I’ve written a little about my life with chronic pain, here. There’s a video where I speak a bit about it, but there is lots more to say. And, there are links relating to my health and health in general.
This page will be updated with any latest related bits, I’ll let you know via blog post. Thanks for visiting.
– last updated, 4th February 2017
.
.
.
I live with every day, unrelenting and severe pain for nine years.
It and my mobility-difficulties as well as increased migraines stem from an undiagnosed, and untreated (in time) subluxation of the hip (partial-dislocation). Despite visits to the doctors, they failed to diagnose me – it was when a private physiotherapist took one look at my hips, one being higher than the other, that she saw what the problem was. Eight months after the injury.
Soft tissue and nerve damage. Sciatica and inflammation. Burning and stiffness. The stiffness physically halts movement of my lower body. Increased migraines – before I had 1-3 a year; now, they’re chronic, every 1-3 days.
I am disabled from it. Needing a mobility scooter for leaving the house. I’m forever running on next to no energy, so I have a lot of rest during the day. The pain is far worse than the loss of the freedom of walking, because it robs you of vitality, joy, spontanity, etc.
I have adapted far better to the disability than I have of the severe chronic pain.
Your whole life – YOU – changes because of it. It effects –
- Financial health. Loss of employment.
- Relationships. Loss of or strained connections with acquaintances, friends, significant other, offspring.
- Mental health. Chronic pain is often inter-related with depression and anxiety.
- Isolation. Becoming house or bed bound. Financial hardship disables social interaction.
.
…….to be continued…….
.
.
.
LINKS
A very upsetting visit to the doctor’s…
Shocking things doctors have said to me
A dizzy spell, a blackout, and an asthma attack…
.
.
*
Copyright Faith McCord 2017
Story and artwork belongs to Faith McCord who is the author and artist holding the copyright. This is not a public domain work. Worldwide rights.
Little Lord Oscar Dandelion Books 
Pingback: My Chronic Pain (life) | Little Lord Oscar Dandelion Books
I can only say that I totally understand
And I can hear it in your voice
that your happiness is in jeopardy
Prayers and blessings
As always Sheldon
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Sheldon, for your understanding and kindness. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate you have to live in pain. I can empathize with the migraines. I do wish they could figure those buggers out.
You are an amazing woman. Don’t forget that.
And remember you are not alone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Wendy, you’re an amazing person too. I don’t feel so alone with this while there are people like yourself, here on WordPress, to connect with. 🙂 xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is nothing to “like” about this post – except for the fact that you put it out there how inadequate – and cruel – so very many doctors are these days.
Many pain experts like to believe that unremitting pain is a third-world issue primarily – that modern drugs alleviate suffering in first-world households and hospitals. They are simply wrong about that. I know you read many of the same blogs I do, so I know you are well aware that you are nowhere near alone in your experience.
Even the medical profession itself is aware that they have a huge problem to solve, but their all too familiar “circle the wagons” approach leaves those seeking help outside their circle. DISGRACEFUL and inexcusable, actually. No change happens unless we ALL speak up and ring out in censure.
My heart hurts for you, I wish there were something I could suggest – a resource you haven’t already tried, a pain clinic doing things very differently with some success, even a way to self-medicate that would lighten your load, legal or illegal. I know, however, that during nine years of chronic pain, if you haven’t already found it, it’s probably not out there to BE found.
Sending prayers that something is in the pipeline that will bring relief, so that you are able to live the life you deserve – and that every single doctor you speak to from now until eternity BELIEVES what you tell them, and reports it accurately in your records.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Madelyn – I wish all doctors had your empathy – and your prayers are much appreciated. It helps me putting it out there as I have been ‘invalidated’ by so many who have authority over my life – be that doctors or those such as the morons who decide I don’t need a Blue Badge (I held one, finally, for 3 years, only for them to refuse me last year when it expired). So many of us need adequate help. Why this is never properly addressed, I don’t know. All that comes to mind is because of corruption, greed, extreme selfishness. I would love to take the medical marijuana – but, will it be available for people such as myself?
On another note, how are you my friend? I hope the housing thing as well as work are more positive now.
Love to you and Tinkertoy. xox
LikeLiked by 2 people
Things are still dicey (and will be until a few more items are back in place), thanks for asking.
IMHO, stringent gate-keeper laws around medical marijuana are NUTS. It has been proven to be incredibly helpful for so many disorders – relief from chronic pain chief among them.
I hope you will be able to access (without have to move to a place where laws are more human-being friendly).
Empathy Deficiency Disorder runs rampant!
xx,
mgh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your pain not withstanding…..You look amazing! Have you considered a chiropractor for your miagraine? Mine are usually because my Atlas is ‘Out’………and I swear by a jab of Tremadol in the but. Ok, Ass! But the left cheek as I don’t feel it as much……(attempting to cheer you a little with my humour)😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, shots in the ass. Don’t really sound like fun though, lol. Thanks Helen for the compliment. I am unhappy with the weight gain though. (Pretty hard burning off the excess and keeping fit when your body refuses to move). How’s your week going? Love and hugs to you and Jamima. xox
LikeLike
Chiropractor, we call them osteopaths here. I used to go to one for years for my tennis elbow that had been fractured with a chip of bone missing and moderate back pain from the weight of my chest. I can’t afford these things now. My mum offers to pay for health related things but she’s given so much already.
