Advice on pain management?

[Krusti]

Thanks Blondini, been down all those roads. Appreciate your thoughts...

[The Stranger:Me]

Had a cage accident when I was 16. My diaphram was torn, had a colapsed right lung, my bowel and liver were through the tear and partially in my chest cavity. my stomach was twisted as a result and there were a few other minor issues. It took 5yrs, dozens of doctors visits and heaps of drugs before they realised what had happened. During that time I lived with a LOT of pain all day every day. Oddly mostly in my right shoulder - referred from my liver.
It just got to the stage where I came to accept and expect it and just relax and suck it up. I would get up in the morning and go Ok, there's the pain awesome, I know I am alive.

[peasea]

Hey dude, sympathy-plus.
Back in the early eighties I thought I was ten foot tall and bullet-proof. I frequently lifted V8 blocks onto, and from, boring machines when reconditioning engines. One night I lifted a 289 Ford block off the bar and turned on the spot, without moving my feet. As soon as I did it I knew I was in trouble, what a dork! My back has never been the same since.

I had trips to hospital, chiropractors (who were great, by the way) and physio etc. I was pumped full of useless pills for pain relief. Then my wisdom teeth kicked in as well....oh bliss.

It didn't take long for the effectiveness of the pills to diminish. I started to drink heavily and found that Scotch whiskey and/or a Scotch whiskey liquer (Lochan Ora) worked better than the pills. I tried mixing the two (pills and whiskey) but honestly, the Scotch/Lochan Ora mix was best. No shit, it was way better than prescription drugs.

As my back healed (to a degree) there was less need/desire for the whiskey and I weaned myself off the Scotch. Then, more recently I gave up the motor trade and the pain has pretty much vanished. I moved four metres of topsoil two weekends ago and my back hurt for a week but that's life. Still no Scotch, just the odd bourbon.

My 2c.

[Draco]

Aside from the burbon suggestion (sorry mate) there's some good advice here. In 2002 I shattered my pelvis, knee and ankle, and while it's not as bad as your back now, my mis-shapen pelvis pulls on my SI joints/back/hips and I have some days not as good as others. The first two years I tried all the drugs, docs, specialists, therapists etc.

From my experience, here's what works for chronic pain:
1) You have to complete your grieving. You've lost who you were before the accident and only someone who's been there will get that. Your loved ones will try their best, but they will never fully understand and nor can we expect them to. Let yourself feel the anger, sorrow, whatever your feeling mate cause as a health professional I can tell you there's no shortcut through it, it has stages and you've gotta do em all. And chronic pain will always be there while your still grieving.

2) Consider alternative therapy. I know you've said your not keen but I seriously got no pain control from drugs (and I was on a cocktail of narcotics and NSAID's), but got enormous relief from accupuncture and especially from accupressure (done by a trained physiotherapist, not by some 5min mall job).

3) Find a Sports Medicine Physiotherapist with a Post-graduate Diploma (preferably). Sports medicine physios are not like ordinary physios, they are focused on whatever your into in life that gives you your kicks, and that includes motorcycles! They will do wonders for muscle spasm, pretty much the worst pain there is after bone pain.

4) Maintain your muscle. Your body now requires extra support. Take up supervised weight training/body building, and you will find with good strong muscle mass to support your injured joints you will suffer much less pain.

Like others have said, it does become background noise to a certain degree. And with the positive attitude you've got to beat it, it will get easier. All the best mate.
Cheers, Draco

[SDU]

Chronic pain wears you down & interferes with life but you have good advice from others here. It is not in your mind.
Acc will decide you don't need them (Quotas) & can handle full time work in something you have no interest in, even if in 2 months down the track you can't keep the work load up.
Only try to manage each day as it comes, be positive (hard when struggling) do the things that you enjoy the best that you can, eventually you'll find a way to do things in a way that makes that activity more manageable. Find a balance where work doesn't take all your reserves of strength (mental & physical) that you can't be socialable/& enjoy doing things you love, judging when you need external help &/ pain relief or not.
Develop a different coping mechanism. all the best

[Dooly]

Myself suffering 25 fractures, untold operations and ventilation for 3 months just from one accident, have been thru the mill.
I've tried all the pain relief known to man with the usual side effects.
I stopped taking pills about 3 years ago and just live with it, and tbh I dont notice it as much now.
Sure my L leg and hip are stuffed and hardly bend and it can be excruiating riding sprotsbike crouch style. I can't lie on my L side to due to pain from 8 ribs that were broken and stick out more than usual.
Amongst other stuff etc.

I guess I just adapt, you always do, maybe a move on scenario, dunno.
Just another thing you put up with in life and deal with as you get older.
I need a hip replacement due to all this and stuff that, can't be bothered with all that hospital shit again.

I think once you set your mind to something it can work, and in my case dropping the pills and forgetting about pain etc was far more beneficial and made life better overall.

