Has this happened to you?

Going to the emergency room in the middle of the night is NO FUN for anyone, but so much worse for those of us that suffer with chronic pain or any illness that causes pain. I thought I would pass on one of my ER stories that I will never forget. I was reminded of this story after my fall on July 4, 2011 that took me to the ER to rule out broken bones. On the 4th, I was waiting for over 5 grueling hours, and not one doctor ever asked me what medications I was on or if I needed any pain meds for the plate size bruise on my hip. I did NOT have any broken bones and since I had meds at home, I just blew off their oversight. Unfortunately, nothing has changed since 2006 when my ER trip was again in the middle of the night, but back then I did not have a prescription for muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatories. I was in severe pain from what was determined two weeks later to be 2 additional herniated disks in my back. This second pair of herniated disks led to my degenerative disk disease diagnosis and had me file for disability finally. So it was April 2006, I am in excruciating pain, and was forced to wait almost 3 hours just to be taken back to wait for another hour to finally be seen by a doctor who looked like he could be my kid brother.  He was nice enough until he asked why I couldn't sit down. I told him it was probably another pinched nerve or sciatica cause the pain was running down my legs. Naturally he wanted the back story on how I could possibly try to diagnose myself. I told him about the emergency surgery in 1996 and how my right leg had gone completely numb so surgery was set in 72 hours to prevent me from being in a wheelchair if it was possible. The doc listened and gradually a broad smile came to his face as I was finishing the back story. Now you need to know this little smile really pissed me off. I was in severe pain, talking about other severe pains I had experienced in my life, and this butthead's smile only seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. I finished the story and asked him why he would smile at my pain. With the smile still on his face, he basically said that no matter what I told him he would not help some jumpy drug seeking person who couldn't even sit. I need you to know that I lost it here. I was standing up already while this guy sits comfortably and spins back and forth on his little stool with not a care in the world and obviously never suffered with back pain or scaitica himself.  I stepped towards this guy (not gonna even respect him by calling him a doc now) and told him that if he lived with my pain even one day, it would kill him and he would be glad to be dead and away from this pain. He stood up, and put his head down, and literally covered his genitals with his hands as he took the rest of my tirade. Understand, I did not notice any of his reactions, because I was still going on about how I was the last thing from a drug seeker and the reason I couldn't sit was pinched nerves in my back.  Needlesstosay, those of you who know me, know that being quiet is not in my nature and when I get upset, I just get louder. I never cussed at him, nor threatened him at all, but he took my tirade that way, because he sent hospital security to escort me out. Luckily, Jason could foresee this and had me ready to go and we were already walking out when the security guards walked up. I have never been back to that hospital and I have never missed an opportunity to bad mouth them to anyone who would listen over the years since then. It was in the car on the way home, when Jason (my hubby of 18 yrs) told me about the body language that screamed I was intimidating and threatening even though I was just telling that doc the truth. Its been a source of laughter as time has passed for me and my family. Yes, this story is famous and gets brought up at family gatherings occasionally. I am not proud of the fact that I scared this doc, but I am proud of the fact that he will NEVER forget what its like to accuse someone in pain of being a drugseeker. Who knows if it changed the way he dealt with other patients, but, in my heart, I hope he is still at least slightly afraid of smiling at anyone's pain.  