LikeLike
I think you are right, chronic pain is very difficult. We can learn how to live with limited mobility, but pain is a difficult beast. (You do look wonderful. I love your translucent skin set off with your light hair and dog. It is a beautiful picture.) Sympathy, empathy and hugs to you dear friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you dear Rose. I wish you didn’t have health struggles too. 🐻 💜 🎨 Love and hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I left you a message on your Youtube video. I wish you many blessings today
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you dearest Friend xo
I’ll look and write to you tomorrow 🙂
so exhausted so off to bed now.
Take care and I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Love + hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re experiencing much pain, but there’s hope. Please visit https://drsebiscellfood.com .Please also look up Doctor Sebi on YouTube. I’ll keep in touch and tell you later how I ended my suffering.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Edward for your kindness. I will have a look at those links.
All the best. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally relate to this. So many doctors, so many screwed up diagnosis’ . Have they looked at the possibility of a connective tissue disorder like EDS? I only suggest it due to the migraines and the sublux of your hip. I have found a link between my unstable neck and my migraines. If I can get a soft collar on as soon as the symptoms are noticed – I always wake up from sleep with them, the collar dramatically reduces the severity and length of an episode. I am currently in a collar as my neck has decided to trap a nerve so I have pins and needles in my forearm. No idea why today but why not. Im off to have a nosey around your blog. I laughed out loud at the carrot driving a tractor and being declared a traitor. I also liked the velvet waistcoat and Dandelion Hall xxxx Rachel xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get lots of pins and needles too. Hands, arms, legs. I have problems because they didn’t scan me…my left hip was partially dislocated, unbeknown to me, from an accident…therefore for 10 months…and so the nerve damage is done, it also effects my bladder control. I need surgery for a labral tear but I need to go back and pursue this…before, they talked of that surgery and then they gave me a cold, rude, useless doctor who thought he was God. And he discounted everything! Despite the latest scan of my hip and years of physiotherapists putting my hip back in. When I feel emotionally stronger I’ll go back and fight for it.
Migraines began at 16 except I didn’t know they were more than bad headaches until my mid 20s. The strip lighting at the office triggered it. They worsened to chronic and in severity (vomiting, dizziness) after my accident/nerve damage. Before I had maybe 3 a year.
Your collar seems to work 🙂
Hehe, I have a silly humour. You might like Daisy Elizabeth the tortoise too 😉
xox Faith xox
LikeLike
Hello Faith,
thanks for your insight and plans for your future!
I’ve just found this page of yours though and would like to pass on my experience about the health care in Nova Scotia (and yes, it’s completely different than in the other provinces).
I know your husband is from NB, but even there I’ve heard that health care is better than here.
There’s a reason NS is said to have “4th world health care” 😦
As your dream seems to be to move here one day….well, I totally understand the reasons, but if you’re in need of specific health care services and regular health care even in general …well, lets just say there’s a reason why I will move back to Germany one day.
It was bad even before Covid, now….I’m baffled by how patients are handled and treated and know of a couple of cases where the lack of standard available services have caused people to die.
Right now average waiting time to get an MRI about 1.5 – 2 years.
I’ve been waiting for an appointment for a simple Ultrasound for 1.5 years now and finally found a private naturopath clinic that gave me one….for 300 $ !!
Only 40 % of NS have a family doctor and that number will shrink drastically during the next years as most family doctors are at the age to get into retirement.
Everyone else has to visit walk-in clinics…..waiting times there are up to 8 hours and you usually only get referrals to other doctors which means month more of waiting time.
I have a knee with stage 4 arthritis… it took me 4 months to get an appointment with my family doctor, who sent out a referral to get an MRI. As I was willing to drive 300 km I “only” waited 1.5 years to get this appointment. Then I waited 3 months to get back to my family doctor, who wrote a referral to an orthopedic surgeon. I waited almost two years to get that appointment and the only thing he told me is that I should get a knee replacement ….waiting time for that approx. 3 years.
And this is standard here in NS!!!
I have so many other examples that I could cry just thinking about the lack of health care I’m getting here when it comes to cancer prevention methods. I am a high risk cancer patient and am not able to get an ultrasound for my breast as I haven’t developed a malignant type of cancer yet.
I got those checkups every 6 months since I was 18 due to a history of genetic cancer in my family.
I get mammograms once a year, that’s it. My mom btw. developed cancer three times undetected by mammograms, only by ultrasound…
I could go on and on….and I’m not telling you this to discourage you, but if you’re like me, my health isn’t getting better with age and as I know that there are options for me to get help and a better quality of life…. I know NS is not my forever home.
