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ShaggyChic_1201 · 09:34 PM

This is very conflicted subject for me and I am soliciting input while trying to keep it short. In 1998, I had an accident and hurt my shoulder and eventually developed a pain condition known as CRPS. With CRPS, the brain/nervous system THINK there is terrible harm being caused to the body part and it reacts with extreme pain signals to get you to stop doing whatever is supposedly causing the pain. The problem is there’s really no reason for those pain signals to be generated. I suffered increasingly worse pain for 8 years until it was unbearable. Then a miracle occurred and the pain went away for 4 years.

Now the shoulder joint is unstable and the CRPS has come back. I keep telling my T and P-doc that it’s purely psychological, hysteria or conversion disorder. T gently countered with, “you’re in the best place of your life right now.”

I want to do all the things I’ve been able to do for the last 4 years. I think it’s better to push thru the pain and not let it get to me. I don’t want to rest after taking a shower. I want to go to work, and work a full day without taking pills and using ice packs and crying. But T and P-doc are telling me no – I need to adapt my life to my new circumstances. They are insisting I push to get in and see doctors (I’ve been turned away by 7 ortho-docs who think surgery or PT is too risky). I’m afraid if I give in and become a pain patient (again), I’ll get depressed. On the other hand, if the pain gets as bad as it was, I would probably resort to drastic options.

I do have appointment with pain clinic later this week. I just don't have very high hopes.