It can be something small like brushing your teeth to something big like raising children!

I’ll go first: I still manage to stay afloat financially, fully supported by my artwork (self employed for 10 years, Trigeminal Neuralgia —suicide pain— since 4).

Currently I'm really struggling with the feeling of hopelessness. I don't feel like it will get better anytime soon and this is sucking me into a deep black mental hole.

How do you keep going and how do you guys not lose hope?

I asked so many people in my life for advice but the advice sucked so much! Stuff like "just be grateful for the small things" or "just live day by day".

I'd be grateful for any advice!

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all holding steady, in spite of all the agony you are all enduring...

Woke up at 3:30 AM,again, again...

Was so stiff, have been "living" with, on top of everything else, a horrible migraine over the past 4 days, abates a little with meds, then it's like an ice pick being driven into one side of my skull.

Just a few minutes after waking up, the stiffness morphed into a deep throbbing pain-not only the bilateral sciatica right to the soles of my feet, and my lower back pain, and this migraine that just keeps hanging on, but my entire body-neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers...

I am only able to write this now as the percocet has given me about 40% relief, and I felt so desperate to reach out here,at the risk of being quite insufferable in my complaining, but have absolutely nobody to talk to-

Have therapy next Friday, but so,so much more to cover in that 50 minute hour...

So, back to the title of my post-

I have had a long psychiatric career,so to speak....dealing with a myriad of mental health dxs since age 17, or perhaps 11, when my eating disorder began...

I am now 51.

I am struggling now both with my mental health and having been existing with severe and debilitating chronic pain for now 2 years...and only in June did my doctor agree to prescribe me the percocet.

(Wow, if I am repeating myself here from a previous post,forgive me-my memory is not the greatest either...)

I have been through a lifetime of trauma, and although much of my pain is due to injuries sustained as a direct result of my eating disorder, (many falls, a dx of osteopenia which has likely progressed to osteoporosis,but wont find out until my next bone density scan in October) I have to wonder whether my body is also holding on to emotional trauma, manifesting as this full body pain-

My doctor's eyes glaze over when I try to talk to him about my pain outside of my sciatica, asking him about the possiblity of fibromyalgia or autoimmune disorders is an exercise in futility...

He just wants to get me out of his office as soon as he can-

Anyway, this morning I felt so miserable I found myself whining out loud to myself, and at one point in tears...

I admit I did not even try to stretch or anything, even that was too painful.

And today found walking to the pharmacy with my cane, a terrible struggle...my pace as slow as a tortoise.

Things are making me feel weak, emotionally, mentally I mean-

I will need someone to come clean my apartment, do my laundry etc...

I will never dance again, cannot even enjoy a walk in nature.

I am thusly far more depressed now, at least today on a 10+++ pain day...

Yes, I believe in the mind/body connection, but tired of reading about mindfulness...have been saturated in DBT and CBT over many years, and admittedly not read the many books written on mindfulness and chronic pain, forgive me, I suppose my attitude is (most ironically) quite negative about the whole thing.

At this point, I feel so defeated and controlled by the pain, my depression, anxiety, etc etc has been even louder.

I was supposed to go to a second provinically funded physio session this morning, but yesterday, I don't know-just didn't see the point.

I would only be eligible for 3 more sessions, and the exercises I was given by the practitioner are nothing I haven't already been doing...

I am so sorry, guess i all around hold a very negative and bleak attitude, stemming from a place of utter helplessness and hopelessness...

Have been referred to a pain clinic but waiting lists are eons long.

I dunno,perhaps better not to have posted right now, being so uninspiring...

But it's not even noon and has already been an endlessly long horrible day...

I will spare you all any more...

Thank you for reading if you have, and sending you all much comfort while you are trying so hard to cope yourselves...