My Story & Diagnosis

Hello Pain Brothers & Sisters!! I'm already in the process of writing my first book (of course) called Pain Sufferers Speak. Within the last year, I started Pain Sufferers Speak's 4 Elements: our Exclusive "Members Only" Pain Family, Community Fan Page, Blog plus I host Twitter chats every night that pain allows me to at 10pm CST-USA. Its been therapy for me after 15 years living with chronic pain, 2 back surgeries, partial hysterectomy, 2 kids, & hubby of 18.5 years. Life never gives us what we think, but I am super blessed to have gone through everything!! One chapter in the book is planned to have loads of my pain peeps and their stories. (Please message me your story to be considered for the book if you want.) Its a timely topic it seems as pain has invaded every section of the globe's society. However, at first it was to help me come back and talk about my pain after 18 months in hermitville and severe depression after losing 2 careers (8 yrs in healthcare as rehabilitation tech for head injury hospital, Home Health Aide Dispatcher & Home Health Aide for Disabled & Elderly Clients + 9 years as Nationally Certified Paralegal with most of my time in Bankruptcy & Social Security Law plus a little Real Estate Law). Took me 38 months and many trips to food banks and my parents help to finally win Social Security disability. Was turned down 4 times and 3 of those were with my attorney's help!! I refused disability after the first back surgery at age 24, because I just couldn't accept being disabled that young. It was emergency surgery in 1996 (age 24) because my right leg went completely numb. I have degenerative disc disease that effects 4 discs in my back (L5/S1, L4/L5 and 2 cervical discs in my neck), neuropathy (nerve damage and nerve pain) in both legs with balance and falling issues, carpel tunnel in both wrists and arms with nerve damage, occasional panic attacks since age 16, plus chronic fever blisters on my eyes, nose and mouth.... and a partridge and a pear tree. LOL I am so blessed to have such a big supportive real family and now over 200 Pain Brothers & Sisters in my self-created Pain Sufferers Speak "Members Only" Pain family. My hubby has had to take care of me off and on after surgeries, etc. He works out of our home as a mobile mechanic on cars and trucks so that he has time to chauffeur the kids since I have not driven for last 4 years on doctor's recommendation. I am mostly homebound due to falling and the car being so painful. My disabilities DO NOT define me!!! I keep my faith in God, my positive attitude plus I keep HOPE alive by always trying to do new things and test my limits to see what I CAN do. Life is challenging to everyone, and these just happen to be my challenges. I love to network with other bloggers, advocates of all kinds, and fellow chronic pain and chronic illness peeps. My book should be finished by the end of this year and hopefully published next year. I love to read (always have at least 2 books Im busy with), watch movies (Netflix ROCKS!!), host gamenights for friends and family, yoga, swimming when pain allows, cooking when carpel tunnel allows, blogging as often as I can, and I LOVE Twitter and Facebook. I am most proud of my 2 children (Jocelynn-17 and off to college in Aug, and Scott-11 who starts Jr High in Aug), my husband and our marriage of 18 years (loads of consistent work and lots of fighting through issues), and last but not least the repair of my relationship with both of my parents after tumultuous teen years. I practice unconditional love and acceptance of everyone in my life and carry my positive attitude as a shield against depression's pull. My faith sustains me and grounds me and is my ever present joy in life.

Hope you will enjoy Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Pain Community AND Choose to Join ALL "4 Elements" and Share our Global Pain Community with all of your friends and family!

1.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Exclusive "Members Only" Facebook Pain Family

http://www.facebook.com/groups/painsufferersspeak

2.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Facebook Community Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pain-Sufferers-Speak/112276272164064

3.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Blog **You are here now.** : )

http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

4.) Follow Pain Sufferers Speak's Founder & Administrator, Liz Hall, for nightly chats on Twitter as @painspeaks at 10pm CST-USA!

http://twitter.com/#!/painspeaks

A little bit about me.....

I have degenerative disk disease and 4 disks are effected—2 in lumbar/low back, 2 in cervical/upper back & neck. Required 2 back surgeries-1st in 1996 at age 24 when my right leg went completely numb (L5/S1), and 2nd in 2008 when left leg had pinched nerve (L4/L5). Left with neuropathy in both legs and feet which causes balance issues, weakness & falling sometimes. Due to doctor’s recommendation, I have not driven since 2006 and remained mostly homebound to prevent further injuries and keep pain level reasonable. Even though complete disability was recommended in 1996, I did not file for Social Security Disability until 2006 and was not approved until 38 months later in 2009.  After 9 years of endless typing as a paralegal, I also have carpel tunnel in both wrists and arms with moderate nerve damage in both. Occasional panic attacks helped to diagnose PTSD in 2009. My disabilities do NOT define me. They are my life’s challenges and I choose to be positive and thankful. That’s right-Thankful! Without my issues, I would work full time and only get nights and weekends with my husband & 2 children. Instead, I am here every day to make breakfast and eat with all of them. I am here when the kids come home from school, and love helping with homework & school projects.  I make dinner and cook as often as I am able. My husband and I share household chores and responsibilities. Due to my disability, my husband works out of our home and we get quality time together each day.  I have had the time to rediscover my love of writing and make daily connections through Pain Sufferers Speak’s community which is my passion! I love sharing FREE health/wellness information, doing webresearch 5 days a week, helping people to feel less alone in their pain, and encouraging others to share their pain in a healthy way. I feel truly blessed and excited about the future!