Yet Another Intro...

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone!

I hope one and all had a great holiday. I've lurked here for several

months now, so armed with my new X-mas laptop, I thought it was time I

introduced myself.

I'm a middle-aged Native mother of two newly grown children (20 & 22).

When I was 23 I was hit by a truck, had several broken bones, stress

fractures, and a memory loss. I had to relearn to do it all. I was

able to continue on with an altered but normal life until I had my

daughter. Within a month of her birth I had my first " episode " of

extreme pain and being unable to walk. And so it started...I would be

up for months or a year or two and go down. Like all of you I went

through doctors, painkillers, alternatives, some horrible, some great.

But as I've aged, I'm almost always in my " down " mode during the

winter months, with a " I can fight this " mode the rest of the time. lol

I had back surgery,my L5-S1 was cage, and I am refusing neck surgery,

since the BS just made it worse. Mm,I have tendinitis in the wrist,

and in the last 2 years I'm showing signs of more arthritis in my

knees and hands. (To make it easy), when I'm asked where it hurts I

pretend I'm putting on muscle cream on my back, neck, shoulders,

wrist, hands,and knees.

I am currently using a Fentyl patch, pain pills on the side, and

steroid shots, not counting all the herbs and vitamins I take.

Painkillers make things bearable, but never completely take away the pain.

There are a couple of things I have learned from my reading of this

site. 1. I am not alone. In fact, compared to what some of you go

through daily, I feel lucky. 2. What is it about Ky.? After noticing

my pain management office, statistics, and this site, I think 3/4 of

anyone here develops arthritis in some form. 3.I am not the only one

that has been through hell trying to find compassionate treatment.

I'm sure we all get a little snappy sometimes, especially with our

pains, but I for one am very glad and happy to have this site to turn to.

btw; An aside Thanks! to Lotsacats for taking my heated warning in the

spirit it was given. I was worried for her and a little abrupt, and

she stopped to see the caring in my message.

Hoping All Are Feeling Great!

Jeanne