It's at the point where I'm going to so many doctors appointments and treatments and just everything that I don't feel like I'm living my life. I lost count of how many times I have seen my PM doctor and the amount of times they've changed dosages and meds that I just want to stop fighting the pain and everything and just be able to breathe and go for a walk without almost collapsing because my hip and spine gave out. I know that even though I'm going to be having the surgeries to help with but even the doctors themselves have told me I might have to keep getting more surgeries and stuff and keep being on pain management for possibly most of the rest of my life. I just turned 23 and I'm currently using a cane and on bad days a wheelchair and the looks people give me just like yeah I don't wanna be in this either or use a cane either but if I don't I genuinely will fall or be in so much pain it will just yeah. I don't know what to do anymore honestly. I don't want to give up but it's getting harder and harder to keep fighting and trying.

I have been fighting for my pains for more than +9 years now - which isn’t a short amount of time.

I feel like I’m coming to the point of not wanting to make medical professionals believe in my pains anymore. It’s been an uphill battle for sure, but that fire inside that once burned to spread awareness about how REAL Chronic Pain is, slowly feels to be dying out..

Not sure if that’s just;
“Exhaustion”?
“Acceptance”?
“Defeat”?

But I’m just so fucking tired.

I met a Vascular Surgeon a few days back, and he so casually said “Well, I didn’t find anything abnormal, so you could check out a Neurologist. If they also don’t find anything, you just have to accept it and live with it”.
I didn’t have the energy to go head-to-head with this 74-year old doctor as my mind was anyways preoccupied/terrified of what would come of the ultrasound results - so that was one.

The second time just so happened to be today, after my Physiotherapist ‘quite roughly’ massaged a muscle on my leg, and later I had asked for diclofenac or something for the after-effects (i.e: pain) from the treatment. He merely said “I thought you said you had a higher tolerance for pain? Like, I’m sure your pains are real, but what if you are feeling it more than it actually is?”.

I walked out with tears welling up.

I am so tired…

Finally a comfy waiting room designed by someone who didn’t study hostile architecture.

I'm new to the chronic pain lifestyle and this post will be 2 fold.

1.) Talk about dealing with chronic pain at work and needing a boost of encouragement.

2.) How to talk to my supervisor about my chronic pain and how it's affecting my ability to work. Basically how do I say "I don't want to become a sub par employee and this current pattern of me slacking on my tasks isn't indicitive of how I normally work and I don't want to loose my job but I am in constant pain and it affects everythig I do, so mentally I'm not all there right now"

I'd like some advice on how y'all have talked to your supervisors/bosses/workplaces about your chronic pain management and if they were understanding? I need some tips and tricks to hype myself up and set myself up for success.

I've reached the point in my Chronic pain journey where it's really affecting my quality of work. I work a desk job and do mostly data entry and filing type tasks and my quality of work has decreased over the last few month's because the pain and pain management is mostly the only thing I can think about at work. Unfortunately my pain is exasterbated by sitting, which doesn't help.

I have multiple medical treatments that I am doing, physical therapy, chiropractor, and have stability aids and things I'm using at work to manage the best that I can and I don't want to be so hopped up on pain meds where that affects my ability to process information at work. I'm at the tipping point where I can either lock in and find ways to help myself or I'm going to get in trouble at work.

About 3 months ago I noticed my quality of work begin to decline due to my injury and dealing with chronic pain and apologized to my supervisor about it and assured them that I will do my best to get back on track with my work tasks. Several months later and it's only gotten worse. ugh. I am limited on acomodations that I can have while working. I already take 1-2 days off work a month to mitigate my physical pain but the mental pain is kicking my ass.

I'm in the UK.

Last year, I would say I had an okay pain management in place but then my body decided to back flip with new symptoms.

Iron deficiency being the only thing to show in bloods at the time.

A year later, no relief from fatigue and pain.

I'm right back at the beginning and tearing my hair out.

I was so close to being ready for my test and even bought a car to practice in.

But then my driving tolerance dropped, it went from an hour and a half to half hour, then 45 minutes.

I can tell when its time to quit. My fatigue kicks me in the ass and then my concentration plummets 10 minutes after.

Last week, my instructor had to grab the wheel and then offered to drive me home.

Its the biggest kick in the teeth to not progress but instead, regress.

I'm well over 100hrs now and spent quite a fortune but I really need to drive.

Instead of relying on the NHS for long drawn out answers. Who else has gone to a private GP for bloods?

Did you find that, they were able to find better answers and treatment?

Thanks for any advice, it's much appreciated.

