Can You live a Quality Life with Chronic Pain?

Yes, you can absolutely have quality of life when you have chronic pain. Not all conditions that are chronic are terminal, and the pain will not always increase but rather usually be at an expected level.

It's what you do with your life that matters. There may be many things that you can't do, things you used to enjoy but now are beyond your limitations, but that doesn't mean you can't find new and interesting things to engage your mind and give you purpose.

I can speak about this because I have a chronic condition, one that is not going to get better, and may get worse. Over time, you learn to live through the pain and the physical limitations. By living through, I mean really just breaking through that wall and putting it in the background rather than having it staring you in the face all the time. It's still there, but you are looking forward and so it's not the first thing you see in your life.

You may not be able to totally rid your body of pain, but you can improve your quality of life through effective pain management. To be as effective as possible at reducing the impact of pain, you have to make pain management a part of every aspect of your life. The more you know about what causes and reduces pain, the more likely you are to minimize your pain while still staying active. In fact, you can keep notes on which activities are the best and worst for your pain. It takes dedication and determination, but pain management can work for you if you are willing to do the work.

My Mum had a lifetime of chronic pain yet she was the most positive and happy person you could ever meet. She spent long periods confined to bed and even when she was bed-ridden for her last three years, she found things to do.(She would have loved the Internet and sites like this) She taught me a valuable lesson, it's not being in pain that stops you living, it's using it as an excuse not to.
Like her I've never been blessed with good health and the hospital is my second home but even when I'm waiting at the hospital for yet another appointment, I don't sit doing nothing. I take my sketch book and draw or I take some cross stitch and sew. Sometimes I get so involved that being called in to the Doctor is an unwelcome interuption. lol.
I'm lucky in that I also have a job that is flexible and as I've always been a carer for others (disabled and elderly) I am reminded constantly that quality of life is a state of mind, and to be thankful for what I have.

Hi zandi, 16yrs ago I broke my back, but am fortunate to be able to walk etc and do things as everyone else does..at times the pain does get bad at the moment I am having physiotherapy for it, it helps but not a lot, but althought the pain is there daily I tend not to think about it and a lot of the time am able to get on with things without feeling anything. so as you say it is a good thing not to focus on that pain otherwise it can render you not to do things...hugs LoLo

as usual zandi, great discussion. i do live w/pain every day but it is not going to get me down. there is nothing that gets on my nerves worse than someone grunting all the time. u have to learn to live w/alot of things u don't want to. pain is one of them. u can try to control it instead of it controlling you. have a great weekend.

I wish there was a magic solution for all types of illnesses,I have been in pain for weeks,, I have seen patients, suffering,particularly wounded soldiers after war,,others in clinics etc,, I can't forget those scenes,,also I wish there was a magic touch( somebody who had time to rub the painful areas)of the people who are generally around,,Dear The need to find That comfort zone is/was always there,,Only the lucky ones receive it,, And I love to mention that the lucky ones are probably those who are who live the Right kind of Lives,,Personally I believe I pay for my deeds,,

I do know people with pain all the time and they do there best to live with it and do things to get mind off it.
No good setting in docs office all the time.
and if you can help someone to forget the pain even for awahile that will help them I would think!

I live with chronic pain, and have for the past 26 years. I find that if I manage to keep myself busy I don't concentrate on the pain as much. So, I have a lot of different crafts that I do, plus I take college courses and manage to find ones that I really need to concentrate on.

I am thrilled to say that I am getting one of the areas of constant pain taken care of in June. I FINALLY got a doctor that has stated that I do need a complete knee replacement! I am soooo stoked! I realize that I will have a period of recovery, but still the prospect of being able to walk without as much pain and misery and not have the horrible pain that causes screaming nightmares interrupting my sleep is worth the recovery time.

Yes, I think you can. I have had chronic pain that gets intense at times for around 20 years now. I once injured my shoulder and neck that has given me problems ever since. I used meditation to quit fighting what is inevitable and quite often I am not even thinking the pain is there.. I usually do deliberately focus the pain without resistance and it fades away into the background. At first, it seems to get worse, but then eases. - Derek

As the old saying goes, "health is wealth", it is really a blessing to be in good health. Nevertheless, as you mentioned, sickness will come in one's life, and we need to be brave to face it. God allows sickness to teach us a very important lesson - a lesson that it is God who controls us and not ourselves. Though we may be in pain, yet we can still live a life that is pleasing to God!