New to board

[Crystal Visions]

Hi, I am brand new to this community.  Just a short profile about myself.  I have chronic paindue to fibromyalgia and severe degenerative disc and joint disease.  I was a R.N. for 15 yrs and because of my pain I had to leave the field.  I have already had a total right knee replacement and my left knee is already bone on bone and needs replaced.  My back is real messed up also.  I have severe disc degeneration and my L4-L5 is bone on bone.  I have been going to a pain specialist for about a year and he put me on Morphine extended release.  It controls my pain but I  am always tired and have severe constipation.  I am going back to my surgeon because I have to get off this medication.  I am 52 yrs old and way too young to have so much disc and joint degeneration.  I go through times that I get real depressed because of my inactivity.  I guess I came to this board for support and suggestions on how to get through the rough times.  I'm  very glad to be here and hopefully we can become friends and learn something from each other.

[nick30]

hi CV, just another 'welcome'. lots of good ppl here and lots of good advice or just freindship if you need it. thanks for introducing yourself, most of us never bothered to do that(well at least i didn't).

regards,

nick

[Tuckamore]

Hi Crystal Visions,

I'd like to welcome you to the the Pain Management Forum of MedHelp. I'm sorry to hear about your pain. We all know how disruptive it can be to our lives and the changes it forces upon us.

I 'm also sorry I am a bit tardy with my response. In addition to severe Chronic Pain I am the soul care taker of my failing 80 year of father and share in the care of my 76 year old failing mother. Therefore I am often busy with their physican appt's, taking them for testing, getting and picking up their meds, monitoring BS's and V.S. and so on and so on.( Most days it takes all my energy.) So I was away from the computer for about 36 hours and I missed your post.  

I too am a nurse that had to give up the profession (full time) when I 35 following a very traumatic MVA. My medical issues are too lengthy to go into here. I had been able to maintain some part time employment, in the medical field (sporadically) until a year ago. I tried to keep up on the changes. I did manage to change careers post MVA and with some additional education became a HR Director full time, until a year ago. I can no longer do either. So beleive me I know how you feel.

I found MedHelp about a week after I had give up my second career. I was very down and feeling worthless. I thought my story was rare. I didn't know there were so many of us out there. MH has been a lifesaver for me. MH helps me maintain my sanity. The friends and support I have found here has made this journey through CP more bearable. I am hopeful you will find the same.  We sincerely welcome you!

I won't try to offer you any suggestion except to please stay with us. Let our members support you. It doesn't take the pain away but it helps to know there are others and learn how they cope.

Peace, Tuck

[nurseaudrea]

I am really sorry to hear about your pain. I too am an RN and had to leave the field at the age of 30. I felt like I was too young to have so much pain as well. I had to switch careers and now am an Elementary School Teacher. I tried to work in a doctor's office after working in a hospital doing the 12 hour shift thing. It was still too much for me to handle. I have had 3 spinal surgeries and am facing one more, a third fusion at L4-L5-S1. For some reason it does not want to fuse between L5 and S1. This will be my third fusion attempt. I have spondylolisthesis where L5 has slipped forward 30% or more over S1. It is so tough to be plagued with pain on a daily basis and is very hard living on pain meds and the unwanted side effects that come with it. If you increase your fiber and water intake it should help with the constipation. I'm sure you probably already know that.
I don't know how many times I have taken myself off pain meds to see if I can live with the pain. Everytime I have to go back on them because a life in severe pain is much worse than dealing with the side effects of the meds. Not to mention the depression that comes with it.
There are many people here that understand what you are going through and are very supportive. Hopefully they can give you some sound advice and support also.

Best wishes         Audrea