Readers Respond: Remember Having No Pain?

How long have you had arthritis? Do you currently experience any days that are pain-free? Do you remember what it feels like to have no pain? If being pain-free is merely a distant memory, does that make you emotional or sad or depressed to realize those days are gone?

Vaguely remember

I was 26, diagnosed with osteo. I'm 53, got diagnosed w/rheumatoid this yr. Used to play ball with kids as teens, can't do that. Need total knee replacement now. Get injections in knees now. Pain free temporarily. It stresses you out on a daily basis. But I love my rheumatologist, he's awesome, has really helped me!

—Guest srhall

Do you have EDS?

This is a connective tissue disease that can be very painful. One hallmark sign is skin problems and hyperextension of joints. Individuals may also have problems with veins and arteries. Knee problems, GI problems and cardiac problems also arise. If you have chronic pain and no one has been able to diagnose it and calls you a malingerer, do a search on Ehler-Danlos syndrome, download the material and take it to your doctor. It is an inherited disease, so if your parents had chronic pain without being able to get it diagnosed, perhaps this could be the reason. Good Luck and God Bless!

—Guest Barbara Johnson

Chronic Pain, is this for real?

I am appalled at the lack of information here. You give 4 descriptors of how to identify pain, when in fact there are many more. How about stabbing, electric, sore, constant, dull, hot, burning, fire, needle pricks, numbing, to name a few. I think it is immoral to put down someone who has to take pain medications or to suggest the answer is to get off of pain medication. As an RN who has worked in the field of pain management for 35 years, and as a nurse who has chronic pain, I have seen many who are able to function because they can take pain medication and resent the idea that all who take narcotics are addicts because of that. Narcotics are certainly NOT the only way to relieve pain, but have you included getting up and getting into the bathtub in the morning? or mentioning that you can purchase a bathlift to get in and out of the tub. How about drinking a cup of coffee to enhance the effectiveness of the pain med.

—Guest Barbara Johnson

One Day at a Time

I have lived with jaw and head pain since before I was 10 years old. I don't remember waking up to the day without deep pain. I'm going to be 40 years old. I always try to take "one day at a time" but those "one days" have led to 30 years of life with pain. Sometimes I can cope, sometimes I don't do so well. God gives me strength.

—Guest musictherapy

Ankylosing spondylosis

I so well remember the halcyon days when I had no pain and could ride my horses, bareback, through the fields and woods, spring up on their back, reach forward to grab a handful of mane and ride in the wind! I could swim, play tennis, ice skate, jog on the beach, play golf and field hockey and more. This Ank. Spond. crept up on me in my late forties. Both my older siblings had it, were bent at 45 degree angle in their late eighties. They did not have the amount of pain that I now have (I'm 76) and I am not yet as bent as they were. Except I cannot turn my head or lift my arms. Have had both hips and both knees replaced so those parts do not hurt! Luckily I found a wonderful rheumatologist who works with me to balance meds to relieve my pain from a 9 to a 5 most days. Recently I discovered that I am allergic to the nightshade family of plants, especially potatoes. My exercise now is walking with my three dogs. I am blessed to have them.

—punkycot

Hard to remember

I've had pain for 12 years and am 46, so I haven't yet lived half of my life with pain. Unfortunately, it is really hard to remember life with no pain, it is so all-consuming. The times before I had pain were when I had my babies, they were wonderful. People don't understand how difficult it is and can be very flip about it, sometimes that's even harder. All around, it really stinks!

—Guest Kari

I wouldn't wish my pain on anyone

I have spondylosis. The pain I have in my hand & finger joints has really started to make me depressed over the past few months. I just turned 58 this year. I am beginning to worry what I will be like in another ten years from now. I have trouble walking and the pain I get in my lower back at times is like being cut in two... the pain is so severe...I guess things can only get worse the older I get?

—Guest steven j

I remember

I miss the beautiful life I had. I miss the great job I had. I miss the times with my family and friends. Now every visit to a friends house is tainted by the fact that all I can think about is getting back home to get some rest. I feel sometimes like I have lost everything because of the pain of this disease.

—caraelena

No, I don't remember having no pain

I've had arthritis since age 10 years old. I am now 16 years old and I feel stuck. I've gone through many medications & doctors and nothing seems to work. There isn't one day I have that I don't experience pain. I have arthritis in both my knees & my finger joints. I'm very nervous for my future with my arthritis.

—Guest whitney

No, I Honestly Don't Remember

For 30 years I have lived with continual pain and psoriatic arthritis. Nothing works, and the agony never ends. I am angry the pain-free days are gone, angry at the doctors who refuse to prescribe painkillers that might have changed our lives.

—sooz5555

I Sometimes Try

I have dwelled many a day with my pain, and have tried to recall the feeling of what it was without it, and I can't. Cold, stinging, hot, ripping, red hot poker, walking on tacks, searing, and other terms have become a normal part of my present day vocabulary. I have found that accepting (and that is usually easier said than done, but I try) this new series of words is a new reality that is all mine. I have even come to the point that I look forward to the differing degrees of these words and that keeps me from the frivolous hope of a return to no pain. Still I would like to find my yellow brick road that let me be pain free for a bit. I sometimes try.

—Guest Mark Gonzalez