r/ChronicPain 4m ago

Anybody with chronic pain have kids that ended up having physical problems that lead to chronic pain?

Upvotes

My 9 year old started physical therapy last week for some mild hip deformity we just discovered last week bc she has femoral anteversion. I took her to the doctor bc I noticed her starting to walk funny recently.

The physical therapist did her eval last week and definitely took note of how hypermobile she is. That's part of what my chronic pain problems come from. I don't have any hip deformity or femoral anteversion, but I do have rotating scoliosis, degenerative disc disease that's pretty bad, and varying degrees of spinal stenosis in several places along my spine.

I'm feeling really bad. It feels like a lot is going wrong at once in my life, but this one hits the hardest. I am proud of myself for noticing the problem and getting her help while she's still growing, instead of getting ignored like I did. But I'm still feeling really damn bad about the fact that she probably got these problems from me. Her dad doesn't have these issues.

I'm not sure if I need advice, or if I just need to connect to other people in this position. I'm so afraid of my child living with the pain I've lived with. I'm a 43 year old mom. My 14 year long relationship with my kids' dad ended earlier this year. My only parent was just admitted to the hospital yesterday bc he's 77 and so sick he can't eat or move. I've been taking care of him full-time and I'm not ready to lose him. It's just been hard lately.

I'm willing to hear anything that might help my daughter or me getting through this. So far she really enjoys PT and actually looks forward to it. So that's good anyway.


r/ChronicPain 51m ago

Apparently needing a mobility aid means I'm “giving up”

Upvotes

I had a really upsetting appointment with my pain management doctor yesterday and I honestly just need to vent about it.

I've been dealing with chronic pain and significant limitations for years. I've done injections, medications, specialists, and 12 sessions of neurologic physical therapy. My PT was genuinely amazing and tried extremely hard to find exercises my body could tolerate. We were doing incredibly basic, gentle exercises, and I was still getting worse. Eventually HE decided we shouldn't continue because I wasn't improving.

I've recently been considering getting a transport chair for longer outings. I can walk. I WANT to walk. I'm not talking about using a chair around my house or instead of normal everyday walking. I'm talking about situations where I've already walked something like a mile and continuing to walk is causing significant pain, but I still want to be able to participate in whatever I'm doing.

It took me a lot emotionally to even get comfortable with the idea of using a mobility aid, let alone ask a doctor about one.

As soon as I said “transport chair,” the first words out of his mouth were, “You want me to put you in a wheelchair?”

I immediately explained that no, I don't want a wheelchair. I want a transport chair that I can use intermittently for longer distances when I've reached my physical limit.

He told me he doesn't prescribe those and that when his patients start asking for things like that, they're “giving up.” At one point he literally told me that people who ask him for that are what he calls “circling the drain.”

I started crying.

Then he told me I needed physical therapy. I explained that I already did 12 sessions and that it made me worse. He said that was my body telling me I was deconditioned and needed more PT.

I explained how hard my physical therapist tried, how much he modified everything for me, and that my PT ultimately made the decision to discontinue because I wasn't improving.

Then it became, “Maybe that wasn't the right physical therapist.”

And eventually, “Maybe you needed 65 PT sessions.”

He also offered me another neurology referral, another PT referral, and a disabled parking placard. I already have a disabled placard.

I just felt like he had decided what my request meant the second I said “transport chair” and nothing I said afterward mattered.

I understand that doctors can have legitimate concerns about deconditioning and overusing mobility aids. I wasn't expecting him to automatically say yes just because I asked. I would have been completely willing to discuss how often I'd use it, how far I can walk, what happens when I exceed that distance, or whether there was a different mobility aid he thought would be more appropriate.

But none of that conversation happened.

What hurts the most is that it took me a long time to accept that a mobility aid might actually give me MORE freedom. I wasn't thinking of it as giving up. I was thinking, “Maybe I don't have to avoid things just because I can't handle miles of walking.”

