We all have moments it gets too much. I have a sister thats a known druggy and she was complaining about "pain". I told her when she gets off the drugs has 3 surgeries on her knee and feels like her leg is going to collapse from hurting or spontaneously combust then I would talk about pain and giving her ONE norco every couple weeks which is all I can take. I know I'm a jerk. I said this in front of my grandmother and she hollered at me for being mean. My sister said I probably didn't even need the meds I was on as I was still walking around after my son. At the time I wasn't on a cane yet. She saw me limping and white faced too. Yes I LOOK fine and yes I act fine to an extent untill my pain crosses that threshold. Then I'm white lipped to keep from screaming. I have decided I'm not going to let others bring me down. If they think Im faking then oh well. I know the truth. Keep smiling guys and don't let the cynics and ignorant get you down.

Allanira,

You are right we all have pain but, in your own pain try not to lose compassion for others who also might be suffering. The thing is every person experiencing pain, loss or other emotional crisis that impact their lives are dealing with there own "mountain". The level of pain may not be what yours or mine is but, to them it is there worst just the same. Because no one can possibly imagine/fathom this type of pain unless it is experienced. Losing compassion for others will further isolate you and drive you into depression.. I'm not saying it isn't irritating or even maddening but try to keep in mind that everyone's battle no matter how big or how small is still a giant battle to them at the time for your own sanity.

For example based on what you said to your sister I could say this: Don't talk about pain until you have gone through......

July 20, 2011 Left first rib resection
Aug 10, 2011 Right first rib resection
Oct. 31 2011 Left hip/pelvis Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)
Feb. 15 2012 right foot exotosis osteotomy
April 6 2012 Re-operate left hip/pelvis
June 12 2012 Right hip/pelvis Periacetabular Osteotomy
Aug 22 2012 Cervical C3/4 -5/6 laminectomy foraminotomy
Nov. 9th 2012 Re-operation left hip/pelvis
Dec. 28 2012 Re-operation right hip/pelvis
April 24 2013 Re-operation right hip/pelvis
June 20 2013 trial spinal cord implant
July 8 2013 permanent spinal cord implant



You see what I am saying?? No one will ever understand the kind of pain we are in but that shouldn't make us less compassionate towards others who experience pain no matter to what degree.

How I keep my sanity - I do my best everyday to help myself, by taking more responsibility in my own care than hope I have in any treatment options including medication. I believe 100% that my ability to deal with the long term affects of this disease will lay more in my own hands, than in the hands of anyone else including the doctors. I get up everyday with one goal in mind.. to find ways to cope and to create a plan of action so that when there is absolutely nothing else any doctor can provide to alleviate this pain, I won't be caught with my "pants down" so to speak. I hope to have a solid set of things I can do myself to cope long before CRPS has progressed to that point.. if I don't do that now it will be to late. I owe this to myself and to my husband!

Sorry for rambling.. I just hate to see you waste time trying to convince anyone how bad your pain is.. it just isn't possible (in my opinion). If people aren't supportive then distance yourself from them - negative influences are detrimental to all of us!

Be good to yourself,
Tessa

My sister is very manipulative. Yes I do see what your saying and keep my mouth shut a lot when someone tries to say I don't hurt as bad as they do. Its only when they keep going on and trivialize me that I bite back. Its the whole 1 or 2 slaps I'm quiet its after the 3rd I bite. I also have some hypochondriacs in my family and they are a blast. I have 1 person in my family with MS and she is on a cane, walker and wheelchair depending on how bad she is that day. Shes the only one that can make my sister back off. She is trying to wheedle pain meds from the ones that need it. I have even caught her red handed with my pain meds thats I had hidden when she went to use the restroom in my mom's bedroom. I now keep them locked in my truck and only my husband and I know the code for that. I do know some people do feel it when the cold hits. My grandmother does now after breaking both femurs due to osteoporosis. She can tell you when a storm is going to hit before the weather people know lol.

I am so sorry your sister is being manipulative! It really is hurtful when especially family members aren't supportive. I can't say I know what you are going through but, I can share from personal experience that sometimes it is better to distance yourself from situations like that for the benefit of your own health (and the health of your children). Lord knows you don't need the additional stress while you are caring your precious cargo.

Regarding medications - this is why I personally don't want anyone friends or family to even know I am taking any type of medications. There are only two people (and you all) outside of my doctor and pharmacist who even know about that part of my life. I've watched people come out of the wood works in the past when someone is ill/hurt hinting about sharing meds.. I personally don't want to deal with that so I keep it to myself.

It is interesting how some people after braking bones or with joint disorders do seem to notice weather changes. I never did after many broken bones in my younger years.. but now with my CRPS any temperature change felt on my legs sends me to the moon in pain. It is like an instant electrical current running from my groin to my knees and the night time burn is much worse the colder it gets. I've spent the past couple of weeks testing different types of technical gear to see what will help this and just today I think I have found what will work which I will share about in another thread later. There is also a type of CRPS referred to as 'cold CRPS' that I think makes temperature changes more difficult for those that have it. I was told I have it which is a bummer considering where I live.

I do hope you and your sister work things out..
Tessa

I usually take a couple pairs of my husbands socks that are becoming holy and cut out the toe area after soaking them in fabric softener and making sure theynarensoft I pit those on my bum leg in layers 2 on top 2 on bottom. Then my usual socks on my feet. It helps a little but not much. If you did find something I WANNA KNOW.i have only tried the amitriptiline and gabapentin so far well and the norco. I dont share meds well. Thats why they are locked up if Im outside the house. There are only a few people that come to my house and she isnt welcome there. I won't have drugs around my babies and I might be getting custody of her son. I wont have them around him either.