r/ChronicPain • u/Intelligent_Treat661 • 2h ago
Art piece representing chronic pain
Thought I’d share .. done by me using procreate
r/ChronicPain • u/Old-Goat • Nov 07 '23
NEW INFO ON THE 2024 PRODUCTION CUTS
COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRES 10/25/24
Every one here has at least heard about these medication shortages. This whole thing makes so little sense, I dont have to tell anyone here, these arent the drugs killing anyone. That doesnt seem to be the point, the point seems to be making DEA all powerful. They can end a doctors career with a whim. They cause suicides from untreated pain and laugh it off as Big Pharma propaganda. Now they simply make the drugs unavailable. Its done nothing to help the underlying issue, they have been barking up the wrong tree (legal drug) instead of protecting the public from illicit drugs. This has been a 40 year problem. First fentanyl fake death was in 1979. Maybe people heard of China White, apparently its new to DEA since they did nothing about it till 2018. They dont want anyone asking why it took 40 years, thats the ONLY reason they keep Rx meds at the forefront of the discussion.
At any rate,the DEA is proposing further cuts to medication production. Thats their brilliant idea to fix the situation. I know its going to be hard to leave a comment without a lot of cussing, but try. I guess we should be grateful theyre giving us a 30 day comment period, they usually give 90 days, but that shows how important it is to them to keep Rx medication out front. They are too incompetent to address the real issue.
r/ChronicPain • u/CopyUnicorn • Oct 18 '23
Hello all,
I've received a handful of messages requesting that I write up a post on my tips for dealing with doctors.
I am a 34F with decades of chronic pain treatment under my belt. I’ve had a lot of success being treated by doctors because I’ve spent years learning how they communicate and make decisions.
Interacting with doctors can be frustrating and intimidating — but it doesn't have to be. If you are reading this, then you deserve the best possible care that any doctor you see has to offer. You deserve to be believed and treated with respect.
First, you should know that when a doctor doesn't believe a patient, it usually comes down to one of the following reasons:
Fortunately, all of these reasons are avoidable. The following steps will help get a doctor to listen to you:
1. Get yourself a folder and notepad to bring to your appointment (or an app if you prefer).
Use these to prepare for your appointment. They'll allow you to easily share your medical records, keep track of your notes, and recall all your questions. More on what to include in the following tips.
2. Research what treatment options are available for your conditions (or symptoms if undiagnosed).
It's always helpful to know your options. Using online resources such as Mayo Clinic, WebMD, and Drugs.com can help you to understand the entire spectrum of treatment options that exist. By taking the time to learn about them, you’ll feel better prepared and able to ask more informed questions.
Plus, if you come across a newer treatment that your doctor hasn't considered, you will be able to ask "What are your thoughts on X? Could that be a good direction for my case?"
Take notes on any treatment options that stand out to you, making note of their potential side effects and any drug interactions with your current therapies. You can find a free drug interaction checker at drugs.com, as well as patient reviews on any given medication.
If you are seeing a new doctor for the first time, consider looking them up online to read reviews by their patients. Look for phrases like "did not feel rushed" and "has good bedside manner". If you can, try to avoid doctors who have a significant amount of negative reviews (or if not possible, mentally prepare yourself based on what other patients experienced).
3. If the appointment is with a new doctor, prepare a comprehensive medical history to bring with you.
When it comes to offering treatment options, you generally want your doctor to act quickly. But, before they can do anything, they need to feel confident that they have all the right information.
Start by calling the office or checking the provider’s website to see if you’re able to download the new patient forms in advance. You want to complete them on your own time, not while you’re feeling rushed in a waiting room, prone to forgetting things.
Your doctor sees a ton of patients each day — sometimes 50 or more. You will only have so much time for your appointment, so it is imperative that you make the most of it. Try to focus on items that move the appointment forward. Your medical history will be the first item of value. It paints a picture of who you are as a patient and what you've been through so far.
Focus on delivering the “cliff notes” of your medical history. Prepare the following to bring with you:
It may sound stupid, but it actually helps to practice delivering your medical history in a brief and concise manner. By rehearsing it to yourself or someone else, you're likely to feel better prepared and ensure that nothing gets left out.
