Re: Accepting & Dealing with the pain/

[Guest guest]

> What I really need to know is how have any of you come to accept

that you will have a life of pain? I just can't seem to wrap my mind

around the fact that I'm going to hurt, maybe for the rest of my life.

It often makes me sad and even causes me to feel depressed at times.

How do you deal with it?

>Hi , I guess I have not thought about it in a long time,

because now it just seems like it has been all my life. I was okay up

through my twenties, and I worked my self way too hard and then had an

accident, a bus ran over my little sports car, and life as I knew

it-ended. I used to dance and ride a motorcycle, and run, play with my

kids, go on cruises, etc..

I am approaching fifty surgeries. Yes, 50! I am only 41, but through

the years I have always sought out specialists and each one had a

cure, a cure that made things worse.

I now spend my days at home bored, lonely, depressed too, and in pain.

I accepted it though, when I really saw it coming was when pain moved

from muscles, bones and joints to organs and internal problems. I knew

I had to embrace it like it was my new best (worse) friend. Kind of

like hanging out with someone you don't like but it is better than

being alone, I guess is a way to put it. A new unwanted friend, that is.

That was my mile marker to accept it, there is no other option, it is

just the manner in which you do it.

I think what made it so easy was being in the medical field, and

seeing amputees and bedridden patients with bed sores that went up to

my elbow as I cleansed their wounds. I always am telling myself there

are a lot worse things that can be happening to me than what I have.

By the way I have over 30 dx's, and probably that many medications, I

have a bill over $7,000 annually in medicine co-pays alone.

I am post-op 5 weeks from my last surgery and 3 weeks ago I broke my

foot, last December when I had a wrist replacement (right) I broke my

left hand 2 weeks after I got back from Virgina hospital (I am in SC).

I just take it that my higher being (God) has a real funny sense of

humor! Ha, operate on side side, break the other (lol). Make life

harder, you should see me trying to eat or do my hair, even dressing

is a funny sight as I topple over trying to put shoes on. (laughing)

I worked in pain management as a nurse and I saw real pain everyday 5

days a week, and would think I hurt worse than some of them, but also

there were patients about to go into to hospice and had to say good

bye to there loved ones.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is, the more you fight it the

worse it will be for you. Find your limits and stay within them,

remember pain is red, but you want your life to be pastels!

I am sorry this was so long, my apologies, but as long as you keep a

positive outlook, even with the depression (I know it is hard) but it

gets easier.

Anyone that wants a pain pal may Email me anytime if you'd like.

(or others) I hope this helps some?

Janet (SC)