I dunno about the claim that smoking weed is good for pain releif.
I used to smoke a bit many years ago as you do, so tried it a few years back when I was hurting bad to see if it indeed help.
Just made me bloody hungry and did nothing else, besides feeling wasted.
I wonder if the result is being stoned makes you forget about the pain rather than dulling it, in a way that it sidetracks the mind from focusing on the pain.
Hmm.......

[trumpy]

Being a "hidden disability" chronic pain can be a lonely road at times. Some great advice here from people who understand what it's really like (onyone who hasn't been there doesn't understand). I once had a life as a Psychologist and thought I knew - I did not. So as others have already intimated steer clear of the self appointed "experts" (anyone who calls himself an expert is just someone who's stopped learning). The first person that tells you to 'make pain your friend' , smack em in the head with your helmet and then send them off for professional help because they have a seriously distorted view of friendship!
Time. It takes time, and lots of it, to develop a personal strategy to deal with it (taken me 8 years) and at some point you have to decide who's in charge of your life, you or "the pain". Complete control is probably available to those willing to devote their entire being to the process (usually involves wearing funny robes and making chanting noises from time to time) me, I have others things to do in my life as well (like...... ) so my mastery is not complete and I still rage at the pain from time to time but then I get over it and get on with things.

[Macktheknife]

The problem is not so much the level of pain but more the fact that it is allways there and I am becoming quite bitter and angry about the whole thing.

Any one have any constructive advise?

G'day Krusti,
The only thing you said that bothers me is the above comment in bold.
I have experienced chronic pain in my back and shoulder for a long time now from injuries sustained over the years, pills can help, sometimes, use them when you need them.

The best thing in my experience is to learn to live with it, the pain does not define you any more than your willing to let it.
Being bitter and angry, while understandable, is not helpful to you. I also felt that way, until someone pointed out the obvious to me, those feelings actually make your body tense up and in fact make the pain worse.
The advice I followed and found helpful was to quit caffeine entirely for about 3 months (in any form) use the drugs when needed, and take up meditation in some form.

Strange as this sounds I found it very helpful because it helps me focus my thinking on what I need to do to live with the pain, rather than constantly struggle with it.
Learn the limits that are your current reality, and learn to challenge them from time to time to see if they have expanded.

Those who have given good advice so far have a theme in their comments, the same appears to be true for many sufferers of chronic pain, adapt, change and become a newer, stronger you. A mate of mine called it 'character building'- funny but true, you have to develop the kind of character that can handle this pain and still be happy with life, partner, work, kids etc, and knows when to go and have a nap.

Good luck and feel free to call on me if you want to talk to someone else about your situation.
Mack

[T.W.R]

The problem is not so much the level of pain but more the fact that it is allways there and I am becoming quite bitter and angry about the whole thing.

Yes, I know I am lucky to be alive and walking but for those of you who have experianced this you will know that this is very little comfort in the long term.

Imagine hitting your thumb with a hammer every day and feeling that for half the day and you will get some idea of how wearing it could become. To those of you who live with pain much worse than mine, my hat goes off to you. Buggered if I know how you do it.

Any one have any constructive advise?

Krusti,

Fully understand where you're coming from & what you're saying

12yrs after a severe injury to my left elbow that has left me with very restricted movement, permanent dislocation, & a non-union of the ulna shaft.
I live with pain 24/7 continual aching, broken sleep, pain that almost causes me to black out when/if I ever belt it hard enough.

Tried most options of reducing the endless aching & discomfort from prescription drugs through to a few that aren't prescribed . Spent a length of time on prescribed meds that meant having to have blood tests every few weeks to make sure the meds weren't damaging vital organs
any off the shelf pain killers are just lollies for me.

Personally I've gone through phases where I wish I'd had my arm taken off at the initial accident, despising the doctors for what they did/didn't do, hated the shit that the injury caused long term, the whole nine yards.

Advice would be to use your mind focus on what you've got & what you've got around you, what you're able to do. Don't become dependant on a substance to neutralise any long term aches or pains because the longer something is used the less effective your bodies natural pain killers will become. When things are bad, sure attack the pain with something but otherwise let your body cope naturally you'll be better for it long term.

[oldrider]

Did you just want to share your angst about your pain with someone?

Admittedly it helps sometimes to share but like everyone above has said, thems the breaks!

'Life induced pain is a bit like investing, you only get out what you are prepared to put in and the never ending pain seems to be the interest earned.

One common thread in the above posts is that it doesn't go away, so it looks like you just have to learn to live with it. Sorry!

Personally I like to investigate all of the "miracle" cures, not that I believe in them so much but it keeps my pecker up "hoping" something might just turn up!

I got onto a new one tonight, if it works, I will let you know but don't hold your breath! I'm not! Cheers John.