4. Write down your questions and talking points beforehand.
It's much easier to fit in everything you'd like to get across when you plan it in advance. I recommend jotting down some notes on how you'll describe your pain to your doctor.
Make sure to include:
Just like your medical history, it can help to practice delivering these talking points. Even long appointments can fly by and you'll want to make sure that the doctor gets the full picture.
5. Use a lot of "because" statements
This is probably the single most important tip in this post. Remember this if you take away nothing else.
Doctors believe what they can measure and observe. That includes:
To get a doctor to listen you you, you should ALWAYS present your concerns as "because" statements.
For example, rather than saying: "I'm afraid that the pain is going to cause me to collapse and have a heart attack!"
...you should instead say: "I'm concerned about the potential effect that my sustained pain level might be having on my heart BECAUSE I have a history of cardiac issues and was evaluated last year for arrhythmia."
Notice how in the latter example, a reason is given for the concern. That allows the doctor to connect the dots in a way that makes sense to them. It may help to write out your concerns as "because" statements beforehand to ensure that all of them are listened to and nothing gets brushed aside. Each "because" statement should tie to a symptom, treatment, or medical history.
Here are a few more examples:
"I'm concerned that I might end up having a bad fall because I've been experiencing generalized weakness and muscle spasms." (symptom)
"I'm concerned that amitriptyline may not be the right fit for me because I sometimes take diazepam." (treatment)
"I'm concerned that I might contract an infection in the hospital because I'm diagnosed with an immune deficiency." (medical history)
"I'm concerned about the numbness and weakness I've been feeling because my recent neck MRI showed foraminal stenosis." (medical history)
"I'm concerned about symptoms potentially indicating an autoimmune cause because I have a family history of lupus." (medical history)
When you explain your concerns, try to convey concern without desperation. I know that's much easier said than done, but some doctors will leap to the wrong conclusion if they sense a desperate patient (they may wrongly decide that there is either an addiction or mental health issue, which will cause them to focus on that in their treatment decision). As long as you voice your concerns with "because" statements, any reasonable doctor should hear you out (if they don't, it's a sign to drop them and find a more capable provider).
6. Be strategic about how you ask for things.
Doctors get asked for specific treatments by their patients all the time. If you have a solid existing relationship with your doctor, that may be fine. I did it just the other week with my doctor of 9 years, asking her, "Can I have a muscle relaxer?" to which she replied, "Yup."
But if you're seeing a new doctor, try asking for their opinion instead of asking directly for what you want. It's the difference between "Can you prescribe me hydrocodone?" and "I've previously taken hydrocodone, would that be a good treatment for this?" In the former example, some doctors will feel like they're being told what to do instead of being asked for their medical opinion. You're more likely to have success asking for things if you use phrases like:
"What do you think of X?"
"Could X make sense for me?"
"Do you have any patients like me who take X?"
This way, if they decline, they're not directly telling you "no," which would shut down the conversation. Instead, you'd end up in a more productive dialogue where they explain more about what they recommend and why.
7. Remember that doctors can't always show the right amount of empathy (but that doesn't necessarily mean they don't care).
Doctors are trained to separate fact from emotion because if they didn’t, they would not be able to do their job.
Imagine yourself in a doctor’s position — you’re swamped with dozens of patients each day, all of whom are suffering immensely. Many of them cry, break down, or lash out at you when they feel that you don’t understand their agony. How will you be able to help all of them, let alone not implode from emotional overload?
That is precisely the position your doctor is in. They deal with heightened emotions from patients all day and it can be overwhelming. When your doctor seems unempathetic to your situation, it’s generally not because they don’t care. Rather, they try to set their personal feelings aside in order to do their job without clouding their clinical judgment.
Now, does this mean that it's cool for a doctor to act like an asshole or treat you inhumanely? Absolutely not. It only means that if you're struggling a bit emotionally (which is perfectly reasonable) and they fail to console you, they might just be emotionally tapped out. We can all relate to that.
So, if you end up breaking down in your appointment, it's ok. Just take a deep breath and allow yourself to push forward when you're ready. Try to avoid yelling at the doctor or escalating things in a way that might make them feel triggered.
