Groups > Coping with Chronic Illnesses and Pain

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Group admin:: Kandra
Created:: January 30, 2008
: 212 Members

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chronic, illness, pain, support, chronic pain, coping

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How do deal with the loses associated with chronic pain?

Posted: Aug 27, 08 10:28pm

I had a decent job, enough money to pay most of the bills and still go to the car show. I had a few people who, I thought, were my friends. I had a car (old truck actually). I don't have any of those things anymore. Not since this pain took over my life.

As a yankee woman, living in the deep south, I was doing okay for myself. I landed a job with a trucking company who had never hired a female driver before. I worked there almost 2 years, until my back gave out.

It's been twelve years since I worked a regular job. I'm on disability and just scraping by with the bills. I moved into a low-rent housing unit for the elderly and disabled. Can't afford a car anymore, which limits where I can go and when. Most of the other tenants are okay to talk to, but I can't really call them friends. All the men are either alcoholics or twenty years older than me.

I really don't mind living alone, but it would be nice to be able to go an event with someone, instead of by myself. Just sitting by the river would be more interesting with a friend close by.

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2 Comments // 3 Members

Naidre Wild Tide

Posted: Aug 27, 08 10:54pm

I am not quite sure of your symptoms but have you looked into the Laser Spine Institute? They have a website, you may want to check it out.

I have MS and I had to leave my job of 10 years at Disney. I am fortunate to have adult kids whom I live with. I am going back to school and see where life takes me from there. I wish you the best, it is very difficult living on disability. Try your best to heal yourself and maybe go to vocational rehab where they can pay for training in a different field where maybe you can work. Love & Light

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margevans

Posted: Aug 28, 08 7:17am

AbbyNormale wrote:

I had a decent job, enough money to pay most of the bills and still go to the car show. I had a few people who, I thought, were my friends. I had a car (old truck actually). I don't have any of those things anymore. Not since this pain took over my life.

As a yankee woman, living in the deep south, I was doing okay for myself. I landed a job with a trucking company who had never hired a female driver before. I worked there almost 2 years, until my back gave out.

It's been twelve years since I worked a regular job. I'm on disability and just scraping by with the bills. I moved into a low-rent housing unit for the elderly and disabled. Can't afford a car anymore, which limits where I can go and when. Most of the other tenants are okay to talk to, but I can't really call them friends. All the men are either alcoholics or twenty years older than me.

I really don't mind living alone, but it would be nice to be able to go an event with someone, instead of by myself. Just sitting by the river would be more interesting with a friend close by.

Here in our town,they have a van that is free if you can get the card to ride because you're disabled.You call ahead,they have a certain schedule,but it runs every day.Maybe they have something like that.

Have you checked your local newspapapers,even online,they have a section that lists groups that meet,writing,painting,art.Maybe there's a number listed to one you could call.

Also,our fitness center goes on income.And it's even possible,if you have one,that you could get a membership free since you're disabled.They have all sorts of classes.

Even reaching out to a church.Sometimes they have classes that are free.Ours,you don't have to be a member of the church,they have alot of classes that have nothing to do with religion.

I'd call social services and ask for any info they may have.There are alot of people like yourself out there.The apts we have here like yours have a small room where they play games,have get togethers.

If yours has something like that and they're not using it,maybe you could suggest something.

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Posted: Aug 28, 08 7:17am

Quote

I had a decent job, enough money to pay most of the bills and still go to the car show. I had a few people who, I thought, were my friends. I had a car (old truck actually). I don't have any of those things anymore. Not since this pain took over my life.
  As a yankee woman, living in the deep south, I was doing okay for myself. I landed a job with a trucking company who had never hired a female driver before. I worked there almost 2 years, until my back gave out.
  It's been twelve years since I worked a regular job. I'm on disability and just scraping by with the bills. I moved into a low-rent housing unit for the elderly and disabled. Can't afford a car anymore, which limits where I can go and when.  Most of the other tenants are okay to talk to, but I can't really call them friends.  All the men are either alcoholics or twenty years older than me.
  I really don't mind living alone, but it would be nice to be able to go an event with someone, instead of by myself.  Just sitting by the river would be more interesting with a friend close by.

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Here in our town,they have a van that is free if you can get the card to ride because you're disabled.You call ahead,they have a certain schedule,but it runs every day.Maybe they have something like that.
  Have you checked your local newspapapers,even online,they have a section that lists groups that meet,writing,painting,art.Maybe there's a number listed to one you could call.
  Also,our fitness center goes on income.And it's even possible,if you have one,that you could get a membership free since you're disabled.They have all sorts of classes.
  Even reaching out to a church.Sometimes they have classes that are free.Ours,you don't have to be a member of the church,they have alot of classes that have nothing to do with religion.
  I'd call social services and ask for any info they may have.There are alot of people like yourself out there.The apts we have here like yours have a small room where they play games,have get togethers.
  If yours has something like that and they're not using it,maybe you could suggest something.

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