Hi Gypsyblurose,

I'm so sorry to hear about your chronic pain! It sounds very difficult to deal with. I completely understand your frustration and depressed feelings. I'm glad you're coming here for support!

My husband has chronic back pain as well. He has an autoimmune disease called ankylosing spondylitis, which basically causes your vertebrate over time to fuse together, affecting your ability to even stoop down or turn your head or body. In addition, he has degenerating discs in his upper back, major osteoarthritis in his midback, and a blown disc in his low back. Doctors have said surgery will not help, and no pain medication he has tried (including fentanyl and morphine) has helped his pain. He has multiple other heatlh problems as well, and like you, battles feelings of discouragement and depression.

My h applied for disability and finally got it. But it took him a few years to get it. The SSA usually always turns everybody down the first time, and often, even when they go for a court hearing. However, DO NOT GIVE UP!! Every time you get denied, appeal it. You will most likely need to get a lawyer involved to get your disability. My h got refused twice, and then we got a good lawyer, and he was able to show the Appeals Council why the judge made mistakes in not giving him his disability. This led to them giving my husband a new hearing, and at that hearing, his was granted his disability. Also, once he was granted disability, they gave himj retroactive pay back to the date when he first applied.

Again DO NOT GIVE UP!!! The system is designed to wear you down and discourage you, so that you give up. They will make you see one of their doctors too, who will probably downplay your illness and say nothing is wrong with you. Don't let that discourage you either.

Do get a disability lawyer. In most cases, they will not charge you anything for their services unless you end up winning your case. Otherwise, all you pay for is a very small fee for administrative services.

Again, I'm so sorry about the chronic pain! It can take much of the joy out of life. I know firsthand by witnessing how it has affected my husband. He is only 49 years old and often says he wishes he could just die in his sleep to be free of his pain.

In addition to medications, you might consider looking for a chronic pain support group in your community. That would provide you with some face to face support. Often times, people without chronic pain can't understand how bad it can be, or how much it affects your life.

Best wishes to you.