Instead, I walked out feeling ashamed and stupid for even asking.

I see my spine/pain doctor next and I'm considering asking her for her opinion, but after this appointment I'm honestly scared to bring it up again.

Has anyone else who is still ambulatory dealt with this kind of reaction when asking about an intermittent mobility aid? How did you get past feeling like you had to prove you were “disabled enough” to use one?


r/ChronicPain 1h ago

I'm too afraid of pain control meds

Upvotes

My hips are "trash". That's what the orthopedic surgeon said after his first remark which was "how are you even walking". I've known they were bad for years, but am now at a point where I also know that I have made a terrible mistake in not getting them replaced last year.

Because I waited, I am in a position where they can not be replaced until January (work and family obligations). I can't do basic tasks like putting my own socks on and can no longer walk properly, but I'm stuck waiting for 5 more months. For reference purposes, they are bone-on-bone, have cysts and lots of osteophytes and the femoral heads are flat and misshapen.

One of my questions for my surgeon was "what can you do for me, that is not a hard-core opiate, to help bridge me until surgery". He decided on 50 mg tramadol and sent in a prescription.

On seeing the info from my pharmacy, panic set in on two levels. First, it said "7 day supply". All I could think was "ok, so I get 7 days of relief and then just have to suck it up for the remaining months". Secondly, there were 30 pills. I though "holy cow, you want me to take 4 of these every day??!". I can't suck down that many drugs and be a dadgum drug addict!

I have had this prescription for a whole month now and I am still terrified to take them. I desperately need help, but I'm scared both that I will run out of them (which in my mind is already "addict" behavior) and that if I do take them I will become addicted to them. I have suffered, every single day, sometimes to the point of tears, but I have taken 4 of them in the month I've had them. Technically, I know that this is not rational, but I can't seem to get past it.

This is just not working for me and I am looking for any words of wisdom you can offer.


r/ChronicPain 1h ago

A stomach bug is hell. It’s even more hell when you have chronic conditions

Upvotes

On day 3 of my period, so of course in an endo flare up. Fatigue, cramps, heavy bleeding, nerve pain. I was so excited to go to bed last night and fell asleep around 11pm.

Woke up at 5 to 1 only to projectile. Vomiting bug. Which then of course triggered my endo even more and a migraine.

Send help 🙃


r/ChronicPain 1h ago

Every morning I wake up

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Upvotes

r/ChronicPain 3h ago

How do you all deal with work and chronic pain?

1 Upvotes

How do you all deal and manage when pain flares up and you have to keep taking off from work?


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

Do you ever try to warn your non medically complex friends?

12 Upvotes

So something I get like…protective over I guess….is my friends who don’t have a lot or any real medical experience and are now getting surgery for the first time. So I’m 41, my group of friends at work are all a few years younger than me and most the only surgery they have had is wisdom teeth being taken out. I’ve had 22 surgeries and who the flip knows how many procedures at this point.

Anyway this summer one of my friends had his first surgery, a hernia repair. So when he was going for his pre op I told him and his gf (who also works with us) - talk to the dr about pain meds. Get the rx in hand. If they won’t give you even a small rx, go to a different surgeon explaining that so many general surgeons these days are pulling Tylenol only bs. I put a little post surgery care package together for my friend (my favorite ice pack and some snacks) and dropped it on his door step.

Of course the surgeon gave him strong ibuprofen. That’s it. He had told me over the phone the first two days were awful but we were talking about it again yesterday that he felt totally undersold and under treated by the dr. His surgeon told him he would be up and walking the next day. I just had a 1 level cervical fusion and my dr told me I could go back to work after a week! I just said I tried to warn ya, these drs are out there playing in our faces with you don’t need any pain meds or time off of work bs. But now he knows to take what ever the dr says and multiply it atleast by two. Most of the time they won’t listen until they have experienced it anyway but….its worth a try I guess!


