Minimize the Unseen Issues of Chronic Pain and Other Health Problems

Chronic pain has other, chronic fallout that most people, even doctors, tend to forget.

Our society tends to focus on those things that revolve around money. Health "costs" are exaggerated to convince the general public that certain behaviours, usually those that feel really good but religion has lots of little taboos about, are detrimental as they draw money away from business....the old "decreased productivity" argument. You rarely hear that about chronic pain. Something that is so subjective is almost impossible to convince people that it causes more harm than addiction, but the powers that be feel VERY comfortable denying pain meds, using the "addiction" arguments...aka "drug seeking behavior". There are few places where you can speak comfortably about the joy you have when you are nto in pain due to your taking vicodin, methadone, or any of the other opiods, because most people will be thinking "you feel good because you are high"...or..."you HAVE to have these drugs so you are and addict". Who can you talk to?

Your Beloved

As you writhe in pain, your partner sits by helplessly and wonder how many more times they can be around you when you are having a serious flare-up. They wonder how long they can handle your little reports on how you are feeling. They wonder how long they can be the basic provider for housing and food because your pain keeps you from the workplace so often that you cannot hold a job for long, and when you do have money, most of it is used to get more medications. Do we dare ask about a sex life?

Finding Help

You need to spread the burden of your situation around so that your partner, husband, wife, doesn't have the double whammy of watching you writhe and then having to go through the list of "wonders". Getting is a good start and with a laptop you can sit in bed. Take my word for it, I am typing in my bed right now....sexy huh? Just kidding...but I am typing this in bed because I had a pretty painful morning, but I digress. Get online and look for message boards, e-groups, and places like that so that you can see what others are saying about the pain and the conditions that keep it going. It shows you that you are not nuts because there will be at least two other people sharing their symptoms, moods, and things they have discovered that can take the edge off. They will strike a familiar chord in you when you realize their pain is the same as yours. It is a huge relief to know that you are not totally alone, and your spouse will be glad when they see the look of relief on your face.

Remember that your limitations and pain are real and deserve respect. Seek those who understand and avoid those who refuse to.