Thursday, March 26, 2009 JPN asks

Q: my husband is suffering and I do not know how to help

He suffers from spinal degerative disease, a broken leg, ostoperosis, fibromyalgia and a bunch of unexplained pain. chronic pain pills ahve worsen some parts of it all, but his pain is so bad, nothing and no one seems to help. Emergency rooms, surguries, meds, therapist, office visits to reg doc. Nothing. He thinks they are giving up but I am afriad he is. Crys alot, hurts all the time.

I have friends, family and counselers. he has doctors and couseler and me. No support groups in our small area and he will not travel to the city.

How can nayone really help him help himself?

- A
- A
- A

Answers (2)

Karen Lee Richards, Health Guide

3/27/09 2:13am

Have your husband's doctors ever talked with him about the possibility of getting an intrathecal pain pump? It delivers the medication (usually morphine) directly to the spine and as a result, can provide a great deal more pain relief with a fraction of the dosage needed when taking it orally. Here are some videos that will tell you more about pain pumps: http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/neurostimulation-and-pain-pumps.html

I really feel for your husband. Constant pain can really drain a person both physically and emotionally. Is he able to sit at the computer for a little while? If so, we have an excellent support group in our forum called “The Daily Grind.” It's a great group of friendly people who chat with and encourage one another regularly. There are both men and women in the group, so I think he could find some friends he could relate to and who would understand firsthand what he's going through.

Here's a link to that part of the forum. Just click on the current month and join the discussion. http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/chronic-pain/forums/a/frm/f/1361017

(Note: If you've never been to the forum before, you'll have to register separately from your registration here on ChronicPainConnection. You can, however, use the same e-mail address and password if you like to make it easier to remember.)

Dawn5513

4/ 7/09 8:05am

I also suffer like your husband. I have all the same illnesses except the broken leg! It is horrible living like this. It consumes you and is so exhausting, and helping him with kind words and actions can get him beyond his suffering. Acknowledge his pain, hold him when he suffers the most. Tell him you are there for him. See if massaging areas helps him. Fluffing his pillow, getting him a heat pack. I am not saying to cater every minute of your life as you don't want to be depressed! Just little things you do and say will provide so much needed comfort.

I also wanted a pain pump but my doctor said I don't have enough pain for a morphine pump. Even he does not know what massive pain I have, but I thank God I found him. I have more relief at least and if I am very very still I can not feel the pain. That is more then I hoped for and to know at least that that relief is possible has helped me tremendously. To have even just moments of relief is heaven. To know by being still I can have relief. Does your husband have any relief like that? If not I would take him to another pain specialist. Not pain management but a physician who only has pain patients as patients. This link will help you find support for him. He needs to be able to communicate with people like him. http://www.theacpa.org/partners/list.asp

Also, I want to clarify that many people thin exercise is the solution to FMS etc...There are few of us that have no relief from exercising. I have had manipulation under anesthesia, therapy to exercize for six months and all it does is put me in bed for days. Until these syndromes are understood medicine and love is all we have to get through the day. Take time out for you to have fun and join a support group for people who are caregivers. I hope I have helped.

Q: my husband is suffering and I do not know how to help

Related Questions

Ask a Question