[Reckless]

I had a bike accident couple of months before last christmas. All the stuff they put me in hospital for and told me they'd have to monitor healed up real well. Broken ribs, punchured lung etc. They found my helmet 25 meters from the crash still done up. And yes it fitted and it wasn't a cheapy. I was movin a bit fast at the time. My fault, not the bikes or the roads. I still have quite a bit of Neck pain and stiffeness in the morning and restricted movement all day that hurts if I push it to far. Whiplash injury they call it.
Thats the recent history. Although it has never affected me emotionally it still bloody hurts most days. I'm back riding my MX bike, and the Z1R, although the VTR1000 has gone to the big bike shop in the sky. I'm working full time for myself although drawing 3D CAD plans now, not building.

My point is to say thanks to you guys! Compared to what some of you guys are going through "I'm a big girls blouse". Good of you to share. Think I'll go back to physio and see if it can be fixed or not. Don't want to have to go through what you guys are.

Thanks again and Krusti if you have enough inner strength not to go for the dope, and the confidence in yourself to post a thread like this!
You will get through it. Good luck mate!!

[howdamnhard]

I've had a stuffed hip since 8 yrs old.Damaged it playing soccer,to make it worse I played more soccer,squash and did running.The level of pain varies from day to day and I can't sleep on my right side.I now avoid doing anything that obviously exacerbates the pain but still don't let it stop me doing what I really love doing.I've come to accept my pain (aint got no other choice,can't take drugs forever,not that they really work) and on bad days just push through it.It reminds you are alive,just don't let it stop you doing what you love.At the same time try learn what makes it worst and avoid doing that if possible.Your pain threshold does increase with time.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Yeah I know mate and thanks again. I included more info this time in the hope someone has new advise. Most of the advice I have recieved relates to smoking dope to help. I realise that this will help but I am not willing to go down that road.

acc bought me a tens machine and when i'm sore i use that rather than taking medication and that helps. Pain comes back but it i use it for a couple of days it settles it down for a couple of weeks.

[Krusti]

Did you just want to share your angst about your pain with someone?

Admittedly it helps sometimes to share but like everyone above has said, thems the breaks!

'Life induced pain is a bit like investing, you only get out what you are prepared to put in and the never ending pain seems to be the interest earned.

One common thread in the above posts is that it doesn't go away, so it looks like you just have to learn to live with it. Sorry!

Personally I like to investigate all of the "miracle" cures, not that I believe in them so much but it keeps my pecker up "hoping" something might just turn up!

I got onto a new one tonight, if it works, I will let you know but don't hold your breath! I'm not! Cheers John.

I didn't just want to bleet on to folks about it. Reason being is I am at the stage where I am trying to work out realistically what the chances of getting "better" are. A number of experts are giving me conflicting advise and as far as I am concerned, go to the people who know.

What has been posted here is largely what I had suspected but did not really want to hear. A bit like your best friend telling you some home truths...

I have spent this past 12 months working hard on getting better hoping that this will soon be gone. My surgeon told me that I would improve up till 12 months then that is probably the level of pain I will have to live with.

I liken it to me having been running blindly in one direction for the last few years and now I've just stopped for a second, caught my breath, looked around and realised that maybe I may have to walk in another direction.

Thanks guys

[inlinefour]

As some hear know a couple of years ago I cartwheeled a Farm ATV at 80kph off a corner coming back from farm block. Fractured T5 around spinal chord.

12 months ago had an operation where I had T5 to T8 fused with a couple of titanium rods down my spine. Has all healed well and according to the surgeon it is stronger than ever although I have lost some twist.

Problem is that I am still on DHC and Paradex and still by mid afternoon the pain worsens and my back swells some as well. This is driving me insane. I am not looking for simpathy but am open to advise from folks who have been in similar situation and made a marked improvement.

I have read the book "Living with pain" and have a good understanding of chronic pain. Some people have thought that it may be "remembered pain" and others that it may be muscle damage from when I was cut open.

I am due to attend a three week residential pain management course in August and hope that this may help but I suspect that it will deal with mainly living with the pain.

I am not about to start using "natural herbs" for a number of reasons which I will keep to myself.

The problem is not so much the level of pain but more the fact that it is allways there and I am becoming quite bitter and angry about the whole thing.

Yes, I know I am lucky to be alive and walking but for those of you who have experianced this you will know that this is very little comfort in the long term.

Imagine hitting your thumb with a hammer every day and feeling that for half the day and you will get some idea of how wearing it could become. To those of you who live with pain much worse than mine, my hat goes off to you. Buggered if I know how you do it.

ACC is not far away from pulling the pin on me as a couple of "independant" specialists have identified that I am physically able to be employed in certain jobs.

Again, don't think I am winging, I just hope some of you may be able to shed some light.

Any one have any constructive advise?

T6 Paraplegic and Registered Nurse here who has to manage my own pain management EVERY day. Please feel free to PM me regarding your issues. Cheers IL4.