Chronic pain

Cork Lass

Hi everyone. just wondering if anyone else is suffering from chronic pain and if so then what is the cause. I have arthrofibrosis of the knee and the pain can sometimes drive me to despair. Right now I cannot sleep as the pain is so severe and i am literally pacing the room trying to get some relief. I normally take palexia before bed but as I've had a couple of glasses of wine I can't take it tonight. Some might say that I shouldn't have had the wine but a person has to live. How do you cope with chronic pain?

Gremlinertia

I feel for you. I'm about twenty years with pain originally derived from an arm injury which was eventually diagnosed as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.. I'm especially tired of it in the last year or two because I barely function outside of work and bed. Pain clinic is on hold due to covid and they are at a bit of a loss in how to treat me now.

Rasher_Sausage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058225765/chronic-pain

My mother is in same position as yourself. For the last 18 months she has been taking Medical Cannabis and it has worked wonders for her.

I have had arthrofibrosis of the knee following a replacement, which because of the scar tissue that traps nerves caused immense pain and instability. I then attended a good consultant who recommended lots of very gentle exercise, not overdoing it as that could build up more scar tissue. After a year of doing as he told me I was no longer in any pain. The scar tissue had loosened away from the nerves and allowed me better flexibility.

Cork Lass

Hi all. Thanks so much for the responses. When i posted my op i was feeling rather sorry for myself, sometimes the pain does that doesn't it. I didn't give much background to my situation so here goes: Back in 2017 I had a replacement of my right knee as I had problems with if for years following an accident in the 80's. It wasn't a success and despite 2 manipulations i never got the movement back properly. It was hell, I went from a normal functioning adult to someone having to use a stick 90% of the time. Less than a year later I had a revision surgery (different surgeon) and again after that I never recovered proper range of movement despite bing in hospital for a month and daily physio. A couple of years ago I was sent to another surgeon for a third opinion and then for a 4th. It's been agreed that nothing more can be done. They did try another manipulation but it wasn't a success. Now I use either crutches or a walking stick most of the time and to be honest I'm pretty ok with that but what drives me mad is the pain. Because of the loss of movement in my knee ( i would only have about 30 degrees of movement now) i have developed hip and low back problems. I've had the nerves at the base of my spine cauterised and that has helped a bit. I'm due to have cortisone injections in my hips in a couple of weeks so hopefully that will help too but the pain in the knee area has not been successfully treated to date except with Opiods which i have to take each evening, not the best thing but it definitely helps me to sleep.

So, theres's my story for what it's worth. @Rasher_Sausage , how did your mother source the medical cannabis, that's an avenue I'd be interested to try. @Gremlinertia -how do you manage still working and do you ever consider packing it in. I have an insurance policy that would cover me but not sure that not working is the best option for me at this point. @[Deleted User], would you mind telling me what exercises you did. I used to go spinning a few times a week before all this started but obviously I don't have enough range of movement now so that's out. I do walk a bit but it can be painful even with crutches so mainly i go into the cold water for relief.

Rasher_Sausage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118428557#Comment_118428557

She had been reading up on it for a while, and had approached her GP, who was hesitant at first to get involved, but once he was on board she was refered to a consultant in St Vincents Hospital, although she has since changed cconsultant.

Gremlinertia

@Gremlinertia -how do you manage still working and do you ever consider packing it in. I have an insurance policy that would cover me but not sure that not working is the best option for me at this point.

@Cork Lass I do consider giving in at times. Just cannot do so financially without a major change in living circumstances which may exacerbate my problems (shared house stress, less heating and access to short term reliefs) I'm stubborn too and want to continue working, especially for the mental health side of things.. I'd say i'll be forced out of work rather than voluntarily give it up..

banie01

Chronic pain has been the straw that's broken my back TBH.

Lots of health issues all fairly well managed Inc diabetes, epilepsy and arthritis but the onset of chronic pain in 2019 has broken me tbh.

Still not gotten a diagnosis, but a recent ultrasound the Radiologist demonstrated what he thinks the issue is.

Currently labelled as an ilioinguinal neuralgia due to impingement of thrombosed vessels on the ilioinguinal nerve and spermatic cord, with associated hypo gastric nerve involvement causing additional pain and nausea.

When it flairs, it's crippling pain from my left testicle over my entire left flank and into my kidney Kidney Stone/Renal colic level of pain that worsens on activity and is indeed quiet often triggered by it.

I have been lucky in that some interventions such as rhizotomy have sometimes helped. Not always and never for more than 12 weeks tho before being back to square 1.

I've been medically retired, I haven't worked since 2018 and was placed on invalidity pension in 2020. Luckily, I am financially secure that the move to fixed income isn't an issue but, given I am still just 42 far younger than I'd intended retiring at 😉. I have taken the opportunity to return to Education tho and even that is now being hit by the pain issue. As I am unable to remain upright without either serious pain, or high doses of opiods 🤷 So I've applied for a LOA that will hopefully allow some sort of surgical intervention before I resume studies.

I'm now dealing with a new Urologist and vascular surgeon in the hope that something can be done to alleviate it.

As bad as it gets, painwise? It's far harder on my family IMO. The spontaneity in our lives is gone, everything has to be planned, alternatives plotted and mitigations for every little thing. Jumping in the car for a spin, or heading off for even the grocery shopping is now a roll of the dice and an "is it worth it".

Cork Lass

@Gremlinertia - I am further down the road than you age wise and at a stage where we have no loans etc but I still like the idea of working - it takes the focus off the other issues in my life. At this stage though I'm not sure how much longer I will last.

@banie01 - Your situation sounds dreadful and I agree with you in relation to it being harder on the family. My OH is really good and very supportive but i know that there are days that it must wreck his head. He hates seeing me taking opiods but they really do help so they really are a necessity. We have a plan to spend a good portion of the winters in Spain in the coming years as the damp cold weather here is definitely having a negative effect on me. Getting hips injected on 20th so hoping for some improvement then.

GoogleBot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118441131#Comment_118441131

My friend had similar issues what helps him alot is a change to very low carb diet and daily IF he said.