Living with Chronic Pain

At the age of 35, in the prime of my life and a single mom to my one and only daughter … I passed out at work, fell, and shattered my TMJ’s not one but both! Along with the shattered jaw, I also injured my neck and shoulders. Yes, 2 herniated disc and another was torn! My life as I had known Stopped before me. Up until 2002, I was very independent … played soft ball, was a gym junkie- as I believe health is your first wealth! Back to my story- I’m not going into all the details, and if you would like to know all the details I will be happy to share them with you … but, here are a few things I’ve been thru. Closed reduction= mouth wired shut! Stop here … do you know what its like to not be able to lick your lips for 8 weeks or brush the back of your teeth for 8 weeks? How about eat ice cream from a cone? Boy how things in life are taken for granted. How about the surgeries? I under went total bi lateral joint replacement … with many complications … first- the custom joint did not fit properly, 2nd- I was overdosed on morphine - one who had never used drugs or even cared to? You can only imagine what it was like to go from 6 breaths per minute … you can hear everything- you just cannot respond … and the fix was - NARCAN — yes, this is what is given to cancel out the narcotic side affects … I went thru withdrawals, the shakes, from being hot to freezing cold in a matter of 3 minutes! Lets go back to the custom prosthesis … well, one side didn’t fit and a hospital stock unit was installed. The next 2 years of my life was living hell! The swelling of my face, in fact, I had what looked like bells-pausy [Bell’s palsy]! It was close however, it was due to my facial nerves had great damage! I’m numb, muscle weakness, and currently as of 2005 when the stock prosthesis was finally removed, finding 8 out of the 11 screws that held it in, in fact had no purchase to the bone. For those 2 years of hell I had to live - the constant movement of the screws felt as if someone was literally ripping my jaw apart. Now what? I currently do not have a functioning TMJ Joint on the right side of my face … I have severe issues with it along with the left prosthesis which is not in good shape! I have chronic pain - it is constant - I have developed inflammation in both of my shoulders and one of my elbows … this chronic pain is very bothersome. I have been living with this injury now for 5 years, Yes, I am 40. I am in the process of getting the person I once was - BACK! I know God will never give you more than you can handle. I have taken this issue, learned as much as I can about it, I am learning how to find the positive, speak the positive, share the bad and let it go. I am in the process of working towards “old” goals and new ones too … Health is your first wealth! I’m hoping that soon the day will come when I can return to the gym. I believe this is the time in my life where I am to devote 100% of taking care of myself and learning to say no to others and steer clear of those who are “needy” … not to sound negative about the needy, Surround myself with positive, healthy, motivated people of all walks of life. God will see me thru to the end.