keep doing it, it's obviously helping. But these things are never going to cure it because there is a real underlying cause.

    You'll be ok. You're doing all the right things - trying stuff, talking to us and so on. As Churchill said, "If you're going through hell - keep going."

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @CuddleDuncan thank you I really appreciate what you wrote!

  • [Deleted User]leafyseadragon (deleted user)

    I treat my chronic pain and fatigue with daily low dose naltrexone. NOT regular naltrexone, which is used to treat drug addiftion. LOW DOSE naltrexone has helped me lead a more normal life with chronic pain and fatigue.

  • JazzyPantsJazzyPants

    @lonelytauros I'm so sorry you're going through this. Chronic pain can be devastating and makes every activity that much less enjoyable. When I had chronic pain I started mindfulness based stress reduction. It taught me how to live with the pain, amongst many other things, and not focus on it. I next tried 75Hard challenge and Whole30 and that changed my life. I no longer feel the chronic back, shoulder and hip pains I used to. Many issues can be healed by changing our diet. I'd say give Whole30 a shot, that is if you haven't already, and see if it helps. Wish you all the best! HUGS🫂

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @JazzyPants thank you for the suggestion I’ve never tried a whole 30. I’ll have to research it.

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    One thing that this thread has made me realize that we’re all people with different struggles whether be pain from open heart surgery or just waking up in the morning feeling kind of locked up whatever it is we’re all going through our struggles and it’s nice when a community can be supportive Like this one has been

  • RunawaycuddlesRunawaycuddles

    I've got major chronic pain and fatigue 😅 A lot of the pain for me is in my joints because my connective tissue is fucked, so I use k-tape to relieve some of the strain and try to prevent dislocations. It's not a perfect fix, but it does help. Full body massage also helps, because my joints are so weak my muscles end up working overtime to try and physically force my joints to stay together right, so massage helps that overwork and constant strain. While it doesn't solve the issue, and the relief never lasts long, it does give my body the break it needs.

    As for general, non joint related pain, so far weed is the only thing I've found that helps manage the overwhelmingly constant awareness of the pain. My body doesn't metabolize pain meds well, so things like ibuprofen and Advil don't do anything for me at all and even most prescription pain meds can barely touch my daily pain level, let alone my flare up level 😬 So, other than weed when I can get it, I pretty much just raw dog it.

  • velvetsnugglesvelvetsnuggles

    @lonelytauros acupuncture takes repetitive treatments to reprogram the body, its not a one time and fix all, just as massage and any natural there. Its all about reprogramming the body to respond differently. However I do respect your choice and its not like getting stuck with shots.

    Copper specifically helps with arthritis. Check it out, the body needs nutrients, maybe look up the nutrients that's lacking in your body for your specific compilations .

    Best wishes!

  • pmvinespmvines

    Not sure if it would apply to the type you have. @lonelytauros and it may have already been mentioned but with arthritis being inflammation of joints , there are certain foods that are known for causing inflammation and exacerbating it . Sodium of course . Also processed deli meats , beef and pork you may wanna minimize . And dairy which people don’t always think about but it can be an inflammatory. And even though you may but have a gluten allergy , it can cause inflammation to people who do so might wanna minimize that . I know athletes tend to drink pickle juice to avoid joint pain from dehydration. Don’t know if that has any validity in helping arthritis related inflammation but just a thought . A high dose Turmeric capsule may help too .

    Sorry you’re dealing with all that

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @pmvines thank you very much for what you wrote. I appreciate that I do try to keep a journal of what I eat because like you said I do have to watch my sodium and I know this past week. My sodium intake has been a little bit high due to a lot of deli meat, sometimes I wish I was a good cook but for me I make simple things like sandwiches or hotdogs and I know they contain a lot of sodium. as you have mentioned, and some others have mentioned yes I do believe that diet plays a big role within inflammation I know with the weather changing and it getting colder Some people tell me that it affects them also but I think for me it’s more the diet. I’ve heard lots of good things about turmeric. I could try pickle juice, i’m wondering if there’s a good homemade recipe for it because I’m guessing I’m not gonna be drinking it out of a jar but thank you again

  • quixotic_lifequixotic_life

    @lonelytauros ~ I have cronic pain too, not nearly to the degree that it seems you do (like I've never been to the ER for it), but when it's extra bad, I've started taking an Excedrine Migraine and wow has that helped immensely!!

    When looking into it awhile back, I found it interesting that pain is our bodies way of saying, 'hold up, let's not cause further damage'. So it makes sense that repeated trips to a naturopath, with the goal of "reprogramming the body to respond differently" as @velvetsnuggles mentioned, could be beneficial to someone who struggles with a body that might have some crossed signals going on.

