Chronic Pain
What Kinds of Pain Do I Have?
I have all sorts of pain. They are neuropathy based, and suspected to be because of Fibromyalgia. I don't really know how to explain either, but I can tell you that they both just hurt. Some of these pains are likely due to nerve damage, high levels of inflammation and low circulation tissue damage.
I have all sorts of pain - joint pain, "I-got-hit-by-a-car" pain, flu aches minus the flu, low circulation pain, muscle pain, migraines and nerve pain. It is absolutely horrible. I cannot move with these pains. I cannot think with these pains. They can become debilitating. |
What Treatments Have I Tried?
So, when you're in pain, doctors first assume you're depressed and therefore in pain when they're too lazy to run tests. This was the assumption placed on me by several neurologists, before I found one who actually conducted nerve testing and proved nerve damage. It can make you think you're crazy and that your pain is all in your head. I mean, chronic pain and depression do go hand in hand at times, but my brief periods of sadness were because I am in pain, not the other way around. I did not start off depressed the way they assumed.
When this happens, they give you antidepressants for pain and depression like candy, despite the fact that I am very much not depressed. I have tried a few, Remeron, Celexa, Cymbalta and more - none worked. In fact, SSRIs have this side effect of suicidal thoughts, which is ironic because they're supposed to work for depression - I got them. Obviously I am not suicidal so it was a strange time for me, my brain was chemically telling me otherwise. I stopped them immediately. I know that you're supposed to push through the side effects... but come on, I'm not depressed and that kind of side effect is ridiculous. When I tried to push through with Cymbalta, I was in more pain and lost my appetite which led to weight loss. Prescription medications and I do not go well together. I currently use Lyrica, which doesn't help much but it is better than nothing. When I cannot take the pain, I use Percocet, a opioid narcotic. It is bad for my Ulcerative Colitis, but I need to somehow be comfortable. Being in constantly pain is draining. Acupuncture, physical therapy, massages and yoga help greatly. |