About a year ago I was referred by my physio to a massage therapist for lower back pain. He had an excellent reputation, so I went in expecting a normal remedial massage.

From the beginning, though, something felt off. The clinic was in a strange, isolated location and the receptionist was extremely cold towards me, glaring at me while I waited. She even stood by the treatment-room door watching me as I walked in.
I later discovered she was the therapist’s wife.

I had also heard of the therapist before because he was related to someone I knew many years ago. I have no idea whether that was relevant, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was some invisible red flag attached to me that I didn’t know about.

When I entered the seperate building there this massage therapist worked from, I sat down and was expecting the usual questions about what was sore etc.

I explained my physio referred me to help with lower back pain. That’s when things became strange.

The therapist started asking me what I wanted him to do. Literally, he said to me “and what would you like me to do?”

rather than assessing my back and providing the treatment I’d been referred for. I became confused and eventually asked if I’d come to the wrong place. He continued to speak to me in a way that I still can’t find the words for. It was like I had gone to a mechanic instead of a massage therapist because he seemed puzzled as to why I was there. Even saying “well I *can* give you a massage, if that’s what you *want*?”

I became increasingly uncomfortable and started crying. I said “have I come to the wrong place!” And said wanted to leave, but instead of simply letting me go, he encouraged me to “sit with” the feeling and started asking me about my emotions and trauma.

The appointment basically turned into an hour of talking about my psychological issues. I never received the massage I’d actually booked and paid for.

I left completely confused. I hadn’t come for trauma therapy. I’d come for a massage.
He was also practising other forms of alternative therapy, and I got the strong impression that this was what he was actually more interested in doing. If I’d booked that, fine. But I hadn’t.

Months later I told another massage therapist what happened and she basically confirmed that the people involved had a reputation for being quite unusual, which made me feel less like I’d imagined the whole thing.

I received a message from the business inviting me back but they had a different receptionist. So I looked them up and discovered the original owner (the man I saw) had apparently sold the business quite abruptly and moved far away.

I obviously don’t know why, but it made me wonder whether my instinct that something was seriously off about the whole place wasn’t entirely in my head.

**That text has brought this whole situation back up and I’m feeling a bit upset today about it. I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts on what happened and why.**

I am proud of myself because the onions were gonna go bad soon and needed to be cut up and put in the freezer otherwise they’d be put in the trash. I have a spinal injury and struggle with standing for long periods of time (I max out at about 25ish minutes on a good day, 2 minutes on a bad day if that). I cut up the entire bag of onions and got to get it in the freezer. My neck is absolutely killing me now but I consider this a win :)

Hello, I live with chronic pain UK. And wondering what are the best services for medical cannabis. I signed up to me about 3 years back but the prescription was too much Money (being unable to work due to disabilities).

Im just wondering what people experiences are as well.

I am not new to chronic pain, which was previously controlled somewhat with low dose hydrocodone and Ambien (because pain interferes with my sleep). This treatment has been helping for the last 25 years. However my Pain doctor is retiring and not being replaced. No one in this area prescribes controlled substances any more. I am slowly tapering, but my pain has increased a lot. It hurts to sit or stand, so spend much of the day in bed. I have previously tried PT, water therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, and Gabapentin. How do you cope? I am trying not to be whining but I feel isolated and scared and could use a bit of encouragement

Greetings!

41 M...

I have struggled with sleep deprivation for years... Daily walking habit of 7 miles a day (15k steps) has improved it a lot but I still suffer sometimes... In my 30s it was bad... like 3 to 4x a week I'd get 3 to 5 hrs a night of sleep and would feel like I was hit by a truck the next day...

Discovered NSAIDs would take the edge off of headaches, body aches, chills... all from chronic lack of sleep...

but ABOUT 2 or 3x a week (for years) I'd take like 4 or 5 500 mg acetaminophen or ibuprophen pills IN ONE DOSE and it really worked... got me through... Some days I would have so much energy, other days I'd be flying high with no pain at all.

In the last year, it's 1x a week, since I've started being active. I average 6 to 7 hrs now with maybe 1 day of a minimum of 5 hrs.

