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Compared to many my situation isn't that bad*, but I haven't had a pain free day in over a year. I slipped on a wet bathroom floor in March last year and hurt my back, badly enough to be hardly able to move for a couple of weeks. I was getting better in May when I got a testicular cyst that meant I was largely immobile post-op for a few days and then had a post-op infection, all of which reversed my back pain recovery. I then got sciatica which was horrendous, I was on morphine for 2 weeks. Just getting over that and I get arthritis in my right ankle. I smashed it up when I was 21, I'm 52 now, and my doctor says I've basically knocked 30 years of the life of my ankle, and being inactive for so long may have revealed it. Add to that intermittent gout and I'm getting really pee'd off with it. One of my great pleasures is walking in the Beacons and Black Mountains with my wife and I haven't been able to do that for 14 months, and I've had 2 short bike rides in all that time. Relatively I'm pretty lucky, see below, and I'm generally a positive person but this is really getting me down and I'm frequently grumpy and snappy at home.
I'm just venting my frustration really but any sympathy / advice / piss taking is welcomed
* In the last year three friends have been diagnosed with cancer, one now dead. One had a severe stroke a few weeks ago and one died of sepsis last month.
Medical cannabis is supposed to be good for chronic pain.
Welcome to your 50's. Amazing how when we are young we think we will dodge all this crap. Think again.
On the off chance you're regularly taking anti inflamatories it might be worth your while looking into the effects of some of those drugs. Ibuprofen (and others iirc) can mess up the way your body deals with inflammation and pain causing you to be in a constant state of achey soreness that never really subsides.
You've obviously got real issues but be careful what you take to handle them.
It's grindy and crap isn't it. I had basically a lucky escape when I broke my hip, it doesn't stop me from doing anything but it's hurt, a little bit, pretty much ever since. Sometimes I think I could deal better with a higher level of pain- I walked into A&E when I broke it but that's something you can get your teeth into, low level is just... I don't know, insidious.
But what's really odd is, occasionally I get a wee break from it- massage has helped frinstance- and it feels totally bizarre now to be pain free. I can't sleep! It's like I'm worried my leg might have dropped off or something. Human OS 1.0 is a bit flaky.
If you are suffering long term pain, it may be worth investigating if any pain management services are available from your local NHS. Some services provide more holistic treatment now, so in addition to drug treatments they may also offer psychological techniques for managing chronic pain.
km79 +1
LDN (low dose naltrexone) or CBD oil ?
OP,
Google contrast baths for short-term relief. It helps IME. You'll need 2 washing-up bowls or similar
Chronic lower back pain is the son of a couple born out out wedlock from my own experience for ~9 years until last summer, although I suspect the same could be said for any chronic pain!
Losing my excess weight, getting fit again and doing some core exercises including the plank have helped me loads.
Back ache every single day! Without fail, wake up with it walk the dog with it etc etc. Does get you down but I don't let it stop me from doing what I want! I know when it's going to be bad as I preload with drugs!
ankles & knees here - all knackered from footy when younger. Also have a Morton's neuroma that occasionally stops me walking almost entirely. Inguinal hernia op last year produceded loss of sensation in an area of my groin which is weird but OK, but amusingly sometimes flags up as pain to my brain.
Thanks for all the advice.
It's good to know I'm not alone, tho' a bit rubbish for my fellow travellers on the pain train. I've had physio recently which is helping and I'm feeling more positive about the future, but I don't want to get too optimistic as I've had several false dawns already.
I'll have a read up about your suggestions.
I have micro vascular angina and every day activity can set it off. The pain is like a 20 stone bloke leaning on a baseball bat that's got the blunt end in the middle of your chest.
I get it most days and it can last for up to 3 hours and to be blunt it's hard to deal with, particularly when you are sat in a client meeting and trying to be lucid.
I am due at the pain clinic to try and work out how it can be managed, the reality is a life of codeine and morphine.
It's odd as people look at you and have no idea what you are sat there and simply dealing with.
I really struggle.
I’ve had physio recently
My first thoughts were that you needed a good physiotherapist.
My (NHS) physio worked wonders after some Audi driving bellend (probably a STWer) used the back of my car as a brake.
Broke my foot in my 20’s and now I’m 40’s - kills to walk and running is a no go - used to love long distance running.
Operation soon to break foot and correct ligaments - 8 weeks on bloody cruches. Opted to wait till summer is gone.
Gentle riding and guitar hobby helps.
Keep mentally busy OP - time will fly.
Osteoarthritis of the right knee was giving me daily pain until the doctor gave me a cortisone injection. It will come back but I can do some serious sport for the moment.
Pain sucks.
I'm currenty bed-resting, with an ice-pack on a leg haematoma.
It's 2hrs since I last took painkillers and 2hrs since I can again.
Bizarelly riding a bike is the only thing that doesn't hurt but childcare duties limit that.
Beer is a good painkiller.
Heal fast.
I haven’t had a pain free day since 2009, winter is waaaay worse than summer. Sometimes it grinds me down, it’s not bad enough to moan, but bad enough it slowly eats away at your energy.
Ive avoided pain meds, I never remember to take them when I should and most give me a bad stomach anyway.
3000mgs of fish oil a day helps with joints, you can buy it supermarkets for a couple of quid and it gives you a nice shiny coat and wet nose too.
I did try some weed last year (don’t tell the wife) **** me that’s changed since in the last 15 years, had a tiny joint, felt sick, heart rate went mental, anxiety cranked up to 11 and I was glad to sleep it off, after about an hour of near panic. Sod that again in a hurry.
I feel your pain in more ways than one ! Constant low level pain can be very debilitating.
Ive had 2 back operations and its taken 8 years to get to the point where I dont have pain every day .Think Pilates really helped for this .
I've also suffered gout on a regular basis for a few years .This winter it got to the point where I was suffering attacks every other week. Allopurinol has sorted that out.
I had a decompression operation on one shoulder a few years back, I think it's nearly time for the other one to be done.
Can't wait for my 50th birthday this year 😁