I am going to investigate as to whether or not I have a case. When I first discovered this site, the title of my first discussion had to do with feeling that life as I knew it was over. And that pretty much describes what I have and still am suffering. This pain has been as intense, if not more than natural child birth, only it never stops and there is no reward at the end!
Hugs
Bless your heart! Staring life long pain head on is so depressing. I too have used steroids too much over a 30 year period. I have not lost much bone mass at 56, but my bones ache and I moan and cry through the night when it hits. My doc says that there is no pain med available to help it. The muscle spasms are extreme too.
My skin is thin and I bruise too easily. My hip and shoulder joints have died. Avascular Necrosis. I am still amidst the hip replacements. Cannot start the shoulders until the botched THR is resolved and healed.
For me the greatest challenge living with extreme pain is finding the mental path towards staying above it so I can find joy, instead of always being under it without joy.
It is tough
Hugs
Dawn
Dawn, I also find the mental/ emotional strain is really awful when you have chronic severe pain. When I had to give up showing ,training, and trail riding my horses it was devastating. When the last horse left and our ancient pony passed and was buried I cried for a very long time. Glad I didn't know then it would just get worse. Four joint replacements two back surgeries done and a THR looming, a person can go nutty dealing with all the pain that just
never stops completely. My husband is great but telling me to be glad is not
even worse is simply not helpful. . I am , however, very grateful for both him and good insurance.
Avascular Necrosis plus your other problems has to feel devastating. You must be a very strong person to keep sane with it all. I pray that you manage to find some hope, and with it peace & joy. Miracles still happen I've heard;
maybe soon there will be a breakthrough on joint replacements and/or AN
Love and best wishes.
Lee,
When you described the devastation of having to give up your life's work, I was reminded of my own losses when my health took away my beloved career. I was born with severe asthma and in my early 20's it nearly killed me and by age 27, my doc said no more work. I was on the, brink of advancing my career towards my ultimate goals, and had the job lined up to take me there and in the same week, I had to give up working period. I was working myself to death, in and out of the hospital.
Like you I sobbed and sobbed. It felt like a death and I was grieving. Then to add to it, by age 30, I lost 70% of my lung function. Hence all the steroid use for it saved my life and kept me breathing so I could raise my daughter. Now I am 56 and for the last ten years I have been raising and adopted my three granddaughters, so I figure it is a good thing I am still alive, but the price to breathe has been high.
I can feel what you have gone through having your life ripped out from under you. Everyone's pain is the very worst to them when they are in the middle of it. In those moments there is no silver lining and people do not always say the right things. Give yourself permission to feel your losses. The only thing I think I could share from experience, is to not stay long in the sad dark moments.
I sure wish I could take your pain away...
Love and hugs
Dawn
Yes, I also have one leg(left hip replaced, left leg longer). They measured and agreed, but told me to give it some time to sort itself out. I am in my 13th week. The biggest problem for me is the pain in my back caused by standing with more pressure on the left side, so I went to the cobbler and bought some lifts for my right shoe. Not a bad solution.
What you said about giving myself permission to feel my losses is really a key to going on.. Once I worked on that the next step was accepting the reality of my new life. That is a work in progress because I want so badly for it not to be true. But I have the benefit of having a very good husband who has been supportive & willing to take over some of the stuff I can't do.
i started volunteering to foster and train dogs for our local humane society so that filled in an empty place in my heart. I can no longer work with big breed dogs I love, but I have learned the positive traits of terriers & other small dogs. When I'm laid up my hubby is great with that too.
Dawn, how you managed all you do with such loss of lung function and joint deterioration is amazing ! I am in awe of your ability to raise not only your child but three granddaughters as well. I hope you appreciate all you have accomplished in such difficult circumstance👍
i guess after awhile we just learn to deal with pain and multiple surgeries.
Having a board like this is such great help with education,shared experiences, and moral support.
i wish you the very best this coming year. Good doctors,good outcomes and healthy children. Love
Thanks Lee. I seem to have been born into a life of a variety of challenges and I think I learned early on to roll with the punches.
There was a story I heard once about two olive trees. One was planted in the front yard in the best sunny spot and in the richest soil. The other tree was planted by the incinerator in the worst soil and received little sunlight. Also it endured the scorching heat from the flames in the incinerator, and needed to keep healing and reinventing it's shape to survive.
The tree in the front yard grew and blossomed beautifully. The other tree grew, but was a bit crooked with few blossoms.
Then one day a huge storm came by with strong winds and the lovely tree in the front yard was uprooted and torn apart and died. The incinerator stood tree stood firm, still rooted and only mildly affected.
I am the tree planted by the incinerator, and I am strong because I am used to less than ideal conditions.
It works for me!
Hope your holidays are wonderful and likewise, healthy.
Hugs
Dawn
Thank you for that story. Its very inspiring.
I to had impossible life to live to.and it did make me stronger too
God blessed you. Merry Christmas.
While I am not a physician, I have worked closely with a DO who specializes in the anterior approach to total hip replacement. Performmed on a hana table, this technique offers many advantages, one of which is real time imaging of of the implant position, relative to the other hip joint. This allows the surgeon to align the new joint so it is anatomical and even correcting a presurgurical alignment, before closing. I am not promoting this procedure; I am relaying my experience.
I had that THR last May.it does take longer to heal though.But almost no leg movement restrictions.also rare for dislocations.
But my tendon flexors and extenders are weak as well as my muscles. Dispute all my exercise even cardio.I have to return to physical therapy to strengthen my leg. I can't even pick it up into my suv . I can't lift it over the other leg without using my hands I'm very disappointed.