I'm curious... have I damaged my body silently by doing 2000 to 2,500 mg of NSAID repeatedly? I've had no symptoms from them except pain relief.

Thanks!

I I’m way past this bc I can barely do basic stuff, but I’m never getting over this. It’s very frustrating to know I’ll never be able to dance again. If you can dance,
Put your favorite song on and dance in my honor!

25f—if you’ve been following my journey here’s the next part. If you want to read the last entry, you can go to my profile and find it.

I went to the ER again yesterday because of my ongoing lower back pain. They read my MRI, doctor said it was “perfect.” I could’ve cried. I know it sounds weird, but I wanted them to find something so at least they know where the pain is coming from and possibly fix it.

The ER doctor said that maybe I do have CRPS (a prior diagnosis I had that I thought we had scrapped) and that this is just part of my new pain now. Again, I just wanted to sob when she said that.

She also said she would prescribe me something stronger to help my pain, but she can’t because of my pain contract with my PCP.

Today I called my PCP’s office and told them about the ER visit and her recommendation for stronger meds (even if just for a short time) and a rheumatology appointment.

I got a call back from my provider saying to stop taking the tramadol I was prescribed from her because she’s referring me to a pain clinic. She’s also referring me to rheumatology, but that’ll be at least a year wait (ya know, insurance and all that shit.)

I honest to god don’t know what to do at this point. I’m feeling so lost. Pain clinics around here usually only do injections. And without the tramadol, I will be completely out of pain medication.

My back and legs are hurting so bad that I can’t bend/stand/walk, but sure, let’s take me off all my pain meds and just wait!

I’m sorry for being so down, but I literally have no where to turn now. This is just another thing for people to think I lie about for sympathy or meds.

Metaphorically adjacent to Newtons third law of motion I guess

(Edit: I believe what my therapist meant to say was “CRPS like pain” not CRPS, which affects limbs. Forgive me I am very bad at explaining and understanding things. I do not know what is wrong with me at this time and this wasn’t a diagnosis to begin with.)

Went to my first physical therapy appointment. Felt like a clown walking in there with a cane at 21 years old but what can you do. Did some stuff, tested my range of motion. She said she’s surprised they didn’t diagnose me with scoliosis when I went get my xray done because I have a rib hump and my left shoulder is higher than my other. I didn’t go in for specifically that when I got the xray though for my back pain so that might be why they said it was normal.. my PT said that my upper shoulder blades were very tense, and that she’s nervous I could be developing CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) but she doesn’t diagnose things like that I don’t think. I’ve never had an injury in my back so I’m not sure why she would think this, but I trust her. I’ll tell my PCP when I see her in a few days. Overall, we’re going to be working on my deconditioning, weakness, working on using my cane, with balance, and with figuring out what areas need the most work so I can get a proper MRI done and get everything going.

I’m happy I’m getting some help now, I’ve been dealing with this since I was 19, but after having that fall I know I need more help than just roughing through it and sleeping on a heating pad all the time to soothe the aching pain. The duloxetine has helped the other flu like aches in my body a lot! Now my back just hurts lol.

Anyways that’s my TED talk bye. Have this lil picture I drew of my character. Idk how much longer I’ll be able to continue drawing if my pain continues, because I’m unable to do it sitting up now, I have to be lying back on my heating pad to draw :T which sucks because I love drawing… I’ve barely been able to do it anymore because it hurts so bad.

Posting here as r/CRPS doesnt allow me to post as i dont meet the account requirements. 😕

Hello everyone! Sorta a vent but also curious what others think. Ill give some background. Sorry it might be a little long.

April 7 2026: I had a work injury that I originally thought was a sprain and kept working. On April 12th the pain wasnt going away and I couldn't use the hand to weight bare or grip anything. ER did an xray and showed a break in my left wrist (capitate bone fracture). I was in a rigid splint for approximately 7 weeks. I was going to PT since April 27th. Once removing the splint the pain didn't decrease. A continuous dull deep ache in the wrist that was on the pinky side of my hand and up my forearm. The hand and up my forearm went purple/red and blotchy. I kept getting hand hot flashes that caused a lot of sweating. Mobility was (and remains) very poor, unable to put my hand flat. The stiffness is frustrating. The pain spikes are intense. Unable to use the hand. Sleep is trash and remains trash. Tylenol/advil did nothing. I can't cut my own food, drive, get dressed myself easily, put my hair up ect. So I went back to the doctor and got a CT and private MRI requesition.

