Chronic Pain a big eating trigger

For a few weeks I've been struggling with this. Didn't realize it until a week into my funk and a coupla days of grazing (lukily that only means an extra cheese stick or a few nuts that I don't really need), I finally figured out that chronic physical pain I have is a huge eating trigger for me, and looking back, it has been for many years. Just want something to distract me from the pain. I have scoliosis (born with it), had a spinal fusion when I was 12....for 20 years I was active and athletic, pretty much a jock. But maybe 18 years ago my lower back started bothering me, and after lots of ups-and-downs with various doctors and practitioners, living with a depressed partner for years, being active-then-inactive etc....I have degenerative disc disease and arthritis in the vertebrae above and below the fusion, my SI joint is on fire most of the time, standing straight on any given day is pretty much impossible. I have a cadre of practitioners, have tried injections and all sorts of things. Today my daily routine includes ice, heat, hot tub, inversion table, foam rolling and lots of warmup exercises. Sitting is the worst, but I'm a programmer so that's what I do most. Laying on ice all day when it's sunny out (in Seattle) sucks. Makes me feel like a big loser. I have recently looked on line and everyone who had the same surgery 20-30-40 years ago are in the same boat. Saved my life then, but like all the others, the procedure they used wrecked my back and the rest of my body. I won't get painkillers. Many people get addicted to them, or are even incapacitated because of this pain. Many employ various solutions like I do: massage, chiro, exercise, swimming, etc...you can't stop or you are a frozen block of pain that takes way more effort to fix.

Anyhow, I knew that losing weight wouldn't fix this because it was a problem years ago when I weighed 150 pounds. But I was secretly hoping in the back of my mind that it would help at least a little bit. It hasn't. And probably because I'm more active now, it's worse. At least with the weight off, it's easier to manage, and with working out all the time, I'm more motivated to manage it because without doing all of my processes I wouldn't be able to make it to the studio every day.

I'm not looking for any solution to my pain....just seeing how others cope with this kind of thing. I feel really defeated, if I don'****ch it I can get pretty depressed about it. I'm trying to focus on positive things, make some goals for what I think will be "maintenance" for me pretty soon and focus on that. I know lots of other people live with pain, sorry but that doesn't make me feel better, just makes me feel like a loser that I can't BUCK UP 100% of the time. I waffle between being in a funk and bucking up. It's hard to accept but I know it's reality. I'm 49 years old, my back and hips and joints are what others will experience in their 70's and 80's. It's a grind and sucks the soul out of me.

It has really been in the forefront of my mind because every time (I mean EVERY TIME, literally) I run into someone I haven't seen for a while and they are amazed at how I look, the first thing they say is "Wow! I bet your back is a lot better, huh?". Really drives home for me how much my physical problems have sort of defined who I am over the years when everyone I know asks me that. My answer is "no, not really. It's a mechanical thing. But it is a lot easier to manage." which isn't really true all the time, but I guess I figure if I say it enough, maybe my head will believe it some day.

Anyhow, done babbling. Foremost I need this to not contribute to overeating, ever. That's what I'm focused on right now, is catching when I start for the kitchen and really asking myself if it's time to eat or not. Secondly I need a tool or some kind of brain-trick or plan that helps me get out of, or stay out of, the depressing funk that comes along with chronic pain.

Thanks for reading.

Ginger

I too have DDD and arthritis.  I'm a Nurse, and refuse to take narcotics for chronic pain.  I've treated too many prescription drug addicts.  Patients trust their Docs and do what they say without doing any research.  As a result, I've treated people trying to get off of opiates, methadone, etc. prescribed by "well meaning Dr's", and many others who turned to the streets to obtain narcotics to deal with their pain.  I know you said you weren't looking for a solution for your pain, and I also know that there are many of us out there that are dealing with chronic pain.  I just want to share what's worked for me.  Celebrex and Cymbalta.  My pain is mostly in my neck and shoulders, but I also have intermittent pain in my lower back and hips with referred pain in my lower legs.  The reason I've mentioned the two prescription meds is because they've been cleared by my Doc to take after surgery.  Celebrex, although it's an NSAID, it doesn't cause the gastric problems that Ibuprofen and others cause.  I'm not making this recommendation as a Nurse, but as a Patient that found pain relief without the use of addictive substances.

Hey thanks for that. I started taking ibuprofen a coupla weeks ago (I took Naproxen for YEARS but it wasn't really working after a while), had a nine-month follow up with my surgeon the other day and expressed my concern that I was taking it every day now because it was actually helping. He said of course I shouldn't take it more than once or twice a week. So I've been concerned. I'll call my PCP and see about Celebrex and Cymbalta. Anything that can take the edge off enough for me to get up and get my day going and do some proactive exercises and such...I'm all over that. Thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes.

Ginger, I just wanted to say I am really sorry about all the pain you are in. My heart hurts for you. I know this is not even remotely the same kind of pain, but I've had pretty bad plantar fasciitis for over a year now (had it for years, it's been severe for a year). I feel like it's turned me into a miserable, nasty person at times. I cannot even imagine living for 20 years in chronic pain. I am even more impressed with your weight loss and fitness accomplishments knowing you struggle with pain like this. Also, it sounds like you have had an important realization about the pain being an eating trigger. It definitely is for me. I put on probably 20 lbs before my surgery because I was depressed and couldn't do much, so I was eating for comfort and entertainment. I have no solution for this...not being able to eat much post-op has helped. I hope you are able to get out of your funk...I will send good thoughts your way.

Thanks so much. I have PF as well--years ago I had surgery for it, but it didn't help. I have to say that now, I barely feel it at all. Only when I crouch down doing yardwork maybe, something like that, can I feel it. I'm not sure what changed. It started feeling better a few years ago, but it's been a struggle for me as well for 20 years. Yes makes me grumpy. One time I got an epidural injection in my spine, it was like a miracle. I didn't realize just how irritable, tired, grumpy it made me on a regular basis. Grumped at my partner, didn't want to do anything because just standing around a museum or Costco killed me. Hope you can find some relief--it's kind of the same as my pain, where you have to build an arsenol of things that each help in some way and rotate thru them as necessary. The most paintful but most helpful is rolling your foot on a golfball, or at least getting massage. Also I've frozen water bottles of water and used them. I'm sure you've done all that....but you know, I gotta throw my two cents in :)

Anyhow, keep moving forward. Do whatever you have to do to keep going forward, and I will too.

Yes, there's no other way to go but forward!

Yeah, standing around sucks. People who don't have it don't really understand. I do the tennis ball, water bottles...I've even had the Graston Technique done by my chiropractor where they rub the scar tissue out with a metal instrument. Cortisone shots, night splint, expensive shoes and orthotics. Mine is a particularly stubborn case. I keep hoping I will lose enough that the pain goes away. I'm encouraged to hear that your PF pretty much resolved itself. Thanks for the response and good luck to you!

  A good chunk of my eating was due to chronic pain too.

I know you didn't ask for it... but have you gotten some 2nd and 3rd opinions on your back? Seen a new specialist? Seen a Pain Management doc? You don't have to go on narcotics to try out some of the newer pain relief options!! They have nerve blocks they can do that might help. Is there a possibility of having a new surgery? ALOT has changed in the last 20 years!