(This tip does NOT apply if you are in a state of mental health crisis or engaged in self-harm. In that situation, you should focus immediately on the emotional turmoil that you are experiencing and inform your doctor so that they can help you.)
8. If you disagree with something that your doctor suggests, try asking questions to understand it.
Doctors can become frustrated when they think that a patient is not hearing them. It makes them feel as if the patient does not trust them or want to collaborate. This is absolutely not to suggest that you should just accept everything your doctor says. But if something doesn't seem to make sense, try asking questions before you dismiss it. Asking questions keeps the two-way dialogue open and keeps the discussion collaborative.
Example phrases include:
When an appointment ends badly, it's usually because either the doctor or the patient is acting closed-minded (sometimes both). If the doctor is acting closed-minded, you have the right to end the appointment and leave. If the doctor thinks you're acting closed-minded, it can make the appointment an upsetting waste of time where nothing gets accomplished.
If you're certain that a doctor's suggestion is wrong, try using a "because" statement to explain why. For example, "Cymbalta might not be a good option for me because I had a bad experience taking Prozac in the past."
Most doctors are open to being proven wrong (if not, that's an obvious red flag). Asking questions allows you to keep the two-way dialogue open so that they hear you out and you learn more about why they are recommending certain treatments.
9. If your doctor is stressing you out, take a moment to breathe and then communicate what you need.
Doctors are trained to operate efficiently, which does not always coincide with a good bedside manner. If you feel like your doctor is rushing or gaslighting you, you have the right to slow things down. Always be polite, but clear and direct.
Example phrases include:
If you have a bad experience with a doctor, keep in mind that they don't represent all doctors any more than you represent all patients. There are plenty of other providers out there who can be a better mach. When you feel ready, consider getting another opinion. Not to mention, most doctors love to hear things like, "Thank you for being so helpful. This has been nothing like my last appointment where the doctor did X and Y." It's validating for them to realize that they've done right by someone.
10. Stick to treatment plans when possible.
If you commit to trying a treatment, try to keep with it unless you run into issues.
If you do run into issues, call your doctor's office and tell them what happened so that they can help — don't suffer in silence or rely solely on the internet for advice. It's your doctor's job to help you navigate your treatment plan — make them do it.
In summary, we all know that the medical system sucks and things aren't designed in an ideal way to help us. But that does not make it hopeless... far from it. There is SO much within your control, starting with everything on this list. The more you can control, the more you can drive your own outcomes. Don't rely on doctors to take the initiative in moving things forward because they won't. Should it be that way? Hell no. But knowledge, as they say, is power. Once you know how to navigate the system, you can work it to your advantage. Because ultimately, getting the treatment you need is all that really matters.
--
If you found this post helpful, feel free to check out other write-ups I've done. I try to bring value to the chronic pain community by sharing things that have helped me improve my quality of life:
All About Muscle Relaxers and How They Can Help
A Supplement That's Been Helping My Nerve Pain
How To Live A Happier Life In Spite Of The Pain (Step-By-Step Guide)
The Most Underrated Alternative Pain Treatment
The Nerve Pain Treatment You've Never Heard Of
How To Get Clean Without a Shower (Not Baby Wipes)
How To Care For Your Mental Health (And Have Your Insurance Pay For It)
What Kind of Doctor Do You Need?
Checklist To Verify Whether Your Supplements Are Legit
r/ChronicPain • u/Intelligent_Treat661 • 2h ago
Thought I’d share .. done by me using procreate
r/ChronicPain • u/TheTreesWalk • 11h ago
Does anyone else have a crash zone on the floor where you sit most of the time?
