Hi again everyone, it is really nice to actually talk to people who are going though the same aches and pains day in and out.The horrible stiffness that u can barley drag yourself out of bed in the morning. Since Workmans compensation cut off all my benfits and meds i have to rely on advil and tynenol which i can hardly afford either. My depression gets worse everyday i dont even want to face anyone. Im sorry to be such a downer i just had to let my frustration out. You all are such nice people and im so sorry to hear about everyones troubles with chronic pain i pray everday that i might wake up have actually be pain free for once. Thank you all for being here. HUGS FOR EVERYONE
Momado
mamado…sorry you are hurting…I don’t know how you do it without the “good drugs”…OUCH!!!
hope you are feeling better!
Sorry to hear about all your pain and struggles…chronic pain can be so devastating to ones life and then on top of it people judging your situation my it is so irratating…the good thing is there are people here who understand …what a blessing…
Now with reguards to the matress…a wore out mattress can cause pain for you all on its own…I have some ideas for finding a free new one…In your area seek out the salvation army and churches especially the local catholic community services…many charitable places have vouchers for new mattresses for people who need them…don’t give up it may take a bunch of tries but once the word gets out some will find some help for you…the other thing to try is going to different mattress retailers and explain your situatuion to the owner or manager they will sometimes give you a mattress it is worth asking…when I got released from the hospital after a 58 day stay and several abdominal surgeries I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortablly on our old uncomfortable mattress I talked with a local mattress retailer and the donated a new mattress to me I only had to work out the delivery…
it’s worth the try…I praying for comfort and rest for all
JennVelzy
Hi, everyone. I’ve been sitting here reading all the messages that have been posted (I’m new here and have been kinda shy about writing). It’s so nice to know that there are people out there that can relate to what I’m going thru. Take a glance at my profile page to see what I’ve been going thru (save me from typing it here). I’ve been unemployed since December of 2006. I was laid off my job around the same time I was going to ask my employer for a medical leave or to at least cut back my hours. Funny…I got laid off…good timing, huh? I’m currently on unemployment and have applied for County Assistance (to pay for medical expenses) and have applied to Social Security Disability benefits. I should find out about the County Assistance this week as I have an appointment with a new (and very good) doctor next Wednesday. Disability sent me a letter that I received yesterday and they are going to call me today and interview me for more detail information.
This entire ordeal is getting very difficult to bear. The stress of not knowing if the assistance will come thru…the fear of the upcoming doctor appointment and what that will result in. I know I need surgery. The trick is finding a doctor that can handle both the Scoliosis and the Spondylolisthesis. I’ve had several doctors turn me away…but better that than they try to help and make me worse, huh? The epidural injections no longer help and my pain meds barely take the edge off anymore. Lucky for me, I guess, I don’t work and I don’t have kids to take care of. I have a boyfriend, whom I live with, but he’s a truck driver and gone 14-21 days at a time. So I’m alone here.
Some days, like today, the pain is horrible. Today it even hurts to walk. I can’t stand for more than a few minutes, can’t walk any distance…sitting here right now is really getting painful. If I sit too long, I can barely stand back up. Even laying down doesn’t give much relief. I don’t sleep well as stress (can’t turn my thoughts off) and pain keep me awake most night. And now, I’ve been having anxiety and crying attackes! Right outta the blue I just start crying and can’t stop. I’ve been holding back an attack for 2 days now! My boyfriend’s 10 year old son is staying with me this week as his mother is having surgery. I can’t break down in front of him! Its very painful to even take care ofthe poor kid…but he’s pretty self sufficient, thank God. I’m at the end of my rope. Hanging on my last nerve (so to speak).
But…I found a place to vent. A place where others can actually relate to how I feel. This was a long message and I’m sorry about that but it felt great to vent. I can’t sit here any longer or this would be even longer and I gotta take my boyfriend’s son to school. Time to stand up and walk! Uggh! Thanks to everyone for sharing and allowing me to share. Maybe in the near future I’ll have some good news to share with everyone. If I don’t…it’s nice to know you all are out there!
Calikat
Hear ya my friend it can all become pretty overwelhming…Life…I am here for that goes for all of you…it so nice to have friends ho can relate…
Another newbee here, it’s a great feeling to know I’m not alone. The surgery was between L4 & L5. My first round of disability has been denied and I have appealed. We’ll see what happens. I can’t stand for more than an hour without pain, and I feel like I’m folding in half. My Dr. is “weaning me off” pain meds. I’ve gotten to the end of my perscription and so I save it for night use to help me sleep. I am a jewelry designer, and can’t sit to do anything. I feel like acceptance is coming in waves, and it isn’t fast enough for my husband. Reading what is going on with everyone has quite an impact…I wish you all loving relief. Sue about the mattress; have you tried Craig’s list? Some people even advertise matresses free…my step-son got one that way.
That’s exactly what the problem is! So many people have abused and taken advantage of the system, that people who really need it have to jump thru hoops to get it. I don’t know how many people have looked at my Xrays and MRI’s and shocked that I am even up and walking around. Now I have to give up what little source of income I have and struggle with all that while enduring this medical condition and the end result may be that I’m turned down the first time anyway! In the meantime, my conditions worsens. I am terrified to loose my only source of income, terrified of maybe not getting the assistance I need. Its horrible to put your life in the hands of government workers that have never even met me. I used to work for an insurance company and I know how the adjusters used to talk about the claimants and their injuries. Everytime one of those “healthy” adjusters would make comments about how some poor injured claimant was “faking” their pain…I would get so angry. Especially since I was sitting there at my desk in agonizing pain trying to work! I’m glad I no longer work there. It was getting very hard to take! My ex-husband was the same way. No empathy for anyone else’s pain.