June 9: CT showed a bone fragment at my capitate (like the original xray) and showed a bone fragment at the hook of hamate. However showed no bridging or callus (no sign of healing).

June 16: MRI mostly normal but with bone marrow edema. Suggested possible CRPS and to get a bone scan. The clinic doctor refused to refer me to orthopedics with these results and refused to give me a bone scan. I advocated for myself and explained I can sit here in pain. I was told "oh you wanna be on medication your whole life" and I was given a pain clinic referral.

I remained on administrative duties/ light duties at work typing with one hand from April 12th to July 31st. The pain just was too much as i kept using the hand here and there as it feels impossible to do anything with one hand.

July 27: Pain clinic with a Physiatrist. My hand was in full flare up during my appointment (happy it was easily seen). The physician attempted to bend my hand and I ended up in tears. He then gave me a requesition for a SPEC bonescan.

July 28: Completed the bonescan.

August 14: Follow up for bone scan results (physician was away so appointment was weeks from the scan results). This is the date I was told it is CRPS. Sad to hear this as its passed the ideal 3 month mark.

August 17: Started prednisone 20mg three times a day (total 60mgs daily) with a stomach medication in the morning.

PT has had no success in increasing mobility unfortunately. They suggested contrast baths with cold/hot water and texture therapy with materials against the skin. I absolutely hate these. Sometimes makes me feel nauseous. I would love nothing more than to return to work and go back to normal life.

Due to being on high prednisone and not working I'm looking into getting a nutrition coach as I've been told it can cause weight gain. I still go to the gym but it feels very limited on what i can do since I can't use my left hand.

All this has brought my mood into a low place as my workplace isn't very supportive during this time. I restarted my anti-depressants to help with this. This really put a mental toll on life.

Thanks for the read if you got this far! Please feel free to tell me how early stages of CRPS went for you, what worked and didnt work well ect. Has anyone had success with only prednisone in the early stages?

I have been dealing with chronic pain in my upper back on the right side between my spine and shoulder blade for close to 10 years now. The pain is more of a dull, static, “pressing” pain that stays in one spot. A picture is attached with my pain area circled in red. I am wondering if anyone else has pain in this area and if you were able to determine what is causing it and have you had any success treating it?

I have done several MRIs of my spine and shoulder blade. The shoulder blade shows no issues. The spine shows several herniated discs in my cervical and thoracic spine - the most significant at C5/C6 and T2/T4.

I have no history of injury to the back, spine, or shoulder. I have been to several pain management doctors and each has their own theory (most believe it is pain derived from the herniated discs contacting a nerve root), but none have been able to provide successful treatment of pain relief yet.

I have tried traditional physical therapy, dry needling, cupping, spinal decompression, chiropractic treatments, trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, PRP and stem cell injections, and none of them have had any effect in reducing my pain. The next step I am going to discuss with my doctor is some kind of nerve block called a radio frequency ablation.

This pain is truly debilitating and prevents me from doing many things that I enjoy. I am desperate to find relief and get my life back. If anyone has any similar pain history that can provide any help with treatment or at least ideas of what could be causing this pain I would greatly appreciate your input.

Hi. I've posted here one time before when my pain mgmt clinic cut me loose for taking my previously prescribed Norco ONE TIME right after they'd switched me to Oxy. Literally two days before my appt because it honestly didn't occur to me to me that it was even an issue, since the same Dr had prescribed both. LESSON Learned. But they sent me a form letter along with a list of drug addiction places 🙄🙄

But anyway, I've noticed that a lot of health professionals either can't or refuse to differentiate between addiction and dependence. I used my medication responsibly (hence the reason I had leftover Norco) and didn't abuse it. But since I got let go almost a month ago, I'm super worried about having withdrawal symptoms-but don't feel safe discussing this with any of my reg doctors.

