My back pain journey started young. The first time I “popped a rib out” was in high school. As the years went on, I had occasional flareups that would knock me down for a week or two. Besides these intermittent episodes, I was living a normal and pain-free life. I played any and all sports and worked out regularly.
As I continued to age, however, the flareups became more common. Shortly after I turned 30, my life came to a crashing stop (fine, maybe a slow). One day my back flared up…but then it didn’t go away. The pain continued long after a week or two. In fact, it has never truly gone away. A few years later, I am still dealing with it. And in reality, I will probably always deal with it!
The majority of my pain is located in the upper back, or the thoracic region. However, the back is all connected, and I’ve had pain in just about every location on my back. Sometimes I refer to my back as a minefield because it could fire up in any location at any time (fun, I know).
Chronic pain and the mental game
For those of you that have never dealt with chronic pain, I hope you never do. The physical pain is obviously tough, but the mental struggle is what really gets you. It’s hard to remain positive when you feel like there is no end in sight. You feel like you do everything right, but to no avail. You are constantly in a cranky mood, always tired, and consistently reminded that you’re in pain. You’re scared to do the things you like to do. You feel like you are living life below your potential.
Written in big letters on my refrigerator whiteboard is the phrase “How you feel today does not dictate how you will feel tomorrow.” This helps me take it day by day. I have good days, bad days, and worse days. Knowing that there is potential for a better day tomorrow helps me stay hopeful.
I do my best to view this challenge for what it is…a challenge. Everyone is faced with challenges, many worse than mine, so I try to put my situation into perspective. The true test is how one responds to life’s challenges. I’m doing okay with this, but I still have a lot of room for improvement.
A victim of the tech-neck era
The question I get asked most often is “Do you know how it happened?” Honestly, not really. I think it’s a combination of many things: sports, genes, work, lifestyle. But there is one theory that really resonates and that is the “tech-neck” theory.
As a millennial, I am part of the first generation with smart phones and laptops. Throughout high school, college, and then into my 20s, I spent countless hours in front of a screen. I studied at the library for hours on my laptop. I sat in bed hunched over my laptop watching TV. I spent every other minute on my smart phone keeping up with the new “social media” phenomenon. Spending all of this time in a head-forward position has really taken its toll. And my body is over it.
I am not the first person dealing with this type of pain, nor will I be the last. In fact, I think we are in the early stages of the tech-neck epidemic. More and more people are going to struggle with similar issues.
How I’ve tried to fix it
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find the magical fix. Here is a list of some things I’ve tried:
- Doctor visits. I’ve gone to a handful of doctors and received x-rays, MRIs, and an injection. All diagnoses have been frustratingly inconclusive.
- Physical therapy. I’ve been to several physical therapists totaling over 200 visits. I enjoy going and feel like this is somewhat effective.
- Chiropractor. I’ve visited several chiropractors. Although they seemed to help early on, I no longer think the adjustments are good for my body. I already seem to self-manipulate my spine too often (stretching, popping, cracking, etc.).
- Massage therapy. I book these sparingly since they can be expensive. Massages are great most of the time, but sometimes they can aggravate the area.
- Yoga. I really like yoga; however, I have mixed thoughts as to whether it helps or hinders my condition.
- Acupuncture. I only tried this a few times, so I never gave it a true go. It could be worth exploring again in the future.
- Pain pills. I really dislike taking pills, but I do take medications occasionally. These include ibuprofen, muscle relaxers, opioids, and oral steroids.
- Herbal medicine. So far, I’ve tried: turmeric, magnesium, fish oil, and vitamins C and D.
- Topical relief. I use ice and heat a lot. I’ve also tried icy-hot patches, CBD creams, and other topical pain relief options.
- Diet. I eat healthy! I swear.
I am always open to new ideas, so please contact me if you have any!
How to live with chronic pain
The best advice I can give is to not let the chronic pain dictate your life. You may need to make compromises about what you can and cannot do. But the worst thing you can do is give in. If you’re an active person like me, figure out ways to be active without hurting yourself (pilates, yoga, walking, biking). If you like running, try walking instead. If you like working in the yard, DO THAT. Odds are, you’re not going to hurt yourself more. Motion is lotion, so keep that body moving.
Once I find the magical cure, I will make sure to share it with my fellow back-painers. But until then, lets embrace the challenge!
Oh, Chase. I have been down the chronic pain route. Unfortunately, I became an opioid addict (eventually taking six different ones at the same time, all doctor-prescribed!). I actually felt so much better after I detoxed. And having a knee replacement helped immensely. I still live in chronic pain from fibromyalgia but it is tolerable. Once in a while, I take acetaminophen. I do pilates and I love it.
I’m so excited to read about your adventure!
So glad you were able to make it through the opioid addiction! It definitely shows your strength. That is no easy task. And I appreciate your support!