Does this qualify?

I say that I have "chronic pain" but I honestly don't know if there are specific things that need to be occuring to chronic pain to be a "diagnosis" so to speak. It's probably ridiculous, or I am overthinking or something, but I would like honest answers. I avoid actually telling most people that I am in pain because I don't want to encroach on their feelings if they are also in pain. I don't want it to be a "my pain is worse than what you're going through" kinda thing.

But yeah..Just sitting here typing this I am fully aware of my neck being mildly painful and my hips and pelvis (gluteal muscles) hurt as well. Oh, and my thoracic spine. These things I cannot remember when they first started. The rest of my body hurts as well, but with different activities. Standing for a long time hurts my back, walking hurts my feet and shins as well as aggravates my hips. My hands ache when it's cold out. My ribs sometimes feel like they're being stuck with needles.

My shoulder hurts too, but I know the cause of that and it's only been happening for a few months.

I've never been diagnosed with anything that would cause pain, but part of that is because I don't bring it up. I have kinda gotten used to the pain of everyday and didn't think it was abnormal to be in pain everyday.

So, would you say I do indeed have chronic pain?

Also, how did you bring up the subject of pain with your doctor?

i think chronic means daily so in my book you would qualify. i think if you have a doc that you trust then you should be able to bring up the fact of you being in pain. also to help with bringing up your pain to your doc start a pain diary. i started one and it works great. just get a cheapo calander and put where your pain is and your pain level, 1 low pain, 10 high pain and what you have done for the pain like took meds or something. feel better

Hi Watchthestarsfall,

Sometimes it's hard to talk about pain with doctors, and to get that conversation started. I think one idea might be to print out the comments you've just written, which are very clear...if you're afraid to talk to your doctor verbally. That might be one way to start. Even though I have a very kind doctor and I've known him for a long time, once in awhile I"ll do this when I think I have a rough topic to start. I'll bring in a note and write down what needs to be covered. It helps me and I think by now he appreciates it too.

Since this has been going on for several months, it sounds like you are having some sort of chronic pain. Exactly what is going on for you, the diagnosis or diagnoses that are causing the pain - that is something your doctor needs to figure out with you. Hopefully you and your doctor can have a visit soon and figure out something to help you start feeling better!

Wishing you well,
ErinBear

Chronic Pain is pain that lasts in one area for more than 6months. You probably should have started this dialogue earlier. Are you on any meds for the pain? Have you done Pt or accupuncture, or wather therapy? Do you remember what started it? I hope you find some relief. I know from my own experience, becuase pain isen't measurable in that testable, its considered subjective. I have been told that some people can indure pain better than others. In my lowly opinion I'm in the middle. I knw my pain just touching my hand or neck or back, its there and its there always.

I think the pain diary is an excellent idea. I've always considered one and would like write on my calendar if I had pain, but it got annoying because all I could put was if I had it or not, not where it was or what intensity or descriptors. Thanks!

I know I should talk to my doctor. Part of the issue is that I haven't said anything for so long that now I feel guilty if I bring it up because I feel like I've been lying to people the whole time and I'll completely change their perceptions of me. I don't take anything for the pain because I find that simply taking advil or something doesn't do much unless I take quite a bit (severe pain I occasionally get in my hips, I will take painkillers for that) so I feel like it's useless or that I'll just hurt my liver or something due to taking it daily. I am in school for massage therapy, so I have had some treatment with that..and then I also think a lot of it is postural pain where I have horrible posture. So yeah, I dont know what started it.