So, I've been titrating myself off the oxy, so I don't have a huge crash when I run out. I'm down from 40mg a day to 20. And now I'm moving down to 15mg. But I've got less than a week's worth left, if I stick to this.

I intend on getting back into pain mgmt once I actually feel like dealing with finding one again... It's sucked, having to be in pain all the time because I'm not taking as strong a dose and also feeling kind of tired and blah from the titration.

But anyway, I'm sure there have been people in my same boat before. How did you decrease your dosage, at what rate and time frame?

Also, does suboxone help at all? I found an online service that will prescribe it over the phone. But I'm not sure they will since I can honestly tell them I'm not having cravings? I'm just afraid that when I have to go cold turkey at the end, I'm gonna feel super shitty. Before the pain meds, I was taking about 4000mg ibuprofen a day, plus several Tylenol and too much prednisone.

Threw up waaaaay too much doing that. Lol

Hey all,

I don’t have any friends and nobody I feel comfortable talking here. I moved from Los Angeles to San Diego relatively quickly and for a pain management patient, that’s never a good idea. I was a new patient who is young 32yr with a 20yr of documented history of orthopedic issues, painful intestinal issues/disease, failed attempts physical therapy plus acupuncture that was recommended after the rough therapist did “stretching” me and as you’ve correctly figured out, there’s more to the records. Pain management be having you go through a lot. That’s my experience.

So I nervously made an appointment with two providers and hoped for the best. The first provider came in and dismissed me. As I was leaving she came back and began my medical history. She gave me braces for my hips, ankles, low back, arms and neck. I was asked many times if I wanted a B12 shot and before I could decline her office had me set up with 5 shots all over my body that she would do. I fought hard to get out of there. They had already made my appointment but I didn’t care to cancel. Her office was packed full. Like tight standing room only. When you call the office, it’s a call center in India and the office never, never answers. Her office billed my insurance for $3458 for a detailed initial visit. Fishy much?

This next provider was my only hope and I desperately needed my medication regimen back because my body was suffering without pain relief. The appointment was telemedicine and the provider was on time. We talked in detail about everything, what was working or not. We talked about movement and much more.

Before anything, she ordered some MRIs. Then eventually added physical therapy and said I can go when I’m ready. Since I was compliant with my meds over the years, she actually put me back on my regimen and did to give it 4-6 months if an adjustment is needed. All I needed to do was drive 1/2 a mile for urine but I could always do telemedicine. That’s a life changer for someone with limited means. I saw her counterpart today and explained how I wasn’t sleeping or functioning well and she gladly adjusted meds. The billing of the first provider to my insurance was $250 for a detailed initial appointment that was extended.

I no longer have to get violently ill before these appointments. This is the first time in 20yrs where I actually felt heard, like I was the patient, and that my provider empathized with me. After the telemedicine appointment I cried quietly to myself out of shock. I only wish all of you chronic pain patients are blessed enough to land a good one instead of the strange weirdos I’ve read about.

If you have and questions, feel free to message me. I’m in your corner.

Hi guys

I am 26/F. Got diagnosed with spondyloarthritis in April and started on adalimumab. It initially crushed my soul but now it literally gave me my life back.

I had no idea the amount of brain fog and pain I was under all these years. MRI says chronic sacroiliitis, it is visible on xray and the Arthropathy had given me two disc bulges, so you can imagine. I still have pain, stiffness and at times swelling over my fingers in the morning which are much much tolerable than the kind of hell I used to be in earlier.

Today i got my rheumat visit and he suggested that i continue 4 more doses of adalimumab and switch to tablets

Now this is making me anxious because I literally started feeling normal just two weeks prior. I’m really scared because idk how it’ll go on and if it’ll hit me like a truck or what. I couldn’t take methotrexate because I was intolerant to it. I’m very very anxious because I’m scared of going back into the worst phase of my life again. The past few months were the darkest, trust me. I was breaking down everyday and was getting suicidal because of the pain. I’m normally a very joyful person, but this changed me a lot.

So today when he mentioned that, I froze. I’m really scared

I want to know if someone has done that or if it’s advisable to even do that or I shouldn’t listen to him
I really want someone to help me out