feel like giving up!!!

I too suffer with continual pain but mine is because of metastastic breast cancer which translates to metastases on my spine. That pain is reasonably under control with buprenorphine patches but now I have terrible pain down my left side in the rib area and nothing is touching it. I am having a bone scan tomorrow so that may show something new but I wont get the results until I see the oncologist on the 13th. The thought of having to hang around the hospital for hours while the radioactive dye moves round my body with this pain is awful. I hope you get some respite from your pain soon.

I also endorse acupuncture. It’s non invasive and a good practitioner can work miracles.

I need advice. My husband retired 3 years agoand has become co-dependent. Very rarely do I get alone time. It's gotten so bad, that I literally have to scream at him to get him out of the house. And I'm not proud of that. He bought golf clubs and they sit around unused. He won't do anything without me. He's already on antidepressants and antianxiety meds. I am getting very resentful and unhappy. He has no friends, no hobbies, and a lack of understanding my needs. God help me.

As Rosenoir has mentioned, have a go at acupuncture. It helps rheumatism in lots of cases, so I've heard.

Swimming, exercise in the gym, cycling all help my husband, with periodic physio/ osteopathic treatments, but he has specific problems with his discs. Also had two surgeries, and now he has been to a pain clinic, and they’ve talked about nerve blockers. He’s tempted to try them, but is also conscious of doing more damage, if he doesn’t feel pain, which is a warning of course, that something is wrong. Is yours non- specific pain, or do you have a diagnosed condition? I know how my husband feels at times. Everything is such an effort. All the best to you.

Have you tried acupuncture? I know somebody with severe back pain that has had all the treatments you have.

She tried acupuncture not really thinking it would make a difference but it works for her, she has it every 4 weeks and costs about £40. It is available on NHS in some areas.

I am sure anything is worth a go, constant pain is not something you can live with.

Chronic pain is so debilitating travelasfar I understand how low you feel. Good advice here, pain management clinics sound like a positive step. Cornergran is right about hydrotherapy as well, I hope you get some relief soon.

Have you tried pilates? I was told to try it but have not done so yet. On new painkillers and helping a bit but side effects make me drowsy which is not a bad thing as generally I do not sleep well and make me thirsty so I drink a lot of water.

I'm a chronic back sufferer too, travelsafar so deep sympathy. Do you know the reason for it? Has it been properly diagnosed? It seems dreadful that nothing can be done for it. Is it arthritis in the spine? That's what mine is.
I'm on stronger painkillers just recently but limit taking them as they cause havoc with my digestion. I find a bit of exercise daily does help. I really hope you can find some relief from pain as it very difficult to live with. Sending you lots of good wishes.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Yes, it’s just overwhelming at times travelsafar and being told to just get on with it is oh so unhelpful as chronic pain. can impact every area of life. As others have suggested referral to a pain management clinic would get you to a consultant who understands the debilitating nature of chronic pain and also understands that we’re all different. It’s not a one size fits all approach. There are a whole raft of techniques out there that can help. If there’s even a small improvement it’s better than none. Please ask for a referral even if the clinic isn’t on the doorstep it could be worth it. One other thought is a hydrotherapy pool if there’s one in your area, warm water and understanding staff who can tailor gentle movement to the individual. Please don’t give up, if necessary see a different GP and always but always focus on the very worst days while you explain the issues.

I know just how you feel. I get back pain. Some days it is so bad I can't walk around supermarket. It can be excruciating for a few days then it eases off. I have finally seen the specialist and had mri scan. He thinks pinched nerves but waiting for scan to confirm. If it is this there is operation that can cure it. My mom and sister have had it and another sister waking in queue for operation. You should demand GP sends you to specialist. I have had several different painkillers but nothing helps. If it is pinched nerves operation eases them lose and widens route they take. Try not to lose heart.

I found that just being in a swimming pool gives such relief from back and knee pain. If this works for you then I suggest you buy a hot tub for your garden.

Travelsafar
You have my complete sympathy as I too struggle to live with constant pain in many parts of my body.
Some of the pain is osteoarthritis on both knees. I can't have replacements because my overall health is too poor and I have been refused help by two hospitals.
I can't walk I use a wheelchair but not because of the OA. But from another condition I don't want to write it all out in a forum I just wanted to say that I understand.
I have to take it a day at a time.

