chronic, progressive pain in back/ hips/legs; seeking a discussion group/forum/chat room for others experiencing chr

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      Re: chronic, progressive pain in back/ hips/legs; seeking a discussion group/forum/chat room for others experiencing chronic pain.
    


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Posted by CCF NEURO MD on May 04, 1997 at 19:28:33:

In Reply to: chronic, progressive pain in back/ hips/legs; seeking a discussion group/forum/chat room for others experiencing chronic pain. posted by Janet Mattingly on April 28, 1997 at 05:29:06:

: I've been living with chronic pain for nearly 30 years. In the past four years, it has gotten rapidly progressive. My activities are more and more limited to those I can do in my home. Luckily, I enjoy my own company and the company of my dear gray cats. I live by the ocean in a beautiful natural area, and do plenty of singing, laughing, and, as of 3 weeks ago, when I received a voice recognition computer system, some writing/netsurfing. I am managing fairly well, but the constantly increasing pain makes it impossible to ever be truly comfortable any more. I should probably do more diagnostic workups s(its been years) but I don't have much hope that medicine has much more to offer me. I can no longer exercise often, as it now exacerbates pain badly, but can still take short walks to the ocean and back. I do gentle movements in my hottub, and try to stretch.
  Still, severe sciatic pain and a sort of gripping, prickly, gnawing pain in my hips (the hip pain just started a few years ago) and sharp, chainsaw style pains down one thigh, blah blah blah make every position achy or grabby or just unbearably painful. Sleep is affected because no position is possible for long. I awaken with great grabbing, grinding,weighty beasts gripping me in their relentless chompers - plech!! I rarely use pain medication, as it upsets my stomach, makes me anxious, and only decreases the pain by a small fraction. So, I'm keeping going, with quite a bit of pleasure in life, even rapture when the natural world around me envelopes me in its myriad deliciousnesses. But constant pain can be a lonely experience, and progressive pain is frightening and diminishing.
  I've gone the alternative/newage route out the kazoo, by the way. You name it; I've tried it. Even dowsers. All the standard stuff. I may need more medical help, but a good online support group would be a great boon right now. So, if you know of any groups, chat or discussion/forum, please e-mail me at ***@****. I'll also check in here. If anyone out there is coping, sometimes even slap-happily, but primarily on her/his own, with a similar situation, I'd love to hear from you.
  Oh - I have also been through a pain management clinic.
  Thanks for your help.  j2u
=======================================================================================================
I admire your positive attitude.  A couple of points I would like to make.  You mentioned that you like to perform exercises in warm water.  Have you considered a reqularly scheduled exercise program in a pool.  A physical therapist may assist you in an exercise program.  Some hospital have therapeutic walking tanks that would be useful.  It would be worth calling around. Water therapy is a great way to ease chronic pain.  The other thing you mentioned is that you have new pain in your hips.  This may be due to a new problem, such as arthritis in the hips.  I would recommend another evaluation for your new problem/symptoms; it may indicate another disease process.  I agree it will unlikely reveal anything regarding your chronic sciatic pain.
I would like to give you two resources you may use for information or local support groups.  I hope they are useful to you.
American Chronic Pain Association
PO Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
(916)-632-0922
fax [phone]
National Chronic Pain Outreach Association
7979 Old Georgetown Rd.  Suite 100
Bethesda, MD  20814-2429
Phone:  [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email:  ***@****