I know how you feel…it is terrifying. And it is humiliating. I am 56 yrs old. When I had a hysterectomy 23 yrs ago because it was medically necessary, I got disability in one week. No fight no nothing. Now it’s a struggle. Especially when a person has been a wage earner, and can’t be a contributor to the household finances…it is hard to adjust to. Our independence is gone, and the case workers have no empathy. So how can a group of chronic pain sufferers make an impact on the disability system? Who is your congressman? Write letters!!! Lets not be a silent minority!!
I justed wanted to add. Tender ive made my stand. I have written my congressman. I dont know if it made any differance. But i did finally got my disability after almost 5 long …yrs
and granny that good advice, i hope that works for you hun.
hagn allalycat
back when i was having every test ran under the sun. county assistents office helped me with my medical, and i didnt have any insurance,and i wasent recieving county ass either.hmm and my husband makes pretty good money and they still helped me with medical cost. what state are you in? I guess im lucky i got the help i recieved.
sorry about that its calikat…lol ive been up since 5am, had blood work this morning. good night ev1
Momado…That system sounds very difficult. Is there some way to bypass that process and write a congressman about your situation? Who represents you in your local government (elected official)? I guess I have learned to be a “squeaky wheel”. I was expecting my Dr. to cut me off pain meds, and he actually gave me two refills after my visit today…that’ll hold me for a while. I was relieved because now I can sleep at night a little better. It can be frustrating to hear Don’t give up…but we can’t!!! there are many voices behind you; you have a big cheering peanut gallery!.
Onaroll…thank you for your locale…it may not be too different here. Thanks again for being so inspiring.
hi all, tender you got me thinking i should pull out those copies i have , on writing your Congressman . I cant remember were i got the info right at the molment…but I got a rough draft somewhere, that show how to put thies letters togather. I needed all the help I could get …lol I never wrote much at all before I got sick. If my memory correct you can go to Immunesupport.com, once there look up message boards, then search for letters to you Congressmen. Also wanted to say Im happy for you, that your Doctors appointment went well.And I wanted to thank you for calling me a Insperation…=) but really I only did what i felt was right . chronic pain can really be devastating and I was only reaching out for help that I despritly needed. love roll
HI ROLL…
So many times we who are in pain get to feeling hopeless. When we can’t work because of our pain, we start to feel that our abiity to contribute to our families, our realtionship to society, changes. We get dissapointed so many times because the world we live in does not treat people who are “disabled” equally with those who are healthy. The culture supports young and vibrant. Disabled people are vibrant too. We just have more rocks in our path that we have to climb over, and it takes longer. But because we learn to climb over those rocks, we get tougher.
Every one in life needs to feel a “WIN” to feel that they have value You are inspiring because you didn’t give up. You went forward, and didn’t accept hearing “NO”.
We all hold hands to help each other climb those rocks. Because we do that we have a unique kind of compassion which is where “doing the right thing” comes from. Perhaps we “disabled people” have a lot to teach others? Have a wonderful day. warmly, Christina
good morning tender, reading that brought tears to my eyes.
thank you for sharing that…your friend Ronda
Good Afternoon All,
I have written the goverment a few times about my case plus im even applying for a disability but most people i have been talking to said it might take quite awhile to recieve anything that is if you are not turned down. Also im waiting on a tribunal hearing , hopefully that will be soon but in the mean time im still in terrible pain plus im losing everything , I have no credit and im one step away from being out in the street. I sometimes wonder if thats not what the damn goverment wants. Sorry its feel sorry for myself day ! I know theres lots here that feels the same way sometimes. Its just a waiting game for me it will get better im sure it really cant get much worse. Thanks for letting me rant and rave I hope you all have a nice day . Your Friend Momado
bevb
thanks for your advice, i will stand you for myself and appeal-it means two tribunals, but hey, another one isnt going to make that much difference! Gotta fight these government t**ts.
I’ve also called my local citizens advice bureau and have an appointment to go see them in a few weeks, cause i have no income i should qualify for a solicitor to help with my cases.
Which will save my poor concentration levels burn out completely compiling the relevant info!
Thanks for your encouragement and sharing your experience
dj
Hooray!!! I got a repy from my congressman. It was just telling me he was sending my letter to another polititian that works for the state. But at least I know someone read it and I am told the guy my letter is being sent to is very nice and will most likely help me. Cross my fingers. I hope he does and soon. We are running out of time on bills.
Hi everyone,
Im so happy for you Cyrstal its about time someone is starting to listen to people like us. Its very hard here in Nova Scotia to get anyone to listen to chronic pain victims and believe me there are lots. We seem to be on the bottom of the list when it comes to help. Im seriously considering a hunger strike and I have a few people that will do it with me cause we really need the media to listen to the injured people who have lost everything and struggling to just survive. Thank god for food banks or i wouldnt need to go on a hunger strike id be starving by now. Well as they say drastic times calls for drastic measures.But ive tried to talk to everybody i possibly can the with no one even giving me the time of day. I just hope someone will take notice if not for me i pray it will be for everybody thats going through the same pain and aggravation as me. My prayers are with you all, god bless.
Hugs Momado
I am sorry for you and the others. I am not exactly the religous type but I will keep you in my thoughts and I wish you the best of luck.