Chronic pain -- when others can't see your pain. People living with chronic pain the invisible illness have to sometimes convince others of their symptoms or just stay silent. My story. My friends and family have a hard time believing I am in pain. I'm the great pretender. I pretend I'm okay.
They just don't know that this invisible illness overwhelms my entire life. How do I do it? I pace myself. I make a conscious effort to get through life day by day, minute by minute, second by second.
Everything I do from sleeping, waking, cooking and working -- is a silent effort accompanied by pain. In doing so, I don't cause my loved one's unnecessary worry.
This is my life in pain.
I make a conscious effort everyday to deal with my pain:
It's about choosing between making food or taking a shower.
It's about having to take meds on an empty stomach and dry heaving through a morning.
It 's about knowing that you can’t possibly balance work, social life, and physical fitness all at the same time.
It's about barely being able to handle one chore at a time.
It's about being labeled “antisocial” because you just can't fake the pain.
It's about spending 99% of your time in pain and alone
I live a secret life. Hiding my pain. Minimizing my pain. Avoiding my pain. I'm sure i"m not alone, no matter what the diagnosis. It can be caused by a number of things, though the most common conditions associated with chronic pain are back injuries, headaches, and joint pain.
Chronic pain can also be caused by diseases or disorders, such as fibromyalgia and nerve damage.
Types of pain:
My diagnosis, Fibromyalgia, showed damage in my spine and hips. Fibromyalgia is thought to be caused by over active nerves. My invisible condition. The pain overwhelms my life. If your not familiar with Fibromyalgia, recently Lady Gaga came out to fans and the world about her silent battle with Fibromyalgia.
"Fibromyalgia is worse than any other chronic pain condition," explained one of New York's Top Pain Doctors at NYPMR.
My pain effects my work, my sleep patterns, my relationships. You become fearful after seeing multiple doctors who just don't believe you're in pain. Chronic pain is a difficult problem to understand and solve. Pain is normal after an injury or from a health problem. But sometimes the nerves misfire and continue sending intense pain signals to the brain even after the injury heals. Take Carolyn Stewart, 45, of Clifton, N.J., has lived with chronic back pain since she was 18, when she had surgery after a car accident. Then four years ago, a procedure for a collapsed lung accidentally resulted in nerve damage that caused excruciating pain. “I just want to sleep normally and not have pain that wakes me up every 20 minutes,” she said.
Studies have shown that pain can continue for years after an illness or injury. Nerves become super-sensitized and amplified to pain signals. Unfortunately, individuals like myself live with the burden of proof of our pain. Some thinking we're faking or exaggerating.
Millions of people living with arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other forms of pain that are "invisible illnesses," explaining what's wrong is another side effect of their condition. Not only do you have to put up with challenging, often painful, and sometimes debilitating conditions every day, but on top of that, you may have to face skepticism from people — friends, family, and co-workers, as well as strangers — who don't understand what's wrong with you.
"I believe your pain is real!" These doctors do exist!
Chronic pain becomes disabling and interferes with your everyday life. Finding the right doctor is crucial to a pain sufferers recovery. I have found a pain doctor in New York that has helped me manage my chronic pain. My doctors believes I am in pain.
Through physical therapy and alternative treatments I have started to live, truly live. Validation is the first step towards recovery. Patients need to be in the right frame of mind allowing for a better quality of life while managing pain.
Pain Patient, New York City
Resources:
https://www.verywell.com/conditions-most-often-associated-with-chronic-pain-2564563 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/expert.../faq-20058457 https://www.nbcnews.com/better/.../lady-gaga-has-fibromyalgia-what-it-ncna803046 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/health/08well.html https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain https://patient.info/forums/.../i-still-have-bad-knee-pain-2-years-after-injury--37824 https://www.everydayhealth.com/pain-management/invisible-illness-when-others-cant-see-your-pain.aspx
NYPMR
731 Flushing Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
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