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I am so depressed. I have got crps in left foot and chronic back pain not been able to work for 9

Posted , 7 users are following.

deborah16264
deborah16264

Not able to work for 9 months now been told not got enough points for benefits so stressed not sure how much more pain and stress I can take .

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Rajur
    Rajur deborah16264

    Posted

    There are ways to decrease and even eliminate CRPS pain.

    Pain is a construct of the brain...nerves are not pain receptors. There ARE specific nociceptor nerves that inform the brain of noxious stimuli, but it is up to the brain to interpret these inputs. The quality and the quantity of pain, is determined directly by the brain.

    CRPS is a terrible form of chronic pain and I suffered through it for 5 years before I sucessfully eliminated it. 

    All chronic pain has a component of learned pain (pain is an efficient teacher), and this component can be manipulated and changed using brain plasticity.

    Google "Reversing Chronic CRPS" for a personal and more in-depth treatment of the subjects of CRPS and chronic pain.

     

  • Rajur
    Rajur deborah16264

    Posted

    I have also suffered from chronic backpain and 5 years of CRPS.

    We often think of chronic pain as an injury that won't heal...this is a natural reaction based on a lifetime of experience. Of course there may be an underlying cause to the pain, but it is not a requirement.

    20 years ago my first back doctor candidly told me that my back did show signs of degenerative disc disease. He also said that he sees patients all the time with equal or worse looking backs that have no pain..."we simply don't know why some people have chronic pain and some don't".

    With advances in neuroscience, and by using newer tools such as MRI, much has been learned in the last 20 years. 

    Pain is not simply a response to tissue injury. The brain constantly interprets stimulation and tries to determine if it is harmful or not. The brain's job is to sense the present and to predict the future; to determine if action or inaction is most adaptive.

    Sometimes it gets it wrong. Chronic Pain can be one of those times.

    There is an interesting NIH-funded study (Sept. 17, 2013 I think) sugesting that how the brain may already be wired for pain BEFORE the pain ever starts. The study found a measurable difference in overall brain structure in 80% of the patients that went on to develop chronic pain.

    That said, even if our individual brain connectivity predisposes us to chronic pain, we do not have to accept our fate. Research has also shown that the brain's connectivity can be molded and changed...this is called brain plasticity.

    Whether we are or are not wired for chronic pain...we CAN change the quality and quantity of our pain over time...we can re-normalize brain connectivity.

    google "Reversing Chronic CRPS" for a more personal and in-depth take on the subject.

  • sarah08272
    sarah08272 deborah16264

    Posted

    Hi Deborah, firstly I'm sorry you have this, I too have CRPS of left leg and, as a consequence of being on crutches for 2years and 6months, have problems with hip, back, arms and hands. Yes it can really get you down, but you are not alone. There are, unfortunately, more of us out there then you would think! It is nice to have fellow sufferers to be able to speak to in times of uncertainty and low mood.  

    With regards to the benefits it may be worth reapplying or appealling, not sure which road you would have to go down.  A friend of mine and a fellow sufferer was refused, quite unbelievably as she had totally lost the use of the limb, but she appealled and the decision was overturned.  It may be of some comfort to know that crps specialist consultant and suffer both attended parliament last week to raise awareness and one of their requests was for the DWP to recognise CRPS as a genuine disability.

    the CRPS UK group is a good one to join to be kept in the loop.

    i'm not going to tell you it is easy or that there is a miracle drug out there, not yet anyway but here's hoping one day!! 

    I recently read something that I thought was appropriate:

    Everbody wants happiness, nobody wants to be in pain, but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain.

    Thinking of you, take care and be kind to yourself.

  • sarah08272
    sarah08272 deborah16264

    Posted

    Hi, thought i would send you link to website i was talking about, as there is a similar one.

    www.crps-uk.org

    take care x

    • carol91733
      carol91733 sarah08272

      Posted

      Hi Sarah you sound such a kind person, is it okay to chat to you about CRPS how long have you had it what treatments etc?? Where are you based??