Also, we are the poorest province, with the highest taxes, lowest income and therefore the highest cost of living expenses.
For the money I spend here on groceries (and we’re really only basic) in a month, I could live at least two months in Germany. As we have no discounters possibilities are limited.
Of course, the woods and lakes and housing possibilities are wonderful….but prices are really only low out in the country….so driving for 1 hour to get groceries or to a hospital is standard.
As said I don’t want to discourage you, but there’s a lot to think about and consider.
I hope my message isn’t too out of line and personal, because this is not what I intended….just my personal experience and thoughts.
I’m really sorry to hear that you’re living with chronic pain and know from myself due to other problems I have how exhausting this can be. Therefore I commend you, even more, seeing what you do and how you just grab life by the horn and keep on going!
Well, I better keep on going too, wish you a wonderful and hopefully painless day and send hugs from over the pond
Stay safe
Manuela
LikeLike
This is shocking, I’m sorry you aren’t being better looked after. I’ll reply a little later on the normal computer where it’s easier to write at length. My back is worse than usual so I lie down and use the WP app. All the best, love Faith 💚
LikeLike
Thank you Manuela, I appreciate you taking the time and effort to help me 🙂
I’ve found the healthcare the best in Germany where I paid a reasonable price for private health insurance. The NHS in the UK is OK for basic stuff but it’s been allowed to be abused for unnecessary things, like operations for breast enlargements!, and no doubt greedy admin high up, also foreign people were allowed to just visit the hospital to get a completely free care for giving birth to babies that soon went back home with mama to another country! The governments at the time are to blame for this.
And so I already assumed I’ll have to pay for a private health insurance again if I permanently move to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. John has been fortunate here with free FULL dental treatment for the teeth he’s abused with his love for sweets and gets free regular pills for his hypothyroidism – of which I have too, diagnosed and treated in Germany, but ignored here by the docs. No wonder I’ve always had a problem with body weight when I wasn’t really eating that much.
The Nova Scotia hospitals sound shocking, yes, like a very poor country. I see that UNDER population in those parts of Canada is causing problems hence the unrealistic high taxes. Why do that to folk who are already struggling and often on lower wages? England sends a LOT of money to Scotland where they have nothing like our population density. It doesn’t sound like Canada’s wealthier provinces are helping out…?
Why is Canada not more accessible for Europeans? So many of us would love to live there now. The country’s government seems to be accepting only refugees – or am I wrong there?
I’ve been looking at properties that already have houses with 3-15 acres only. Realistically I won’t be doing what I loved doing years ago, taking 2 hour strolls! A ‘mild’ fixer upper because I know what I want and how it’ll look. I love your beautiful Canadian woods with the Bambis, moose and bears (I know the last two can be dangerous!)
I expected the long drives. For a creative person I’m pretty logical 😉
I will be able to buy some needed healthcare while still in England when the time comes that I have to move (inheritance). Breast reduction to ease my cracked spine, a PROPER look at the damaged hip and ADEQUATE pain meds. Maybe I’ll finally get real help with my under-active thyroid. If I can reduce the pain by even 50% I’ll be ecstatic. Because it is worsening and so is my physical mobility. Think of person in late 80s +. I’ll be even surprised if I hit old age.
I’m unable to take the cheap opiates and so I’m only on Ibuprofen. I don’t drink alcohol – well maybe half a bottle of wine a year round Christmas – and I don’t do any street drugs. I take vitamins and supplements and eat salad/veg/fruit every day. I try to take care of me because my immune system is low and I know the pain is also taking a toll on my heart – and angina runs on my father’s side of the family. I’m in my late 40s and have had the pain/disability problem since 34 which is only worsening.
I checked the price of gas/petrol and the UK is double that of NB. Food shopping in Germany and restaurants, bars, other shopping is cheaper than the UK. My country pays high taxes. It seems my highest costs in Canada will be regular health care including dental and that’ll be for the both of us as I can’t exactly expect John to receive worse care than myself.
I’d like to have a small business with another smaller house or two letting out to holiday makers and hold craft workshops – I hand embroider among other mixed media.
So are you regretting the move to NS? What will you do about your arthritic knee? I’m sorry to hear of your own health struggles including the cancer prevention – I can see you’re doing your best at looking after your health.
Wishing you and your husband a lovely weekend xox
LikeLike
Faith, thoughts and prayers for you living with chronic pain. I realize it has been years now, but I hope you have managed to find help. Be well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mary Annie, that’s kind of you. I take a lot of vitamin/mineral supplements now, along with extra rest, and ice-cold packs on the inflamed areas. I’ve also managed to lose some gained weight since the accident, which makes mobility easier. I under-medicate and take just ibuprofen. Thank you for dropping by and your thoughtfulness 🙂 Faith xox 🌺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Faith, thank you for the note. I am happy you have learned to manage the pain. Sometimes the doctors can be less than understanding. Be well and have a good week. oxox 🙂 🌺
LikeLiked by 1 person