Pain Journey

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

As some of you know, I have suffered from Chronic Pain since around the age of 13. It goes through remissions and relapses. Managing this while working and raising the man cub has been daunting. In the past year it's gotten so bad that there are days I don't want to get out of bed (but I do every day). Well I reconnected with my younger sister. We had a falling out about 6 years ago over my parents estate. After some very positive e-mails and phone conversations I went to see her. She has had many of the same issues with pain that I do. After years of struggle and misdiagnosis she saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed her with psoriatic arthritissis .Since this runs in families and we are pretty sure my dad had it. I got a referral. Yesterday I had my appointment and while they didn't think it was PSA she confirmed prettey much what I already knew. Her DX was Fibromayalgia and  Osteo Arthrisis. She is doing some additional tests to be sure about the PSA then confirm that there is no cure for this, only medication management. She adjusted the dosage of some of my meds without touching my opiods and said she would see me in 3 months. Oh and she also wants me swimming three times a week. 

So here I am today making a vegetable soup with all kinds of anti-inflamatory ingrediants and am dusting off my swim suit. 

Hppy

 

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good luck.  I was in neck pain for three months and went insane, so can't imagine all those years.

On a side note and I'm not giving any advice at all, but I had a good friend with psoriatic arthritis and breakouts that went vegan and it improved significantly.  There is literature on this.  It's probably not helpful for everyone but just an anecdotal I thought about.

 

[toomuchbaloney]

I imagine that your diet and lifestyle have helped to keep your pain on the lower side of its potential.  Well done.  

Good luck, chronic pain is a real challenge on our physical, emotional and spiritual health.