Wow, I just signed into e-mail here thinking of all the pain I am in and how hard it is to concentrate when the pain is worse than other times. Like today and over the last couple days.
Syringomyelia is at the crux of *my* pain problem (like Danny described below) and I consider THAT to be my disability now more so than quadriplegia. Going to a psychologist is *a* waste of time (in my humble opinion). All they can really do is sit there and listen to you and TRY or SAY that they can empathize and offer some suggestions but, other than that, what can they really DO? Not much, but a whole lot of listening. Also, "going to a psychologist" implies that you have a mental or emotional problem. So, they group you in with most of the able-bodied population out there and that gets one nowhere. When I worked for an INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER in New York state... we had a psychologist that worked there. He was able-bodied so I always wondered how in the world he could offer any help to people with disabilities. He was also a very laid back guy and I can just picture him sitting there and doing nothing but listening. We are not mental cases. If pain is the culprit... we either have to find something that makes it somewhat bearable or just livable (like Danny said). Keeping busy and keeping my mind off of it helps but, lately, it has been worse. Why? It could be a million reasons. Keeping busy usually helps me but, lately, the pain has been overriding any activities that I have been doing (which have been very little because I am in bed just recuperating from a very bad wound). No easy answers that it is is for sure! Lori C 4/5 complete 30 1/2 years post injury Tucson Arizona On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 11:25 AM, Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: > Yes, Bobbie..it is hard for an able bodied OR even a Doctor to completely > understand all the pain/pains-- that are part of spine and nerve related > issues we quads can have--- And some of us ( like me ) ( perhaps you also > ) have progressing Syringomyelia. I have had increasing pain and problems > since I turned age 50, I am 53 now.. My syrinx began to really expand at > around age 50 causing way more pain and problems than I ever had since I > became paralyzed at age 40. I need pain meds every day now--- the 1st 10 > years or so I rarely needed them. Even with pain meds the pain never stops, > it can just help deal with it. At times it increases and gets so bad, I can > hardly stand it and my wife puts me in bed and after about an hour it > subsides somewhat. It is hard for able bodied folks to understand......( my > own mother, told my sister that i'm a hypocondriac ) I deeply resented that > and still feel anger towards her for saying that ) I am like my dad was... > and have a very high pain tollerance level--even before my injury, I could > take pain/injuries better than the average human. Any way--good luck-hope > you get any help possible. Dan H. * (near 13 years post ) St.Louis, Mo. > Area > > ------------------------------ > *From:* "bobbie...@aol.com" <bobbie...@aol.com> > *To:* quad-list@eskimo.com > *Sent:* Tue, June 22, 2010 12:52:38 PM > *Subject:* [QUAD-L] Pain management & pain in the a** psychologist > > Hi All, > I saw a psychologist last week, it was the first part before going to > see the pain Doctor who will prescribe my new and improved pain meds. I > thought it was a JOKE! They, Kessler, had mailed me a 15 page form to fill > out regarding my pain - where is it, what meds am I on now and on a scale of > 1 to 10 how do I rate my pain. OK, so I filled it out then went to see the > physiologist who had the personality of a blank piece of paper, he sat > behind his desk in front of his computer and asked me ALL the questions that > I filled out the day before. He ONLY asked me "Where is you pain"? "How long > have you had pain"? "On a scale of 1 to 10 how is your pain now"? Then he > said "OK, you can go now" I got a little miffed and said "You didn't ask me > about what I do and now can't do because of my pain, you never asked if I > was ever suicidal or depressed or if the pain interfered with my every day > life, you didn't ask what do I do on a daily basis - hobbies or interests. I > told him that I thought all those things were just as important. He said > nothing AT ALL. The next day I wrote down on a piece of paper what I wanted > to tell him, then I called and left him this looooong message. Something > like this; "I think it is important that you realize that there is more to > me than my pain. I use to drive but cannot because of my pain, I can't type > as long, stay in my chair as long as before. I use to be very active in my > community now I cannot." > Tomorrow, I'll see what happens. Bobbie > -- Lori Age - 45 C4/5 complete quad, nearly 30 years post Tucson, AZ
