February 8, 2010 - 11:18pm
Howdy all,
It's been awhile since I've really chatted with anyone and I hope everyone is well and not dealing with too many health issues these days.I see there's lots of new members so some probably won't remember me but that's OK.
I'm currently in a graduate program to become a physician's assistant and I'm so close to just calling it quits. My pain levels have become so high lately that the course load is overwhelming and I haven't found much that helps bring it down either.
When I started I was doing very well and thought I had put all this behind me, I guess I was wrong.
Anyways, I was curious to know if there were others here who are attending school that deal with chronic pain and if so, would you mind sharing some of the ways you cope with classes, pain and all the other fun things *Sarcasm* that go with it.
If you can help I sure would appreciate it
Thanks
February 8, 2010 - 11:52pm
#2
Oh boy oh boy do I know this
Oh boy oh boy do I know this story well! I am currently a full time college student studying for a degree in criminology. I live in the suburbs of New York City and commute into Manhattan to attend classes. I find that taking my pain meds at the SAME time on days that I have school helps me a lot. I take most of my meds at the same time anyway but I am talking about as needed meds as well. Exercise also helps me so I walk the 30 blocks from Penn station to my school no matter what kind of weather it is outside(that's what umbrellas and gloves are for!) I eat pretty much throughout the day(food has the ability to make me feel better...smile). Also I find that classes that are genuinely interesting hold my attention well and it helps me keep my mind off of the pain a little bit. I also told my professors ahead of time about my chronic pain and most were willing to work with me...if I need to excuse myself for a few minutes just to get up and move around(sitting in those hard seats for an hour and fifteen minutes at a time aggravates my back), and my abnormal psych teacher lets me keep my textbook in his office so I don't have to carry it all the way from my home to school(I bought an older edition of the textbook to keep at home for home use). I know it's so easy to just throw in the towel and sometimes I want to...but school is just so important to me....if you need to take a leave of absence...sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do. What kind of meds do you take and what kind of pain do you have?
February 9, 2010 - 12:37am
#3
quahog:
I asuming you re on your feet alot, foam intersoles for your shoes will help back as well as your feet,an reading in well lighted will save headaches, flourescent lighting causes headaches
remind us more of your problems, it s been a little while
Woodstock
February 9, 2010 - 1:05am
#4
Pain x*#&s at school. Switch
Pain x*#&s at school. Switch doctors if you cant find one that will suit your needs. I go to school full time and work and that was only after 14 months after my near fatal carwreck. I get hassled at work because sometimes I seem mad or angry and its only because I am in pain and its hard to smile when you are in pain. Well you are in graduate school and I am still trying to get my bachelor's so its probably different. You can always sign up for the students with disabilities program. They really help you out if you need it. I really didnt like people knowing I was different so I wouldnt just sit at the regular chairs. But when test time came I would always go to the testing center... more time and more comfortable chairs.
Personally, If I am engaged in the lectures and having discussions it helps take my mind of the pain. Well good luck and I hope you pull through and dont give up. -Jeremy
February 11, 2010 - 1:49am
#5
Work with your school's
Work with your school's students with disabilities office (the name may differ a little). Every school I've attended as an undergrad and graduate offered great services and assistance to me as a student. One thing that helped a lot was having a notetaker. Another nice thing was that they were able to give me a letter letting the teachers know about my health without revealing what conditions I had. In other words, it explained that I was a student with documented disabilities and that I had rights under certain laws. This way it wasn't just me saying to my teachers/professors that I had health problems because I think a lot of people do say they have health issues when they don't just to get out of work or to get extensions on things, etc.
I know this suggestion is a little different than what you're asking for, but for those days that nothing really helps with the pain and you just can't make it to class or get the work done it helps to have the ability to have a modified plan in place for turning things in, etc. Although there are some things that the plan you set up may be able to help with the pain too come to think of it. For example, the school often can provide you with a different desk and/or chair. I didn't ask for that, but one thing that really helped me was the ability to take all of my tests in the students with disabilities office because writing is really painful for me. I was able to take all tests on computers, which made a huge difference for me.
February 11, 2010 - 8:37am
#6
I don't know if your still in school but...
Ya i have the same problem, and I think many other people do too. You should go to an orthpedic doctor/surgeon, might have to start with your family doctor though. This process takes a couple weeks. Your family doctor will give you worthless stuff that is not going to help. Then you'll get some x-rays and an MRI, and your orthopedic doctor find what the problem is right away and give you some options. If it's like me your gonna have to deal with it the rest of your life, but you can get some painkillers to help it.
February 11, 2010 - 9:05am
#7
reply to original poster
I attended graduate school while living with chronic pain.
If I had to sit for a long time, I would stand up frequently. If I had to stand for a long time, I would sit down frequently.
I used the heating pads that you stick on your back under your clothes.
I had to read at least about a thousand pages per week (sometimes a bit more), so I did that while in bed on my heating pad or ice.
It was very difficult. If I hadn't had a grant, I would've gone to an easier school because the curriculum was extremely vigorous and exhausting for me.
It was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life thus far, but it is doable.
Just make as many accommodations for yourself as possible.
February 14, 2010 - 3:08am
#8
Sorry I haven't responded
Sorry I haven't responded sooner my schedule is rather busy these days.
I'm looking for ideas on how to deal with CP without narcotics. I'm currently taking them but they make me very ill and even though I've been on them for several years the cognitive side effects are as strong as the day I started taking them.
If I am to finish this program and start practicing further down the road it has to be without their use.
Has anyone tried Bio-Feedback and/or accupuncture? If so did your pain improve?
Thanks again for the great ideas and information
February 14, 2010 - 4:17am
#9
my dad is a chronic pain
my dad is a chronic pain patient he take's 3-40mg oxycontin,3-4 10/650mgpercocet, and 2-3 5mgvalium. that's just his pain medicine and he has tryed accupuncture he is usually a 7-9 on a 10 pain scale and the accupuncture give's him reliel for maybe that day but that's all. he would be on higher doses than this but he absolutely hates takeing pain medicine.
hope this helped man best of luce quahog cool screen name man
Other then meds and light stretching, the best thing I have done to help with mechanical engineering is buy a nice chair where almost everything is adjustable... The heighth of the chair, the back of the chair goes up and down, the lumbar goes up and down and is adjustable on how far out it comes, you can change the pitch of the seat, the fixed reclining part of the back, make it rock kinda, like a rocking chair, adjustable arm heights etc etc.
What this allows me to do is to change my posture every 20-30 minute that allows me to sit in it for around 2 hours, as opposed to my old actualy somewhat comfortable chair that only allowed me to sit in it for 30 minutes max.
I'm with you though... My goal is to Go into medicine, and I'm quite worried that I can't do it with out medications/if I can graduate I won't be able to practice.
Good luck! And let me know if you have any tips.
-reed