Fran - congratualtions on finishing your quilt. I can't imagine not having pain meds. I went for several months in the fall/winter trying to find someone who would prescribe the stuff I need. I remember thinking I wasn't going to make it. I don't know how you can do it everyday,

fran thank you for your praise but all of us out here with these problems also praise you, you are here you are keeping the faith no matter the struggle. Every one has two choices WE CAN SAY BOO HOO POOR ME OR


EVEN BETTER WE CAN SAY OKAY I HURT BUT WHAT CAN I DO TODAY TO MAKE MY LIFE OR THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ELSE BETTER TODAY


SO I SAY WHAT CAN I DO FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND THEN I WILL WORK ON ME AND TRY EACH DAY TO BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE FOR ME AND ALL I KNOWL

ANN STRUGLING OUT HERE BUT LOOKING FOR THE POT OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW

I am so impressed with all of you. Everyone has different "ailments" but the common thread of "this won't ruin my life attitude" is so uplifting! I have systemic lupus and severe allergies. I am allergic to the normal pain meds so I tolerate quite a bit of pain. This weekend I really pushed myself to finish a king sized quilt and I will pay for that for the next few days. But the feeling of "finished" is awesome. As long as I take breaks and pace myself I can usually handle the quilting. In fact, it is my escape! Take care everyone.

Thanks Sharon.

And I'm with you Ann. I spent the afternoon playing with fabric and am suffering for it now but I will be back at it in a day or so. My body is NOT going to stop me from having fun. I drove up to Nashville last week to go to teh AQS show and by the time I got into my car on the way home I was miserable. I knew I would be, went anyway and had a great time! I even broke down and used valet Parking ($20 instead of $ to save myself the agony of a long walk. There are ways around a lot of the tough parts - it is just a matter of finding the path.

I have chronic back pain due to three "obliterated vertebrae" in my spine two thoracic one lumbar. After 4 months flat on my back in 2004 and three times of calling dh to tell him I wasn't expected to make it through the night, I CAME BACK I AM HERE AND I KEEP STRUGGLING.

In addition to the back pain I have chronic anemia. Since May I have had three iron infusions and five units of blood and still no firm diagnosis as to why I am losing blood.

Am I tired of being hospitalized for anemia, am I tired of not knowing what to do to prevent a relapse, do I worry about what comes next? Yes, yes, and yes.

But do I let it stop me ,heavens no!!!! -- I keep plugging away and doing my thing which is mostly quilting. I keep hoping someone will figure out a cause and a treatment but until that day I can only put one foot ahead of the other and spend my days doing what I love. So Join me ON a Positive journey and let us rejoice in each day we have that allows us to do what we love. Ann traveling through Iowa on a long trip back to Texas

Hi Quidnunc, I'm so sorry that you're dealing with your own chronic pain, plus the emotional toll of caring for your husband.


I hope your doctor will soon find out what's causing your pain and discomfort.

You're right, it does help somehow to know you're not alone in your circumstances. We're here to bear one another's burdens. Sometimes, just posting a message on the board helps to vent the frustration you might be feeling.

I think I can speak for the others in this category in saying we're here for each other, to lift each other up when someone is down, to just listen and give each other 'cyber-hugs'.

You'll be on my prayer list now and I hope you and your husband have a restful sleep and that tomorrow will be a better day.

Sharon in NE TN

I've been suffering from chronic back pain along with a disease process that no one seems able to diagnose. I broke my back a few years ago and it has yet to fully resolve itself. I am also a caretaker for my husband who suffers from the early onset of early onset Parkinsons. Sometimes it all gets to be too much and I spend a week in bed.

I don't feel so alone after reading this thread. I don't know why it hurts less just to know that others are suffering and coping but it does.

My biggest blessings are a pain doc who prescribes what I need (even if it was a royal pain to find him!) and a husband who doesn't cross examine me about WHY I hurt or what I might have done to exacerbate the pain, but simply offers love, support and sympathy when it rears its ugly head.

Hugs and prayers to y'all!

Hi Ruth, when I read your post, I remembered that I haven't had my vinegar today.

I'm sure I'll get a list of exercises when I go to the pain clinic.

With all the prayer I'm getting from all over the country, thanks to TQS, I'm sure several options will be opening up to me.

Have a great rest of the weekend, Sharon in TN

Sharon,

I did drink the vinegar for a while--can't remember why I stopped. I don't have the heel problems anymore, even though I do a lot of walking since I moved to New York. I had the heel spurs, I think, because I was doing a lot of hiking back then. It's been a while since I've had any problems with that.

Back pain is another story! I have been taking Pilates classes lately that makes me feel like I am sitting up straighter (strenghtens the proper back muscles to help you avoid slouching). I wonder if that would help your cervical spine too? I'm sure somewhere they have "gentle beginner" classes.

I like your approach to these things--keep looking up!

Ruth

Ruth, I forgot to ask. Did you drink the vinegar and did it help?

Sharon

Hi Ruth, thanks for the reply. A lady who worked in a health food store told me the same thing. She said she had heel spurs and drank organic vinegar (with the mother in it) and water. I bought some and did it for a while, then forgot about it. You're right, bone is bone no matter where it is. Maybe I'll start doing that again. I like the taste of vinegar, so that won't be a real problem, but it's not really good first thing in the morning! Wouldn't it be wonderful if such a simple thing would work? I'm not ruling out Divine Intervention either. The Lord has done so many things for me that only He could do, and He is the Great Physician, so if it's time for me to be completely healed, He will do it. If not, then He'll see me through.

Have a great Sunday, Sharon

Sharon--

When I had bone spurs in my heels, my chiropractor cousin recommended that I drink apple cider vinegar (something like 2T/day) because she said it helped your bone reabsorb the spurs somehow. Maybe it will help for back spurs, too. It certainly wouldn't hurt, as long as you like sour! And don't give up on divine intervention, either...

Ruth

Gloria, I will pursue all avenues. Maybe the pain management will help the pain long enough for me to feel like sitting at the computer for hours trying to find someone or something that will fix the problem.

The last time I went to pain management was is the mid 90's with my lower back. I had steroid injections. I don't want to keep having those because the steroids aren't good for your body and they stay in your body for a long time. Hopefully, there will be something better now. I'll at least go and see what they have to offer. If I don't want it, I don't have to do it.

Thank you to everyone who is praying. I'm doing the same for the people on this board, that you'll receive the grace and strength to make it through whatever issues you might have.

Have a great weekend, Sharon in TN

I'm a nurse and I guess the best advice that I would give would be to pursue every avenue available. If you are not satisfied with any doctor, move on. There are too many good ones out there for you to stay with someone who is not helping. With microsurgery, lasers, minimally invasive procedures etc the options are growing. Don't ignore pain clinics, they are developing more procedures and treatment options than just cortisone injections and medication. My prayers are with you and all the rest of this community who are hurting or disabled. Gloria