[Dee911Lady]

I have Fibromyalgia, Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction, Pyriformis Syndrome, Myofascial pain Syndrome, Degenerative Arthritis in my L4/L5.

I'm here trying to find help and make friends. I live in Kentucky on a small horse farm. I have one son, one step-son and 2 beautiful grand-daughters. I am married to a wonderful man who has really stood beside me through all of this.

I just want to get my life back. I want to be able to teach my grand-daughters to ride a horse, go swimming, ride horses, go camping and laugh again. I would even like to go back to work. I just want to be normal again if that is possible.

I get really depressed and down and then I remind myself to count my blessings.

[Kitty]

Hi Dee and welcome to NeuroTalk! I've posted the link to the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain forum for you. Take a look around and feel free to join in anywhere you'd like - there are lots of forums and lots of wonderful, caring people here.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum12.html

[AfterMyNap]

Hi, Dee! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Stick with us, we have a great community here. There are many forums with light-hearted topics in addition to those for specific conditions. Look around and feel free to join in anywhere.

[sugarboo]

Hi Dee,
I have osteoarthritis in my L4/L5 as well. Maybe we can chat sometime I'm at work so I'm around mostly at night and mornings....you can find me on the Chronic Pain board. WELCOME!!

[Koala77]

Hi there Dee and welcome from me as well.

I'm so sorry to hear of your pain, but you're about to meet some wonderful people in similar situations as yourself, so make yourself at home. It's good to meet you.

[Abigail]

I think I put most of my introductory information in when I registered, so please forgive any repetitions. I am a retired professional -- well, semi-retired really -- who had to cut back on work when I was stricken with interstitial cystitis. Not many people were aware of the disease when I was diagnosed but that was years ago and since then, doctors have become more knowledgeable.

My major profession, the one for which I went to grad school, is in a teaching/helping/counseling field -- but I have secondary professions, as well. One of them is writing. I'm lucky. I get published often enough that I can tell the family I'm busy, close the study door, and do what I love best.

Another thing I do is buy rare books. I would love to keep all of them, but I have to sell some in order to go to more book fairs, book sales and auctions and buy more books -- and wish again that I didn't have to sell so many. Once in awhile, I keep something that's really special to me. We have 10,000 books in the house so I probably keep more than I should. I collect fine art as well, but less of that than books.

Here are some more of my major interest, things I do, or love, or both: reading, gardening, my dogs, my grandchildren, travelilng, beachcombing, and drawing and painting, both of which I do badly but love anyway. In addition, I stay busy in a group that is attempting to stop the harmful elements of the War on Drugs. Many patients who suffere from constant pain die from exhaustion or suicide, and many doctors lose their professions, their homes, all their cash assets, and even their families and their freedom for treating pain patients.

I have read the boards here for some time, but I joined today because I wished to answer a letter from a woman who seems to be in a great deal of pain, needed help, and did not know what to do. Though I am not a physician, I belong to an activist group made up of pain specialists and other professionals, all of whom are attempting to make things better for pain sufferers and those who treat them.

I look forward to being a member of the community

Abigail

[Koala77]

Welcome to NeuroTalk Abigail, it's good to have you with us.

[MooseasaurusRex]

Dee and Abigail.

Abigail and Dee.

One big, warm, tight, hug, handshake and howdy, moose-size official type welcome to the site. This place is amazing!

Regardless of what you may be going through, you can count on people here who understand and want to help. So remember;

You are not alone.
You are one of us.
And we are here to help.

[dorrie]

Hi Dee! Welcome to Neurotalk! Hello to you as well Abigail!! Welcome Aboard!!

[sispain]

Hi Dee, I feel for you as you suffer with your pain. Can I ask what treatment you have received and if any have been effective? I am at my wit's end. I had a rhizotomy a couple days ago and have had no relief of pain. Hope to hear from you soon.