Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!809.1!Steven.Shockley
From: Steven.Shockley@p1.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Steven Shockley)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Pain
Message-ID: <10502@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 3 Mar 90 05:04:28 GMT
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Reply-To: Steven.Shockley@p1.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org
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Index Number: 7051

[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet]

I can sympathize with you.  I had a ruptured disc about 3 years
ago, and have had 2 surgeries so far, leaving me with severe back
and leg pain still.  Now they say I am developing arthrites (sp) in
my upper back as well.  I have nerve damage to both legs.  The pain
is there constantly, turning me from a active person into a home
body.  I took several pain medications and muscle relaxants,
swelling and inflimation etc.  But then one doctor called me a drug
addict because I took pain medication, so I quit to prove him
wrong.

I have to sleep with pillows under my legs, and have a cervical
pillow too.  I have to use Ice, and sometimes heat to help relieve
pain and swelling.  I use electrical stimulation TENS, also.  And
have to use 2 cains now to walk.  Doctors are saying I will have to
have at least one more surgery yet, and eventually could become
paralyzed from the waist down.  It's frustrating, I was Working for
the Federal Government when I was hurt in a accident ( their fault!
) and have had to fight them and Workmens Comp for the last 3 years
as well, with no result, except they say it's too bad that I got
hurt.  Living with severe pain constantly gets to you after a
while, and I know I'm not looking forward to having pain for the
rest of my life, as I am only 35 years old.  But I guess others
have more of a challenge.  It's nice to be able to talk to others
that live with similar problems.

--
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