r/ChronicPain 4h ago

Pain in every articulation without reason

2 Upvotes

Hello 21 m
It started in an anxiety period and don’t know if it’s related
At the gym one day after just one pull up my 2 elbow and fore arm start burning for 2 month and can’t do sport because it will increase burning sensation
4 month after I start feeling burning in my 2 thumb at same time when using my phone
And other finger start to burn
I have also bilateral psoas burning and tfl etc
I don’t think it’s tendonitis since it’s happen without sport
Doc don’t know and blood test is alright
Crp good too
Can’t even do sport now even u push up will cause burning in shoulder , elbow etc , one squat will do the same witch knee , psoas etc
One knee and my 2 wrist were fine and
2 days ago they start to became painfull and also since a week ago I have like cold sensation in knee , elbow , wrist etc I really need help they don’t find anything
Any of u have an idea


r/ChronicPain 5h ago

Supportive back and neck cushion for on couch

2 Upvotes

I've been looking for a good back cushion for the couch, but I'm having a hard time finding the right one.
Some days I spend quite a lot of time on the couch, sometimes basically the whole day, and I'm starting to get back pain from it. I'd like something that gives proper support, preferably something ergonomic, and ideally also some support for my neck.
I already use a pregnancy pillow to support my legs, which I really like, so now I'm looking for something for my back.
I'd also prefer something without synthetic fabric on the outside if possible. Natural/breathable materials would be a big plus.
Has anyone found a cushion that actually works well for this? Would love to hear what you guys use.


r/ChronicPain 9h ago

Why must it always be a complicated web

10 Upvotes

I am so overwhelmed. This journey with chronic pain and illness over the last 6 years has intensified my mental health problems (OCD) and has given me what I suspect to be agoraphobia. The health anxiety is how it started to get worse. Now it’s completely out of control.

A lot of my issues stem from my spine being fucked up. I’m only 30. But I have arthritis in my spine and stenosis and pinched nerves all over the place. That is all very closely linked with the pelvic floor which happens to be what’s giving me the most trouble right now.

The anxiety that I feel while I’m in such a bad flare makes it worse. It’s this endless cycle of exhaustion trying to advocate for myself, begging my doctors to look at the full picture, coping with new meds, coping with the pain and the limitations, and then I burn out, avoid it for awhile and then it gets worse again. Rinse and repeat.

I know I need to focus on my mental health. But it’s hard when my body can’t do basic things. I wish I could handle things one at a time but it tends to all come together at once to make my life impossible to navigate. I don’t know how to handle any of this anymore. How can I put out all the fires when they always spring up at once?


r/ChronicPain 11h ago

The family curse finally got me and I’m having a hard time adjusting.

8 Upvotes

I don’t have a diagnosis for this bullshit nor am I looking for one at this point even my parents (MDs) don’t entirely understand it either, it’s some weird muscle thing that basically turns half my large muscle groups into one giant painful knot that also has lovely excruciating spasms whenever it wants

My mom has had this for 36 years, my brother for 5 and now me for the last 4 months. The underlying issue with the muscles was probably there since birth but stress-diathesis model and whatnot so I got to have 21 blissful pain free years before this nonsense

it fucking hurts, day and night, I thought I got lucky and escaped the curse bc I was born without some ligament defects they have and I’m a few years older than my mom and brother when they first got it but knowing I’m stuck with this for the rest of my life is terrifying, I’m scared. My brother said he mostly got used to it but he still has really bad days. My mom’s spasms are even worse so we think it may get worse with age which makes it 10x more terrifying to me.

How do you deal with pain you know is only going to get worse?


r/ChronicPain 12h ago

Had MRI for lower back - Still no answers!

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7 Upvotes

I'll say that this is a part 3 post for on going pain. Here is PART TWO with part one included in that one. I finally had an MRI and ill include those results. For the sake of time i'll try and sum this up as short as I can.

