Hi all,

I am hoping this is a place where I can talk honestly and get helpful feedback. I was a passenger in an auto accident in january 2005. My wife and I were rear ended. I ended up with 3 herniations in L4-L5-S1. This resulted in back surgery. I now have, since the surgery, neuropathy in both legs and feet. I am in severe pain 24/7 and am on morphine, percocets, gabapentin, soma, prozac, and many other meds. I am currently still working full time but realistically am unable to perfrom my work. My brain just feels empty, I cannot think, like my attention span is about 30 seconds, my short term memory is awful. I am thinking of going on disability but don't know what I should do. Do I just stop going to work? Do I have to get my doctor to say I should stop going to work? Should I seek an attornet to assist me with all this? I keep having thoughts like what is the point of keeping going on. Is this just to see how much I can endure for how long? Why keep living or trying? What is the point? My doctors have said my condition is permanent with no chance of recovery. There has been no change for 2 years (actually, things have slowly gotten worse). I find myself taking extra pills for the pain (6 to 8 percocets in a day and extra morphine) and hoping I don't wake up. I also was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and also have sleep apnea. I just want the pain to stop or I feel like quiting. I am sure many others have been through worse that I, so how do you keep going? Looking for wisdom.

Theo

Hi Theo. WOW! You really do have a plateful. I am sorry about your accident and your ongoing pain. I think you keep going, b/c YOU HAVE TO.

Keep searching for answers; severe/chronic pain is miseraable. As far as quitting your job, I just don't have the knowledge or help your'e seeking, but I do wish you luck.

I, myself, quit working last Fall and I have not looked back once. My DH still works, so I was able to come to the decision w/more ease than others.

I'm glad you found us and hope things turn around for you. take care and welcome again.

Theo,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Nice to see you have come in to be with the rest of us. Here we love to assist in any way we can. We show a great deal of comfort to all. Looking foward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hi, Theo!

Welcome to NeuroTalk! Wow, what a drag for you, I'm sorry there is so much to deal with for you.

Here's a link to the spinal disorders forum: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22

You may find some useful information there and I know that you'll find a bunch of supportive friends. Let us know if we can assist you with anything.

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I'm so glad you found us, though I'm sorry for the reasons that brought you here. Yes, your story is a very familiar one for me and many others on these forums. Every bit of it. For me it's been five years now, and DaisyMay is right. You keep going because you have to. I sure hope you find some relief from your pain, and the obvious depression you are in. Good luck and my very best wishes...

Idealist