    All that said, I too have been hesitant to go to one (glad to learn it's not a one and done deal and to be prepared for that), and I've been reluctant to give up my easy foods too. But as I get older, it's more and more often being shoved in my face that I'm going to have to do one or the other, or both (and soon), because the steady increase in symptomatic duration, intensity level, and reoccurance just aren't sustainable. It's friggen exhausting, and I'm fairly certain my laying in one position to not suffer, is actually exasperating the issues as well.

    Good luck to you, and I'm so glad you asked the question because there are some ideas here I hadn't heard of.

    Also... 'ding' ... time to go drink more fluids... 🚰 ~ If at all a struggle there, those little squeezy flavorings, or even using a silly straw, can make it a bit less 'bleck' or 'chore like'. ➰️

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @quixotic_life thank you for your input and yeah I totally agree I think sometimes like our bodies just kind of just wanna say hold up you know and they just kinda shut down in a way and has others have mentioned you know probably a lot of it has to do with diet probably has a lot to do with stress also but yes, there’s been a wealth of information here that has been shared which I’m very grateful for

  • MecitMecit

    I have chronic back pain. Some days are better and some days are awful.

  • RedFox16RedFox16

    Oh dang! It always makes me sad to hear all the ways that people's bodies can be in pain 🥺 I'm sorry to hear about all that you go through @lonelytauros @Runawaycuddles @pmvines @GrayKunz @RobynsNest @SunsetSnuggles @quixotic_life @leafyseadragon

    These things always hit each person differently and it helps immensely to have such awesome support and be able to vent sometimes...and actually have someone understand!! 😍

    I got some of that stuff too, and it can feel lonely at times since it's not really something others can "see" Ugh!
    I got RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) really young.... later came chronic migraines (more than 15 a month!) ....and fibro ....Sjogren's....etc. Seems like I'm just collecting them at this point 🧐 Against my will, tho.

    These are all awesome ideas....it helps to know there's always multiple things to try 🙋🏻‍♀️ To keep myself from freezing up like the time man, there's are many things I've worked into my daily life! But I LOVE hearing new suggestions in case I want to try something new 😉

    At the base of things, is usually eating as healthy as I'm able (with busyness and hurting so much, sometimes it's not possible to do the work), and staying moving as much as possible too, and hydration, supplements etc. Thanks so much for that awesome thread! 🥰

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)

    @RedFox16 i’m sorry to hear about those ailments. Best of luck to you on your journey for health, and to everyone else that struggles.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel
    edited December 2023

    I could try pickle juice, i’m wondering if there’s a good homemade recipe for it

    There is […]

    Reported and reviewed. Modifying comment due to sexual innuendo. (I am currently sick and not quick to swap with a witty replacement atm sorry 😇) [CharlieBear]

  • pmvinespmvines

    @lonelytauros of course ! I get inflammatory arthritis too if my crohns disease is acting up but fortunately that’s not often . I’d hate to be dealing with that on the regular .

  • CuddlesByGracieCuddlesByGracie

    I found joining a pain management support group really helpful. As well as getting tips and support (which is sometimes just commiseration!) from other attendees, there is a focus on acknowledging and managing the impact of pain on other areas of your life i.e. mood, completing daily tasks, communicating your needs with friends/family/colleagues, sleep etc. Wishing you the best of luck xx

  • CuddleHugs01234CuddleHugs01234
    edited December 2023

    I had some pain for a bit. This is what has helped me: getting out of a bad relationship, staying away from sugar and other sweeteners (they can cause inflammation too), stay away from white flour, getting a massage once a month, going to chiropractor (currently once a month, but I used to go more), movement (gentle movement (dance, walk, other things as I want to do them) because I do have a physical issue and can’t work out like I used too), eating as healthy as I want and can do, and I drank lots of water (that’s really the only thing I drink). I also stretch twice a day to help with the specific problems I had. I also take an epsom salt bath daily. Yes, I do lots of self care. Also one day of rest a week.

    If I have a neck ache, headache, I use do terra peppermint oil and massage the areas, mixed with lubriderm lotion. I also use a lacrosse ball for messaging my shoulders.

    I also try not to be around people I don’t like or that cause stress. I try to keep my stress low. I do like to see friends, and I do like to cuddle (which has helped with some pain too.) If I’m not getting enough touch, or social interaction, a good cuddle helps.

    Overall I usually feel good now. But I was in a lot of a pain for a while.

    @lonelytauros I do hope that you can find that works for you. Hugs 🤗

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