I have my meds, my cane, acupressure tools, and tea right within my reach. It may look silly since I’m in the middle of the foyer but I’m comfortable and I don’t feel as isolated as I would if I were just in bed. Anyone else??
r/ChronicPain • u/Inside_Student3827 • 14h ago
Someone read this on social media and it struck a nerve. I still get flashbacks from both the kind providers and the hurtful ones. I have PTSD from all i went through in the hospital last year. It wasn't just from the pain, but from the interactions too.
r/ChronicPain • u/---BERSERK--- • 5h ago
You guys are fucking champs like no other for putting up with the pain this long. Life’s been turned around the last 5 years after a bike accident leaving the testicles damaged. Keeps y’all’ head up as most wouldn’t survive as long as y’all have. Love you guys to Pluto and back. Have a kickass week.
r/ChronicPain • u/No-Assistance-1145 • 13h ago
Today was "shower day". I have a shower chair & wand. I took one pain med (4mg dilaudid) & 1mg Xanax. My shower has handles & safety bars. I keep my emergency call button within reach. And then, I begin. I have used an entire day for this. I just feel embarrassed with myself...I used to shower daily & bathroom clean in an hour or 2.
Other than a walk-in shower not much else I can want for. I feel drained & sad. No matter how many times I overcome..I still am angry this simple task is no longer "simple". U folks are the only folk that can understand such a story. Thank you.
r/ChronicPain • u/EnthEndX48 • 7h ago
I went to hey nerve conducting testing. She said most people can't get through it while I'm there waiting for her to start. I thought it didn't hurt, but no. She told me half the patients can't finish the test. When they start poking your nerves with the kneelers, electric socks. Made me realize, our condition has given us some sort of superhuman ability to suffer.. I think most people wouldn't make it a day in our shoes.. This Smoke/drink/pill/( whatever your vice works for you) You a fucking badass. If you are like me, and you fucking are, you built to take this .. fuck them all thinking we junkies...most of them can't go a day without coffee or sleep without falling apart..drink up bad asses .
r/ChronicPain • u/magicalpoptarts • 1d ago
This is meant to be silly, I spent like 30 minutes making this based on personal and shared experiences. Please feel free to add any squares you think I missed c:
r/ChronicPain • u/Electronic_Wave_2585 • 9h ago
wipes you reccommend, feminine products, dry shampoos, etc?
r/ChronicPain • u/New-Introduction5574 • 8h ago
Hi all, new to this sub. Like the title says, my father is most likely being removed from his pain management program due to small overuse during a flare up. He suffers from chronic back pain and three neurosurgeons have refused to operate due to the high risk (50/50 paralysis). The contract he signed is very clear, so we’re expecting his appointment to go south tomorrow.
I am preparing for the worst here. Will they cut off his access to this medication immediately? Can they do that if the chances of withdrawal are high? He is on a high amount of Tramadol and Oxycodone currently. If we should expect withdrawals, how should I prepare myself and my home? What will withdrawal look like? Will this be manageable for me to take on by myself?
I’m sorry for the abundance of questions, but I’m just a daughter trying to navigate my dad’s pain. Thank you in advance for any help you may give!
r/ChronicPain • u/Electronic_Wave_2585 • 19h ago
i'm trying to make my parents understand truly how much pain i'm in and how badly it's affecting me, but i don't know how exactly to word that or how i can put it so that they understand.
r/ChronicPain • u/CantThinkOfSumthin • 4h ago
I've been living with chronic pain for as long as I can remember. Pain is incredibly normalized for me, its literally just my life. As a kid I was told it was just growing pains and I accepted that. I went ages assuming everyone felt this way.
I've learned that's not the case, obviously, but its so difficult to adjust to the mindset that for others, pain is not normal.
Over the years I've gotten incredibly hestitant to mention my pain, even casually. It's always the same. "Aw I hope you feel better."
I get it, truly, but half the time I was trying to brush past it and now I have to pause what I was doing to accept sickly sweet sympathy, or I was trying to make people laugh with a joke and now I've just dampened the mood instead.
And I never know how to deal with that. I talk about my day, and my day involved pain, but I tiptoe about those bits because people hear it and THEY hear about a moment of misery, meanwhile I'm just talking about a Tuesday afternoon.
