Living with chronic pain is not only physically exhausting—it is just as emotionally exhausting. Pain medications either fail to provide relief or lead patients down the road to addiction. Every once in a while, the symptoms will subside for a day, bringing immense hope—and then that hope is shattered as soon as the pain returns. Hope is shattered over and over again, leaving patients bitter and skeptical. Chronic pain is oftentimes unpredictable, affecting those who suffer in ways that can never be planned for. Friends and loved ones don’t understand what it’s like to live with chronic pain, and though many try to sympathize, chronic pain patients can become irritated with the misinformed suggestions to try yoga, to meditate the pain away, to visit an acupuncturist, etc. etc.
This all being said, it’s clear why there is such a strong connection between chronic pain and depression!
There are dozens of chronic pain conditions, none of them easy to treat or manage. There’s Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), which leaves patients debilitated with intense pain that comes and goes irregularly and is difficult—if not impossible—to treat with traditional pharmaceuticals. Fibromyalgia is another chronic pain condition that affects the musculoskeletal system, causing chronic muscle pain across the entire body. Those who suffer from Lyme disease may experience symptomless “good days,” but find it difficult to function on the bad ones. These are some of the more common chronic pain conditions, but there are so many others that are rare and not talked about…
We came across a blog in the National Pain Report, written by a woman, Ellen Lenox Smith, who suffers from both sarcoidosis and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Consequently, Smith found that ketamine infusions were one of the only effective treatments to manage her pain. Her honest but hopeful outlook on living with chronic pain, was truly inspiring. It’s certainly worth a read, especially if you or a loved one suffers with a chronic pain condition.
Smith stresses the importance of trying to stay positive, which is not an easy feat to accomplish when your life is marred with day-in and day-out pain. She identifies three powerful Stephen Hawking quotes that inspire and empower her to remain optimistic about her condition, and that we think are worth sharing:
“However bad life may seem, there is always something you so, and succeed at. Where there is life, there is hope.”
“People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.”
“Concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you from doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physical.”
There is no guidebook for living with chronic pain, but we think Smith’s advice is a great foundation for those who are suffering.
Contact RestoratIV Wellness
If you are located in Southern New Jersey or the greater Philadephia area and are suffering from chronic pain, consider exploring ketamine infusions as a treatment option. Our southern New Jersey ketamine clinic treats chronic pain patients, and finds that some experience up to 6-months of pain relief after their initial series of ketamine infusions. Ketamine infusions are administered by highly trained physicians and monitored using state-of-the-art equipment. They offer hope in a bleak world of pain. Contact us using the brief form below to schedule a free consultation.
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