I really do not understand why the Govt won't let us try the Medical Cannabis. I have friends in Canada and US they tell me that survive their pain with that help.
Our Govt says they want more proof but one of the MP's husband is making huge amounts of money from growing and selling this abroad? They know it helps.
Why do they let us suffer?

Don't get too down about losing your mobility though. It is awful But you can still have a rewarding life from a wheelchair. I also used to be superactive like you and I nver had a car (I walked or used buses).
This life is my nightmare but I cannot let it beat me. If that makes sense? I am more than just a body in pain. I have a heart and brain.
I have many bad days because of the pain though. Again I do not understand why the govt thinks it is acceptable.

And any doctor who tells you to live with it doesn't know what pain is.
I am trying to learn about how the body experiences pain from a book called Explain Pain.
There are a number of websites I am trying to look at. I find the pain really drains my brain though and progress is small.

If you go to a Pain Management Clinic you can get advice and support. It might be worth starting there.
Best Wishes

Have you tried seeing a professional sports physio?

ry an Actipatch ,even as a temporary measure .My daughter used these for her fibromyalgia pain and they were a great help.Unfortunately nothing works for longer than a few months with fibro so she's been trying loads of other things.CBD oil being another that did help .You can buy a trial size Actipatch online and it lasts for around a week .Its worn 24/7 and I think its worth a try .

A friend of mine was in this situation and she was referred to Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital for a pain management course. www.rjah.nhs.uk/Patient-Visitors/Films/Oswestry-Pain-Management-Programme-Film.aspx
It is a 3 week residential course. You need to be referred by your GP.

My friend went into it very reluctantly and with no hope of any positive outcome - but to her surprise it resulted in a massive improvement for her.

Maybe you could look into this. I wish you lots of luck with this - back pain is just awful.

I know you have tried everything but a good osteopath can really make a difference and can tell you if there is something out of alignment which is causing the nerve pain.
I describe mine as toothache in my spine or buttock when it is acute.

I found a book at the library which was really good and explained why we get back pain and how to deal with it.
I think it was just The Back Book. There was no magic cure but ways to deal with the pain. Actually a quick google shows so many books devoted to back pain if there was a cure wouldn't it be wonderful.

I also find yoga helps.

Chronic pain must (understandably) drag you down. I cannot imagine what it must be like for you, bless. Agree with others, referral to pain relief clinic. Maybe some physio.

Your quality of life is suffering. How come we can put a man on the moon yet pain control is so elusive?

Hope you find help soon. x

Can I suggest you speak with your GP and get a referral to your local pain clinic...
My son suffered terribly and this option has opened up some new doors in terms of treatment.

Has your doctor referred you to a specialist? If he hasn't get him to do so and also ask for a referral to a pain clinic.

Also .. periodically suffer horrendous back pain...i.e right now..had twinges on Friday...then woke at 2.30a.m today...cried with pain trying to get out of bed, took me about ten minutes to get to the kitchen (bungalow so shouldn't be hard!) Took painkillers..but couldn't sit or lie down..so had to stand in the kitchen holding onto the worktop until about 5.30a.m...struggled all day albeit probably about 25% better...but actually feeling scared of going to bed..... because once am lay down...it is so so hard to get up.... crazy thing is...when back is okay..am fit&supple& agile

painsupport.co.uk/forums-clubs/

This is a truly supportive forum set up by a patient and full of useful information and helpful shared knowledge.

Have you tried relaxation/hypnosis tapes? Even if you are sure they won’t help you it’s well worth trying. Lots of free help on YouTube. Even 5 minutes zoned out can help you get through the day. A psychotherapist told me you only need to be intelligent and open minded for it to help.

Constant pain is utterly draining. I've had back pain now and again but only once severely. I didn't know what to do with myself while I had it, nothing relieved it except osteopathy and even then only for a short length of time. Thankfully it eased off, though I never discovered why it started in the first place.

I'm probably teaching granny to suck eggs(!) but have you looked at alternative therapies?

So sorry you are feeling so down. Until you experience year after year of chronic pain you have no idea how much effort it takes to keep putting one foot in front of the other. So much easier to pull the curtains across, shut out the world and slump in front of the tv all day.

I hope you can dig yourself out of the black hole once more and start to find pleasure in life. Do you have any walking football or cricket nearby? Perhaps less strain on your back?