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(this site best viewed at 800x600 resolution) 
CHRONIC PAIN
My Story
And the Saga Continues.... On Monday, March 20, 1989, I attended my Doctor's office to advise him I'd been in a motor vehicle accident.
Prior to this time period, I had been involved in lots of motor vehicle accidents - all but one, where I was continually being rear ended by driver's not watching what they were doing. Up until this time period, I had never sustained any physical injuries and was under the impression that life would continue on the path I'd been destined to journey.
My Doctor sent me for x-rays of my back, neck and shoulders and gave me three prescriptions. One for muscle spasms, one for tylenol #3 to help with the pain I was experiencing and the third was an anti-inflammatory drug to take some of the inflammation out of my body.
For me, that was the day my life was about to change permanently and forever. There was a six week waiting period for patients to obtain physiotherapy at that time. In the mean time, I was prescribed the medications and advised to "take it easy".
Upon attending my first physiotherapy appointment, I was treated very gently and given hot packs and a few minor exercises to do at home.
Within two weeks, the "kid glove" policy was no longer enforced and I was instructed to do full sit ups and many other strenuous activities to get myself back in shape. I remember vividly how the tears would flow down my face after I proceeded to do each and every sit up without ever complaining. By the time I would arrive home, my nerves would be so shot that I'd go to bed in sheer exhaustion. This lasted for a period of approximately two weeks when I declared "I can't continue on, they're trying to kill me". I had been told by a friend about a clinic she was attending after her car accident. It was a "sports medicine rehabilitation center".
I made an appointment immediately with my Doctor and asked him to refer me to this center. He did and within a few days, I was now an "active" and "participating" patient of this center. The physiotherapists specialized in certain areas and a patient was assigned to work with one who specialized in the area you were injured in.
My therapist worked extremely hard attempting to return my back, neck, shoulder and knee injuries back to their pre accident condition.
Within three months after the accident, I returned to my duties full time and with full gusto. I remember sitting at my desk with tears rolling down my face due to back spasms. For those of you who don't understand what a muscle spasm is or how it feels, I've always described it as "little people doing a tap dance on my spine while they are wearing construction boots". It may not be the clearest of descriptions, however, it was the only one I could think of.
Unfortunately, I found it extremely difficult to keep up with the pace I had been used to in the past. I didn't move as quickly as I used to and had a much lower energy level due to the medications.
My employer did their very best to accommodate my new physical condition. They let me use a head set for the telephone when one was available and a few years later allowed me to use a specialized chair that was built for people with back problems.
From 1989 to 1996, I had learnt to rebuild my life and reinvent myself as I could no longer participate in the sports that I used to live for. I had gained an immensely large amount of weight due to the inactivity and the quantity of prescription medications I was taking. One learns to mourn for the person they were and learns to live with the person that they are now. I now view this as a "test" to determine who I am at the core.
I also attended a hospital in Toronto on many
occasions to have a special procedure called a "pain block epidural" (steroid
injections) to help ease up the pain in my lower back and sciatica nerve.
By this time, I was taking a large quantity of pain killers, anti-
muscle spasm medication and anti-inflammatory medications throughout all
of this. Unfortunately, steroids also have the tendency to "bulk
you up" when you do not want them to. A person also develops what
is known as a "moon face". The face becomes extremely rounded when
on these steroids and does not return to "normal" until after a period
of time when the steroids have left the body.
"Life is
a song - sing it.
For further information on my story with chronic pain please hit the "next" button below.
Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans suffer from back pain at some time in their life?
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