Ron.Shaw@f7.n374.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Shaw) (05/03/91)
Index Number: 15320
[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet]
I too have been in pain for a considerable amount of time (over 17
years). WHen it first started, some doctors thought that I just
wanted drugs (I'm a black man, and was in my early twenties, with a
good job & a college education when it happened). I was tossed into
a stereotype. It took me over 10 years before I found a physician
that could diagnose the problem as being several major items. And
another 4-5 years fighting with Social Security disibility.
All the while, my Mom said the same thing "Don't give up hope."
Well things can get pretty rough when you are in pain, and the only
other person that would understand it is another person in pain.
These politicians seem to be cold hearted when it comes to benefits
for the disabled or elderly, and I wish I could dump some of this
on them for 10 minutes so they could see how it feels to have to
stay inside for 8 years, sleep 20 - 30 minutes at a time, take
medications that destroy your stomach & make you forget things, and
wake up secreaming in pain in the middle of the night. Sometimes
it's very hard to keep you head up, but if you focus on something
you enjoy, and have someone in your corner, you can make it!
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