What are folks like myself supposed to do about chronic pain?

Jesus guys this sucks. If you are in NC and need therapy reach out to me at [login to see] and I will try to set you up with pro bono therapy via teletherapy using my doxy.me platform. If I can’t fit you in then I will try to get you set up with someone pro bono. If you are not in NC I’ll do my very best to try to get you set up somewhere in some way. I realize I am making a big offer here that might mean I get an overwhelming response. I will just ask for your patience as I attempt to reply to your email. Thank you.-Jim Workman

SSG Carlos Madden SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" Maybe we can point this veteran in the correct direction if you have connections

Go to sick call and get a consult for pain management. It’s an actual clinic in the hospital.

You're not a junkie bc you have pain that only an opiate can help. It depends on the pain and the doctors knowledge. My grandpa had stage 4 lung cancer and oxycontin wasn't even helping his pain, he needed direct morphine. Was he a junkie? People need to stop judging and let others get the help they need. Just make sure to not let that help get our of control. Take care.

If you can possibly afford it, get out of the VA system. Find a general practitioner who will provide your overall medical care. That Dr can refer you to a pain management clinic. Wide range of civilian pain management clinics. Some just push pills. Write prescriptions for FDA allowed amount of narcotics and come back next month. Other better clinics offer multi discipline approach. Psychology, physical therapy, acupuncture, non-prescription drugs, and narcotics. It may be a hassle to make the change, but the long term results may be better for your health.
BTW you may be physically or mentally addicted to narcotics. That’s almost inevitable if you have chronic pain. It’s a legal addiction. Not something you should be ashamed of.

I've had my own long story with chronic back pain. It all started years ago, and the pain just kept getting worse as time went on. I tried so many things to get rid of it, visiting lots of doctors and trying different treatments, but nothing seemed to work. It was super lonely and frustrating, feeling like no one really understood or could help.

That changed when I gave physiotherapy a try, specifically for back pain treatment. I worked with a physio named Navjot Hehar. She was great because she actually listened to me and came up with a plan just for my pain. We did different exercises and treatments that were meant to help my back. It wasn't quick, but slowly, things started to get better. The pain wasn't as intense, and I began to feel like I wasn't so trapped by it anymore. For more details you can look here: https://revitalizephysioclinic.ca/surrey/.

OK. Pain is a biggie. you have not said why or where the pain is. From an injury, amputation or is it exacerbated with depression and anxiety? Emotions can CREATE horrid pain and make bearable pain worse--it is NOT in your head, the chemicals released from these emotions make it worse. There are many alternative treatments that work and are covered; chiropractic, acupuncture, etc. and there are arnica and other OTC things to try. Opioids are short term meds that are highly addicting and change your brain to have more receptors FOR opioids...so that when you stop, your brain says MORE and you have more pain too. Getting off them is HARD; you sound like you are addicted but not looking at it because you ARE in pain. Frustration and anger make it worse. I tell my Marine friends to go sit underwater in waist deep water back to back w/a buddy, lock arms, and take a good breath and SCREAM it out underwater. silence atop. Scream/breathe/scream. No one is ALLOWED to vent anymore so we have so much more anxiety, guilt, survivors guilt etc and all we do is what ...medicate and TALK? Until you get these EMOTIONS out of you, talking is useless. Pain persists because of the chemical storms from these emotions exacerbate it. SCIENCE proven. We end up taking it out on spouses, friends etc until we end up alone. Please try the emotional releases, punch a punching bag, etc. and try alternative things for pain too. IF you are unable to be without opioids, then check into a facility and get off them. It is NOT calling you a junkie--it is what HAPPENS with long term use. Depending on the injury, there are a multitude of treatments available for pain besides opioids. And the V.A. MUST send you to a rehab facility! If you live outside the distance for the V.A., you an get outside coverage through TriEast/TriWest V.A. paid for coverage. Talk to a patient Advocate. Your PCP sounds like many other overworked, underpaid V.A. docs, unfortunately. I'm an Iraq vet/medically retired/wounded doc. So I know the system. Hope this helps a little. Do not give up! And do not push your loved ones away. TELL them how you feel and ask them not to give up on you either. Aloha from Hawaii.

Jeff if you’re in Arizona contact me at [login to see] . I am the Veteran Navigator at the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona. We have resources to help. If you’re outside Arizona, I can get information on the Brain Injury Alliance in your state.
Regards,
Luke Fadell

Patient advocate and their are new ways with anxiety medication and acupuncture physical therapy pool therapy or you could got to the Tampa pain clinic

You need to see the patient advocate at the VA you go to. You also need to ask to see the hospital leadership. They have a newly approved drug in the VA system that is used to combat eduction, while treating pain. Anti depressants are issued routinely. I am not a physician, rather another Vet who uses the VA quite successfully. You have to have a primary physician, if they are the problem, you need to ask for another. The two medications you mention are generally issued by a specialist in whatever field your illnesses are in. Go in respectfully demanding to be properly cared for, but I recommend you tone down your temperament. The fly honey thing is true. If your medical issues are valid and you are not being treated properly, contact your local congressman.