Quote:
Originally Posted by 343v343
Curious for those with primarily NTOS - on a scale of 1-10 how bad does your pain get? A 1 being a mild, barely noticeable discomfort and a 10 being pain so bad you need fentanyl patches and you contemplate suicide.
All seriousness too, what are you absolutely NOT able to do. I realize there is discomfort but does anyone have symptoms so bad they are utterly and truly disabled? Or is it just pain while doing activities?
Anyone have true muscle wasting or atrophy?
I have had some pretty bad days where I'm in great discomfort but something tells me I "ain't seen nothing yet." I have avoided drugs and pain killers (for now) and hope to stay that way if possible. Not a pill seeker though it seems like doctors like to offer them constantly.
I have to keep working so quitting is not an option. Have to find a way to persevere but growing more discouraged as my pain increases slowly each day. Have been doing everything to improve posture and stretches but can't seem to make a dent in the symptoms with any consistency.
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Yeah I agree. What is it with doctors throwing pills at you? They love to do that even though they haven't even bothered to througherly investigate symptoms.
I just seem to **** them off because I am so adamant that I wish to keep trying to be medication free. I go no stronger than ibuprofen and even that is only when I'm about to lose the plot.
I feel as though they just want to drug me up to shut me up!
My discomfort is triggered by over exertion, just general everyday activities like washing up, cleaning, reaching for stuff,walking and even just being upright all day puts a strain on my neck muscles etc...... it doesn't take too much nowadays to drain me. One thing that I do NOT do now is heavy lifting. I'd honestly say at times I can rate pain 1 but then all of a sudden it will creep in from nowhere to a 5 and if I continue to ignore the signs than bang its a 10 and I'd just want to lie down to rest my neck/shoulders and try to stop everything going into spasms which results in headaches.
I struggle most during the night..... sleep is not too good for me as I often wake up from dead hands which have to be shaken out or my neck gets caught up in an awkward position and to top it all pulsatile tinnitus which I can hear 24/7 since I had my first rib excision op ( A/VTOS) on my right side.
The quietness of night is now no longer restful...... whoosh, whoosh, whoosh I get as I'm trying to sleep. I've began saying the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra to the rhymic pulse that I hear, just to keep focused on something else.... my version of counting sheep I guess.
Its a frustrating health issue as sometimes I feel absolutely fine, great even but then I return to activities and in it creeps again and I can't even contemplate getting up the next morning. My body just doesn't seem to get refreshed after a nights sleep and I often feel worse for trying to rest.
I do mourn the loss of my painfree life but I am desperately trying hard to adjust and come to terms with living with limitations. This even includes going to see a councellor tomorrow to discuss CBT. I can't allow the changes in my body also change my mind.
I tell others to keep strong and that is exactly what I have to do too.
I going to ask the councellor if she can find me a pain management group or relevant contacts that may be helpful like Meditation or yoga classes. Unfortunately my doctors are quite dismissive and I now find it very disheartening going to them.
Take care
SD38