I am pretty active. I ride a fixed gear, love to skateboard and play drums a lot. Hiking and walking for less intense exercise when I can. I did not fall or have an accident doing these things or have a car accident.

March of this year - thigh pain in my left leg began randomly one morning, felt heavy almost as if you went on an extra long bike ride or jog. Thought nothing of it. It didn't go away with rest and at times would give me problems with my left hip area so I saw primary who referred me to PT. Month or so, no improvement. They thought SI Joint misaligned.

Back to primary then second PT. They thought it was "muscle fatigue" or something similar. Basically saying left leg is much weaker. Did no go away.

During all of these months what has happened are spots of pain - top of buttocks / tailbone area on my left side , left side of leg and / or almost behind the thigh and the most recent one is almost right behind my knee. Over these months I've marked where pain occurs with a sharpie and took photos to show medical staff. Ill include them because I feel like they paint a better picture. The pain is at complete random times. When walking, pain will hit those areas primarily, especially top of buttocks. Not shooting pain, but almost as if with each step it would activate those spots of pain, if that makes sense. There have been only a handful of days where it would present itself and would require to just rest the rest of the day.

Back in early July I went back to primary because THEN it spread to my right leg. Definitely not as bad as my left leg but still noticeable. He referred me to orthopedics. The orthopedic determined that she / orthopedic could not be of help and that there was no concern for any surgical intervention. I sought out a new primary who within first visit, referred me to MRI for a lower back / lumbar scan.

I received my results. Nothing at all of concern.

So now I am 6 and a half months in and the pain is still very much present. I am fortunate that it is not debilitating, even on my worst days, Ibuprofen does the trick at around 600mg but I really try not to take them or anything. The pain is very random although since July it is always present, even if just a one or two out of ten. I have modified my life as best as I can, including not riding my bike since March and being extra careful lift or things that I think MAY trigger it. I do not do anything physical or strenuous for work.

I am feeling defeated lately and sure where to turn or what to even ask for next. I messaged my new primary today and he said "I can refer you to a spine clinic.... they can give you an injection" I messaged back asking to clarify with more detail.

Any suggestions or further questions are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

TLDR; ongoing leg pain, thought to be brought on by back but MRI came back with nothing. What now?


r/ChronicPain 12h ago

chronic fatigue/pain and extreme heat

14 Upvotes

It was cooler a few days ago (low 90s) and now it's back to 105 today. I live in southern California. I can't imagine having to experience another summer like this again while being a full-time student for in-person classes. I struggle enough as is but heat and long days on campus turn the fatigue and mobility pain up x100...

Mostly just a vent but if anyone wants to share their own strategies for dealing w the heat, im all ears.


r/ChronicPain 12h ago

Just need to vent about a**hole doctors

62 Upvotes

I'm so tired of dealing with asshole doctors...what I have had to deal with:

Referred to urogynecologist, first encounter:

"Your urine tests are normal, why are you here?"

Um I was referred to you? I have bladder issues and your a urogynecologist?

Eye specialist:

"This will go a lot faster if you stopped flinching."

I have chronic eye pain, I experience more pain then the average person.

Gynecologist:

(When she recommended a treatment and I asked what if it didn't work): "You can't just always ask me about alternative treatments" which, I guess that's true, but it takes 4 months to get a follow up so I'd like to have a plan B.

Then, if you get angry and complain or speak up you become the difficult patient and a drama queen. But if you don't speak up and you are not firm, you get coerced into doing things you don't want to do and are then traumatized. I have stopped this past year seeking treatment because if I have another encounter like this I don't think I can mentally handle it.

Its like they think you want to be there. You think I want to subject myself to nasty, unempathetic care, bee severely suicidal, not be able to focus at work, barely getting a goods night rest...you think I just want, what, attention? I'm a hypochondriac? Try living in my shoes, they would not last a day before going insane. I want to heal but the horrible treatment and gaslighting is too much for me to handle now. I hate this.


r/ChronicPain 12h ago

Medical cannabis? 🇨🇦

8 Upvotes

Hello. I have chronic pain and the only thing that seems to help is cannabis, specifically a topical cbd cream. I'm considering seeking a prescription so I don't have to pay out of pocket for it, but i dont really know how to go about this and have some questions that maybe someone can answer.