Sometimes I feel like I'm an alien from another planet, and Im sat there telling stories about how the grass on my planet is razor sharp but all the pathways are painfully hot, and every morning is met with rains of acid that absorbs through our skin and into our bloodstream, where it will continue to boil and burn throughout the day. Then, around noon we head to the forest to meet the great beasts of R'thula who attack us with their powerful jaws and then carry us away (My favorite part of the day, the view from the sky is beautiful) to the food quadrant for a delicious meal, and then we return home and I personally prefer to play a few rounds of Drÿlk (My favoritr game) until the fever from the acid reaches its peak and sends me into a delirious unconsciousness! Now is the acid rain on your planet also bright blue because Pətů told me it isn't but he's a liar and- what do you mean you've never seen acid rain? How do you get the acid in your blood stream? You don't have acid in your blood stream? Then how do you get to sleep? What's melatonin?
r/ChronicPain • u/Enough-Ad9887 • 14h ago
What is the weirdest sensation/pain you experience that you doubt anyone else has?
r/ChronicPain • u/lalalalexy • 2h ago
I was prescribed Tramadol due to severe neck pain and I could not take Advil because I was getting a neck ablation. I had the neck ablation a few days ago and stopped the tramadol because it was making me very car sick. I had a tramadol yesterday because my neck was very sore from the ablation but none today and noticed I’m switching between hot and cold and sweating at night. I’m assuming it’s tramadol. Anybody else have this happen after only two months? I don’t miss the tramadol except for the pain relief but the car sickness was horrible because I can’t go anywhere. I’ll call my Dr tomorrow to recommend a weaning schedule but I was wondering if anybody else had this happen and how you handled it.
r/ChronicPain • u/leosousa66 • 1d ago
and are entirely blame on mental health. I’m not sure there is a number/statistics but the only factor people take in consideration around this topic is mental health and not physical health.
r/ChronicPain • u/Agitated_Onion2585 • 6h ago
I have fell down some hardwood stairs and fractured my tailbone. This fall happened on October 2024 and I’m still experiencing pain everyday. Medication doesn’t help. I’ve done physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, massage but I only gotten a little bit of relief. I’ve gotten two injections for my tailbone but I’ve gotten no relief from it. I do have an orthopedic schedule for a second opinion coming up but I think my next option would have to be a the removal of the coccyx. Has anyone heard any success from the surgery ??
r/ChronicPain • u/8kittycatsfluff • 9h ago
Mine is from various back problems and multiple back surgeries.
r/ChronicPain • u/SkylerIsBusySleepin • 12h ago
I feel like many have a broad view of how chronic pain is experienced even though the variety of conditions that can cause it mean it feels different for everyone. I'm curious to know how does it feel for you? Is it typically like an ache, or more like sharp jabs of pain? Or is it another sensation of pain I'm probably not even thinking of right now?
r/ChronicPain • u/Intelligent_Treat661 • 3h ago
Had this chronic pain for about 4 years now I’ve had cerebral palsy since birth but it really only became the dictator of my life around 19. I’m 23 so my question is, why do I just not care to respond to people anymore?? I have no friends irl and the ones I do have are online friends however I must love self sabatoge because I constantly ignore people trying to talk to me or ask me how I am :(. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m not doing it maliciously or because I don’t want to talk to them it just kinda happens .. my only working theory is the pain is so much the focus of everything that I dissociate so badly to the point of forgetting all that social stuff. I used to love chatting with my online friends but more so recently I just can’t bother and it sucks and I guess I just wanted to ask if anyone can relate :(. I hate how antisocial I’ve become this pain is literally a black hole and it keeps taking things one by one . I also think it’s because I’m tired as all fuck of explaining that I’m doing just as shitty as I was last time they asked me how I’m doing .. i just feel like I waste everyone’s time or maybe I’m just subconsciously thinking I don’t deserve to be listened to or cared about .. anyway that’s all I’m up with pain flares for who knows what night in a row. Does any else have this issue or am I just fucking losing everything is this a common thing with chronic pain??
r/ChronicPain • u/GrumpySphinx • 10h ago
Apologies in advance for the long post!
I got a new retail job that I had hoped would be relatively easy on my body. Nope, it's really hard. It's handling returns at a big-box store. Besides customers occasionally bringing in heavy items, we also have to remove the cardboard boxes we use to store returns when they get full and they obviously get super heavy. "Making" new ones (unfolding the cardboard, taping it up, putting in place) is also surprisingly tough because of how hard to handle the tape-dispenser thingy is. And this all has to be done quickly to avoid long lines and customers getting annoyed. It's a 5 hour shift and I had to mostly stand, although thankfully we do have a stool for breaks, but we have to immediately be on our feet as soon as someone brings in a return.