      Sincere best wishes Carol

    • sarah08272
      sarah08272 carol91733

      Posted

      Hi Carol, how are you?

      Ah these feet and legs! You take them for granted for too many years and then out of blue along comes CRPS and you wish you had done more with them!

      i had never heard of it before the fateful day the consultant muttered 'i think you have rsds', even then i didnt really fully understand what it meant.  Mine was caused by an operation back in may 2013, but it was a while before anyone would say for certain i had crps.  I have tried numerous drugs, gained tremendous weight, had unsuccessful spinal block, hydro, physio, acupuncture (oohhh that was NOT the way to go!!) etc and slipped deep into the dark side.  However, I met a wonderful lady whilst in hospital and she has been my lifeline over the last couple of years, noone understands quite what you are going through like a fellow sufferer!  

      I had an inpatient stay in Bath in july, which was amazing.  Have you been on the programme?  Unfortunately once you leave the support of those wonderful people there isnt the support or facilities locally.  Although you do get to make some lovely friends, who you can then add to your own support network.  I live in Stourbridge. Whereabouts are you?

      How did yours start? You hear so many varying stories but a lot do seem to be from operations.

      hope i havent waffled?! Lack of sleep!  Off to get magnetic treatment shortly, a new idea my physio has come up with. Jury is still out but willing to try anything!

      Hope you are doing ok today?

      thank you for your lovely comment and message.

      take care x

    • carol91733
      carol91733 sarah08272

      Posted

      Hi Sarah how ru today, hope it's a less intense pain day for you?? Gosh yes, how I agree with you about never hearing of CRPS before, quite frankly I wish we still didn't know, it's an awful debilitating illness! Turned ours lives up side down, hey? I live in a little village called Pucklechurch, Bristol, I have never met or heard of anyone else near to me with CPRS, have you? It's better being able to talk to people that get what your going through and totally understand! Mine started back in 2012 got rushed in hospital on a 999 call, had something go pop in my back, because of the bilateral weakness in my legs I couldn't walk unaided, supposed to be supported by two nurses whilst out of bed, short staffed as always, one nurse tried to support me on her own, she couldn't manage to support me, let me fall to the floor, damaged my ankle, ended up in a black boot, then plaster cast, had no operation on my foot at all, and all of this happened before having my spine operated on! I ended up being three months in hospital! What is magnetic treatment never heard of it? What did Bath Mineral do that was so fantastic, how did you find Physio and hydro? Would you like to exchange email addresses easier to chat? Please be kind to yourself, Tc Carr
  • carol91733
    carol91733 deborah16264

    Posted

    Hi Deborah

    How are you coping today, sounds awful for you I know exactly what you are suffering trust me! I was diagnosed with CRPS in my foot back in 2012 and its an onward slog daily sadly!! Has anyone suggested The Bath Mineral Hospital, they specialise in CRPS, where do you live??

    Take care of you and try to be kind to yourself Carol

  • pitsypats
    pitsypats deborah16264

    Posted

    I haven't been able to work either and have also been denied.

    Everyone I talk to advise that I get an attorney. Most work on

    contingency. I'm doing that first thing in the morning. It's better

    than living in a car when there is already so much pain. Good

    Luck!

  • yvonne_33997
    yvonne_33997 deborah16264

    Posted

    Do you have a citizens advice bureau you can get too?. Dispute your claim , and ask for a re evaluation. The CAB will make you an appointment and they will help you to use the right wording . And stress the point . Have you had an appointment with DWP?.
  • karen19643
    karen19643 deborah16264

    Posted

    hi Deborah, i was wondering how things are going for you now? i also have crps but im battling through it as im only 46 and iv got to much to do in my life to let this ruin my life smile my dad has crps and was so bad he was in a wheelchair but hes now walking and only in minimal pain so i know i can get through it, im really hoping you are in less pain, im on antidepressants and they have helped me alot to be more possitive smile
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