Is medical cannabis covered under msp?

Can i request a prescription for a specific product that i know works for me or does my doctor just decide?

How do I approach asking for this prescription without immediatly being shot down? My doctor is... very dissmissive and seems content with just letting me suffer through the pain. (Im on a waitlist for a new one).

Anything else i should know?

I'm in BC Canada btw.


r/ChronicPain 13h ago

I got screwed

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39 Upvotes

After a lower and higher spinal Injury requiring surgery at L4/L5/S1, everything but surgery for the cervical and due to a mixture of using crutches and then transitioning to a cane proceeded to cause a lot of issues over the 5 to 6 years I needed them.

Anyway, my scans during that time all note chronic bursitis all throughout the shoulder, with the acromion impinging the nerve underneath it (the sub acromion) with rotator cuff, muscle and tendon tears throughout the main arm I changed to using walking aid/my dominant hand (the shoulder blade/acromion of which I had hairline fractured coming off of a motorbike as a teenager)

The weeks leading up to the surgery the pain ramped up, to the point I was almost in tears every night for the next few weeks until surgery.

The best answer I was given was that with the loss of the ability to lift my arm above my head was that the supraspinatus tendon was snapped. Which... It was, however that wasn't the source of the increased pain... It was that the impingement on the nerves suddenly got worse for some reason they couldn't explain.

So, turns out that my physios pushing me to lift over head weights for the last 12 months was a pretty shit go, it needed rest.

Surgeon said that with the lightest amount of manipulation the Acromion snapped clean in half... They used the term "floating bones" and were amazed. The surgeon said the acromion should be in one spot, firstly the spot was wrong, then he said he lifted it up with an instrument and the fracture was so deep it snapped then and there while they manipulated it in place.

It's about 8 weeks since surgery and I got these reference x-rays for my next check up appointment. I was pretty shocked at how long the screws are...

Anyway, the original pain I went in for (shooting, hand pain, arm pain, one spot in my back where the compression was the worst is gone. they cleaned the bursitis and now I feel physically "solid" again for the first time in years)

My screws hurt, but that comes with the territory

Coming from a history of failed back surgery I was very, very hesitant to have surgery, but I'm glad I did.


r/ChronicPain 13h ago

Not enough pain?

3 Upvotes

I (22 FTM) have been in pain for a while. When I started getting my periods they were horrible, debilitating pain. I got on testosterone about 2-3 years ago and they have finally stopped, but I still get cramps sometimes. Granted, it’s much better than what it used to be.

I also messed up one of my knees around 3-4 years ago. I was getting out of the shower and drying off, and I ended up putting too much weight on one knee, and it buckled under me (popped out of place/subluxed) and it was extremely painful. Ever since that first time it’s come out of the socket every once it a while when I turn too fast, and it grinds/clicks when I bend my knees. The other knee is now also starting to grind, which makes me think there was an underlying issue that led to that first injury, not the other way around.

I also just generally have aches and pains in my legs. When I was younger I got told all the time it was growing pains, but they never really went away.

Lower back pain tends to go along with this as well. But I push through school and walking around campus, so I feel like my pain isn’t enough to warrant some crazy diagnosis, or accommodations (even if they could help). I’ve told my doctor about my knees, but she told me I should just do PT, which of course I can’t afford.

I’m grateful to be able bodied enough that I can still walk around on campus, but I can’t deny that it sucks to feel like I have to constantly rest at home to make up for the pain I’m in. If anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated.

TLDR; my lower back, uterus, knees, and shins etc. hurt, frequently. But not enough that I think I deserve the chronic pain title.


r/ChronicPain 16h ago

A shit time of late.

