I do understand that last statement. I concur. 24/7 is a miserable state to live on earth in. There is a better place awaiting.

God help us all
(Broken Wings)

Know whats funny...?? Prior to RSD I never would have thought that..and now it almost seems natural and makes sense...5 yrs. ago I would have ever thought about this and now it almost gives me a sense of relief.. I have told my brain checker this very thing at the same time begged her not to dial the 800 #..least allow me to get out of her driveway first and give me a head start!!

Good day, friends... Kathy

First, have you been to an oral surgeon to rule out TMJD? Sounds familiar to me.

Second, people with chronic pain tend to develop MDD (major depressive disorder) and thus have suicidal tendencies. Regardless, the quality of life isn't there generally.

Third, then due to depression, inability to do good self care results in less quality of physical health as well.

I'm sure there's more.
Build a strong support team of doctors and therapists to help you along the way. Remember, you are the chairman of the board, and are paying them for their advice.

I believe chronic pain left untreated will cause a shorter life span. My doctor had an injury, he wouldn't take his pain meds., thinking he would tough it out. When his doctor called him to ask if he was taking them and he said no, did his doctor ever get ******! Pain sets off a chain-full of chemical reactions that have a bad effect on the major organs.

Another example. I spent 20 years with un-treated panic attacks. Panic also sets off a cascade of nasty chemicals that flood the system, wearing on the adrenals, etc. Aside from these chemicals, pain causes high blood pressure, so what else does it do that we don't know yet?

Funny, as I recently asked my doctor friend this same question you asked. I trust his expertise totally. He said there is just no way to tell. Doctors tell people "you have X amount of time left to life" (when faced with life threatening illnesses) yet how many times are they wrong!?!

There is a site called Real Age.com (or something like that, I can look if you want) with a bunch of questions to answer and it tells your real age. I keep meaning to do it 'cause I figure if it says I'm 82 years old ( I'm really only 52) maybe I would live my life a bit differently, ya know? I mean when were in our 30's, 40's & 50's, were planning for the future. When were in our 80's the future is NOW!
Questions like, how much you exercise, if you smoke, if you have high blood pressure, and or other health conditions, are over-weight, how well you cope with stress, how often you have sex, socialize, etc., add up to your "real age".
Considering I can only walk 10 minutes every day tops, can not do anything weight bearing, and I smoke (shhhh), don't eat healthy cause I'm too tired to cook often now, live alone, I must be about 90.

Geesh! Sorry so long winded but it's been on my mind. I mean it's not cancer but it *is* threatening life. (But not life threatening?)

One last thing I promise. My mentor/doctor/friend/therapist (all rolled into one) is such an honest, highly intelligent, and aware person. He's the only person I've spoken to who will admit that life on this planet doesn't even come close to what it's cracked up to be. And how it really sucks for most people.

It's so refreshing for me to hear such honesty. (So thanks for the posts here along the same vain!) He says they made a mistake when he was born and that he was supposed to end up on some other planet. Tee-hee.
Sunrise
PS: I wish I believed in the after-life.

I know my horrendous pain is shortening my life - I can see it!

Before my accident, people mistook me for a teenager. In the three years since I was hurt, my hair has greyed, my face has become lined and puffy and I look twice my age.

Ditto here! I used to look much younger than my age. Not anymore.
Also my girlfriend saw me for the first time in a year and she said I looked gaunt. I lost 20 lbs that I can't gain back (I know, some people would do anything for that) but I look anorexic. It's not a pretty sight.
Muscles? Hah! I used to have biceps. Now I have wrinkled flesh. Gross!

Sunrise

I also have a paper that was given out by The American Pain Foundation, a highly respected organization, by a doctor who treats intractable, ie; chronic pain. It's about 60 pages long.

One chapter is titled "Pain is the enemy. Not a symptom!". My opinion about pain aging and causing other problems, is based in part from his paper.

If anyone is interested in it, ie; complications of chronic pain, treatments to reverse damage, how to speak to doctors, Diet, ie; protein is your friend, preventing dementia and mental deterioration, tooth decay, and osteo, travel tips, how to deal with family and friends etc., etc..

Here is a link to download it. If you have a problem with the download I could send it as an attachment to you.

pain-topics.org/pdf/IntractablePainSurvival.pdf

The title of it is: Intractable Pain Patient's Handbook for survival @2007
by Tennant, Forrest MD DrPH
I just googled that title to find a link as it's been some time since I got it.

Hm... Maybe I should put this somewhere where more people will see it?

Sunrise

ABSOLUTELY!! And wouldn't it just be the neatest thing to be able to have a "NeuroTalk Family Reunion" on that other side!

.......or even on THIS side for that matter......I've often thought how neat it would be to be able to meet in person all the wonderful people here who have become like 'family'.....

......sometimes.....just seeing 'screen names' takes us out of our element of actually being real 'people'..... ? .......

ok, now I'm really starting to sound sappy.......

......i better quit while i'm ahead

Me again,
I just wanted to say that even though I don't believe in afterlife, i don't know for sure there isn't one, if that makes sense.

My body feels like a cold, wet, muddy glove. I would love to experience how it feels to be free of the glove!

Near death experience writers say that it is such a joy to be rid of the body.
Boy can I relate! As I know you all can too.

I hope this is taken in the spirit it is meant. In a positive way.

Sunrise