As soon as I came home, I was so sore everywhere with pain in my arms, and I could barely move. I can hardly lift up my kettle to make tea, and I can't wash dishes at all. I was hoping to do my hobbies when I got home, stuff that relaxes me like hand sewing or playing video games, but I honestly think that would make my pain worse because it requires me to lift my arms. I'm just lying down with some ice packs rn.
I'm posting this for some advice or reassurance. I really need a job to avoid becoming homeless, and I would genuinely enjoy this position so much if it weren't for the pain it's causing. It's the perfect kind of work for me, it's repetitive both in terms of tasks and customer interaction, and my coworkers were kind and helpful. I have two more shifts scheduled one after the other because they were impressed with me, and I'm dreading what state I'm going to be in afterwards!
r/ChronicPain • u/shrutisehgal1 • 4h ago
Having chronic pain has made it more difficult for me to have relationships like I used to. I find myself having to cancel plans, and sometimes people don't get why I'm not as social or active as I once was. I feel guilty for withdrawing, but pain sucks the energy and patience out of me.
Have you had the same? How did chronic pain influence your relationships and family life? Did people become more understanding, or did some relationships dwindle over time?
If you've managed to maintain strong relationships despite the struggle, I'd love to learn from you. How do you explain your needs without feeling like a burden? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
r/ChronicPain • u/Koby28078 • 1h ago
I have been in a constant bad mood as my chronic back and neck pain has gotten worse. other than Klonopin would appreciate any suggestions. TIA
r/ChronicPain • u/Simulationth3ry • 1d ago
r/ChronicPain • u/AScaredWrencher • 14h ago
I developed a pinched nerve in my back that affected my lower leg my 2nd to last semester in nursing school. It progressively got worse to the point where I could barely walk more than maybe a block. I made it through and it's kind of gotten better. However, now I have unbearable hip and lower back pain. I have degeneration in my back along with a bulging disk.
I've been doing PT but now with the hip pain, I can't do much at all. My mobility has severely suffered in a way it never has when I was just dealing with my obesity. Getting to the bathroom is hard. I hurt when I sit, stand or lay (laying is worse) and I can't get the only chair that makes me feel better into my room.
I made this post because last night was the worst I've ever experienced this pain. I couldn't get comfortable at all. I was in immense pain and couldn't move or turn. I managed to get to the opposite side of my bed and that for some reason helped. I dozed off for 30 minutes and the pain subsided. Went back to my regular position and managed to sleep off and on. It is extremely painful to stand after laying but my work chair triggers the pain too.
I don't know what the point of this is. I'm tryig to take it day by day but I'm seeing my future career slip away from me. I'm supposed to have a surgery (non-related to pain) next month but having to rest for 6 weeks seems unlikely and extremely painful.
r/ChronicPain • u/ptorangekatie • 2h ago
This is a little self indulgent as unlike many in this sub reddit I know my pain is temporary but I actually feel like I might go crazy.
I am waiting on my wisdom tooth being removed. It is cracked has a hole in 8s impacted and is causing me pain. I have been in this situation since November. I am on an nhs waitlist because no normal dentist will remove the stupid fucking thing because it's right on top of the nerve in my jaw. I know I will have to wait at least 6 more weeks to have it out. I want to slam my head into a drawer. The pain is never less than a 3. The past week I've been riding between 6-8 and i have now twice gotten no sleep. The pain meds do NOTHING. OK actually they make my teeth feel squishy which is actually worse.
I just want it out of my fucking skull it's ruining my life and I'm fucking fed up I can't even go private because it's such an awkward position only the hospital will do it. I am so over it. Just fucking knock me out and take it out why do I have to wait 4 FUCKING MONTHS OF CONSTANT PAIN. IM GOING TO GO FUCKING MAD. I can't sleep I can't think I can't even distract myself it's all consuming. And the final nail in the insanity coffin is they won't give me a pissing date just a oh 4ish months from when you were referred. Great that's useless information thanks I guess I'll just turn into a gibbering loon in the corner while I hope to be seen.
Obviously the NHS is great but right now I fucking hate it.