Re: Adhesions and chronic pain
From: Anita Rivera (arivera@covhlth.com)
Mon Mar 21 19:37:54 2005
At Sun, 20 Mar 2005, Kim wrote:
>
>"I am 36 years old and just recently started researching about
>adhesions online. I had no idea that so many people suffer from this
>problem.
>I have been living with this pain for over 10 years now. I have
>underwent numerous surgeries to remove the adhesions. "
Hi, Kim.
I'm so sorry you for your situation. Believe me,
I can relate with the frustration. Unfortunately,
your story is not unlike a lot of stories I hear
where people have had surgeries upon surgeries, yet
no one has told them that surgery only creates more
adhesions. Sadly, many doctors don't believe that
adhesions cause pain and some don't believe that
adhesions will recur, which is almost laughable!
If you cut your knee over and over in the same
place, it doesn't keep your knee from scarring
- - in fact, the scar becomes tougher! But, my
point in writing you is that I can read in your
text how hopeless you feel. If you can, try to
get to a point where you learn to deal with what
simply is. You can't go back and re-do the past
all over and take away the surgeries, and there's
no sure fire surgical method currently available
that will permanently eliminate adhesions so for
you to move forward you've got to determine the
best way to cope with where you are. I do know
that's easier said than done. But, I work in
the medical field and am around health care
professionals all day long. Frankly, I can tell
you that, on the whole, you'll find doctors
much more willing to partner with you if they
see that you are taking charge of your own
healthcare and are armed with the facts of your
condition. They see so many people who are
shopping for drugs and trying to find a quick
fix for their problem that, sadly, they lump all
of us in the same bin. That's unfair, but it's
life. So, my point is to look at alternatives
- - if that means going to pain management,
then by all means go. They don't always just
prescribe narcotics. Maybe yoga, accupuncture,
a mild anti-depressant, etc. There are certain
anti-depressants that work specifically to
block pain receptors. Or, maybe, myofascial
release, relaxation techniques, etc. Remember,
some improvement is better than none. Sometimes
if you just see a little improvement it's
enough to give your mind a relief from the cycle
of pain. If all else fails, there are a few
doctors that you'll see mentioned from time to
time on this board who are willing to tackle
these beasts surgically and have reasonable
success. Hope this helps a little.
--
Anita
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