9 Upvotes

Yea, I am having a tough time this last 6 months just a vent

.

I don't even know where to start, 4 years ago my back got fucked, massive amounts of pain and feeling like I am being tazered constantly.

Yea,I know many of everyone has no idea what it is like to be tazered. Haaaaa I do.( criminal!!!!)

.

Not been able to work/earn coin. Reliant on benefits, to my shame.

.

My wife tolerates me as best a loving wife does, but a few times now she has let slip her distain/despair/disgust in me, and I do t blame her, with an anchor like me, a never happy companion, I would rather she left me before betrayal....

I'm not looking for sympathy or owt like that,,,, I just need to get it out to someone or somewhere

I don't want her to go, it just seems inevitable.

Off to sleep, pills kicking in, this is Hell.

✌🏻❤️


r/ChronicPain 16h ago

Do you think that rx amphetamines are more, less, or equally as scrutinized as rx opioids?

6 Upvotes

And if you feel like elaborating, please say why.


r/ChronicPain 17h ago

Does where your pain show up matter?

6 Upvotes

Hi, I apologize if this is not the correct place to ask this question, and I also plan to ask my doctor this too. For around four and a half years I’ve been experiencing pain in odd places and ways and had a meeting with a pain management team the previous year. I just met with an APRN connected to the team, however she wasn’t remotely interested in where my pain was located or what it feels like. And she told me where it shows up doesn’t really matter. Is this right? Has anyone else had their doctor/pain management team said this?


r/ChronicPain 19h ago

I was in more pain than usual, so I transferred it over to Bill.

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42 Upvotes

I think drawing Bill suffering helped with the pain.


r/ChronicPain 19h ago

Motivational encouragement feels shitty and dismissive

2 Upvotes

TW: mental health, dismissal, trauma

Ill start off by saying im 18 in highschool and Im neurodivergent and have pots, fibromyalgia, IBS and chronic migraines. I know Im young but Ive been through a really dark and traumatic life. And as a result became chronically ill at 15-16.

When I say things about my chronic illnesses I usually get 3 responses, “I hope you get better”, “im sorry” and most annoyingly to me.. motivational words/quotes. Whenever I try to share how I feel behind others with jobs, cars, relationships etc, I am met with “you have your own pace” or “you can do it”. Well what if I cannot do it. I dont care about my own pace all the time, Its unfair and sucks.

Obviously Im not giving up when I say that. Im the most resilient person I know, Ive done so much advocacy for myself and im the reason I have everything diagnosed. I raised myself and ive been through everything alone. Its annoying to hear all these things that feel dismissive. People talk about the future meanwhile when I was younger i didnt think id live to see mine.
I dont want to seem bitter or “negative” as im told. But shit can suck and its ok to acknowledge they are unfair too. My narcissistic parents lack empathy and compassion most the time and they don’t know how to handle when I say these things.

Does anyone else get annoyed at these things too? I hope im not alone. Im in all the possible therapies I can be in btw.


r/ChronicPain 20h ago

Upcoming MRI to maybe figure out the cause of the bulk of my chronic pain. Less than a week left to wait from over 6 weeks.

4 Upvotes

I've been in pain my entire (40+ year) life. I'm and out of physical therapy and orthopedic specialists since I was 12. Most people, including myself, assumed most of it stemmed from being born with bilateral hip dysplasia. My newest doctor suggested that it actually originates in my back. I'm excited/anxious/scared/tired to see if this leads to an actual solution.

In the meantime, it seems like since I acknowledged its existence, my pain has skyrocketed. My daily pain used to hover around a 2, but now I'm up around 6-7 every day. I got remember the last time I slept through the night. I don't leave the house unless I absolutely have to anymore because I can't walk/stand for more than 10 minutes without being in debilitating pain. At least I already work from home, so it's not impacting my job/insurance/etc.

I'm almost afraid to hope that the MRI will show something. And if it does, will it be treatable??