This is an excerpt from a longer conversation with my cousin who’s been living with chronic pain and fibromyalgia. This excerpt was of particular significance because it was answering an unasked question which was hidden “between the lines” regarding hopelessness. If one is faced with 20 years of chronic pain, immobility, mood swings, etc. AND loss of hope what might their next stop be named?
Or is it the end of the line?
LUCY
Hello T. M. . . .,
I’m worried about you. You wrote a great post on hopelessness, are you feeling hopeless?
How can I help….I’m a good listener. You’ve poured your heart out onto the pages, you’ve been through a lot in your life and every one of those memories makes changes in the way our central nervous system functions and in the way the brain functions.
We (all of us who are chronically ill) put a lot of hope in those little pills. Those pills are able to aid you in functioning but can’t fix what has been broken. But, there is HOPE! The hope is within you and, with the help of another human being (not another pill), you can find a sense of peace and understanding. Then we come to acceptance…..well, that’ll be a whole ‘nother blog.
T. M.
LUCY

Facebook has been like a miracle for me because I have found all of these other people just like me who have suffered for forty years and discounted, too. There are thousands and thousands of people all over the world who are suffering. The medical profession doesn’t know what to do with things they can’t see on a test!! You have terrible pain in your back…..surely they must be able to see this pain on a scan. But, no….they won’t see it unless you have a herniated disc, that they can see. That, they can do something about because they can see it.
T. M.
I used to volunteer at The National Runaway Switchboard as a “liner” (the person who answers the call. I decided to continue until my problems surpassed those of the caller. Well, I stopped when Rick got sick and haven’t been back since. I could deal with the long-term illnesses if I could just shake the pain.
LUCY
I have learned so much. I went off on my own and spent a fortune on alternative therapy and a Fibro Specialist that wasn’t covered on my insurance plan. I had to drive 12 hours one way to get to see him….talk about desperate!! But, he helped me gain a semblance of a life back. It was worth every penny.
What I’m trying to say is this….the doctors don’t have all the answers. In fact, they don’t have many of the answers. There is much more you can do to help alleviate the pain.
One thing I suggest is seeing a Pain Specialist. Jeff has been suffering with debilitating sciatic pain for some time. He couldn’t walk without his walker. He was losing hope.
He went to see the pain specialist who injected the spine…….because the injections helped somewhat, the doctor knew that a more radical treatment would work. He did the treatment on his sciatic nerve and it was a MIRACLE. He was able to walk, to stand up straight and to begin to enjoy life again.
Just the value of having one other person understand what you’re going through and to be able to relate with compassion and empathy is very healing. I’ve seen it again and again as I talk to people. They all say it . . . empathy, simple compassion for another’s suffering.
Related articles
- What Is Sciatica? (everydayhealth.com)
- Sharing is Caring (inspirationalgem.wordpress.com)
- Opiate Medications: Pain Management Versus Addiction (psychologytoday.com)
- Why I Deal With Pain Like I Do (workthedream.wordpress.com)
Is Lucy from Peanut characters with 5 cent sign for psychiatric consultations?
The picture of T.M. is atrocious — you are certainly more handsome!
I recognized the winter tree from the stamp of a beautiful card received today. T-you. I share the sentiment.
As you can see I am again awake. Will call about 9:00 AM and see if the time is 10:30.
I hope you have a good rest.
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I think there is nothing worse then living with chronic pain and your post did a beautiful job of giving your readers an inside view.
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