Dealing with chronic pain

[datingtrappists]

For most of my life, I have been in some sort of pain constantly. If it wasn’t my bad knees (one will be operated on by the end of the year), it was headaches from TMJ (I grind my teeth at night), and if it wasn’t the TMJ, then I had severe stomach pain (gallbladder was removed a few years ago, but I still have heartburn and nausea)… for the most part, I’ve been able to deal with it pretty well (with the occasional crying spell or period of anger). Recently, though, it’s really, really been getting to me, and I’ve been going through some anger (you should hear what I call other drivers on the road… ), along with a weakening of my faith. I try to offer up my pain I go through for the souls of the unborn (especially those killed through abortion, one of my “pet causes”, for lack of a better phase), and I try to keep a positive attitude, but, again, it’s been getting to me, and I’m slowly turing into this bitter, hateful, and spiritually dead person, and I really hate who I’m becoming. Is there anyone else out there who has been dealing with chronic pain, who has found a way to deal with the pain and keep the face of Christ front and center? Also, are there any writings of the saints that would help me have a better perspective?

Thank you!
E

 

[kimberly923200]

JMJ

Dear E,

My heart goes out to you! I also have chronic pain (headaches, neckaches, backaches), diarrhea, bipolar disorder, anxiety and other ailments as well. Sometimes it gets to me really bad, like it does to you.

What I do is mentally throw myself at the foot of Jesus’ cross and let Our Lady wrap me in her cloak and comfort me, while we love and adore Our Lord. Sometimes, I even picture myself climbing onto the cross to be with him and he with me, so that we can comfort each other and not be alone. This exercise helps me greatly and has even allowed me to feel a “sweetness” in my share of Jesus’ cross. I count myself priveleged to suffer a fraction of what he suffered to redeem mankind.

Have you ever read of the life of St. Padre Pio? He suffered greatly and was transported into ecstasies of joy by Our Lord. He was an exceptional lover of Christ, and I admire him very much!

Similarly to you, each day, I offer myself, my life, everything and everyone I love, all my weakness and sin, and especailly all my suffering through Our Lady to Jesus and ask him to unite my offering with his suffering on the cross for the conversion of sinners and the holy souls in purgatory.

I know if you will put your life in the hands of Jesus with childlike trust, he will turn your sorrow and pain into joy and peace. I have consecrated you to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and prayed for you. I know she will comfort and console you and bring you ever closer to Christ Himself. I hope I have been of some help.

God bless you!
Kimberly

 

[joann1957]

I am sorry to hear your in such pain, try to ponder on crucifixtion of Christ and his sorrows, I agree with Kim , Saint Pio, or I call him Padre Pio a very good friend of mine and confidant is one of the greatest Saints who ever lived. I have great regard for all the Saints, but he is very special and I love him dearly, what a gift God has given me to be one of his spriritual child.

Ponder on the way of the cross from the moment Christ was in the garden to his crucifixtion, watch the movie the Passion of Christ and this will help your pain.

I also suffer from TMJ, chronic bruxism which is grinding of the teeth. I feel for you

God bless.

Jo ann

 

[TraderTif]

I’ve struggled with chronic pain since the age of 8, and I totally understand what you’re saying. I’ve gone through lots of spiritual struggles trying to come to terms with it.

I don’t know that I have a lot of advice, but I try to remember that we share our suffering with Jesus. (I try to picture that when I pray.) I ask God for help in dealing with it. And, I try to remember that I often experience periods of “spiritual growth” right when things seem to be at their worst…so, when things are bad, I just try to tell myself that something good must be right around the corner.

(No, that doesn’t always help, but I do it anyway.)

God will get you through.

 

[Sherriesalinas]

I understand. I have severe chronic pain also. When you feel sad/angry/low in your faith, look around you see all of the beauty our Dear Lord has put in front of you. The sky/trees/flowers/birds and so much more. Remember continue to offer up your suffering and always know God is with you and loves you so. Godbless you!

 

[puzzleannie]

the link is to priests for life, but it was the first hit I got for Blessed Margaret of Costello, surely the saint for those in chronic pain, scroll down to the article. She is of course, as one of “the throw-away children” a patron for pro-life causes as well.
priestsforlife.org/newsletters/v1n1start91.html

Another saint who endured chronic pain is of course Bernadette. she kept quiet about it, until it gave her an opportunity to help another nun understand the value of suffering.

I find it interesting that both of them became incorruptibles after death. Surely that says something about the value of enduring suffering in life for Christ and offering it up as a path to sanctity.

I sometimes look at my genes–grandparents on one side lived to their 90s–and wonder if I can take 30 more years, but these thoughts invariable lead me back to renewal of my prayer life, because they come most often when I have been neglecting prayer. The pain is constant, varying only in degree and in the body part that wants to act up today, but my reactions to it change and I know when I am being called back to the Adoratin chapel, back to LOTH, back to lectio divina, back most of all to quiet time devoted only being with God.

Surely Pio, Francis and all the stigmatists are our own special patrons. I am convinced that could I ever love Jesus to the degree they did, and I strive always to grow in that love, that I would come to see the evidence of His suffering, especially in my head, in my hands, wrists, and feet, and in my side, and wherever Sister Pain and Brother Ache have decided to minister Christ to me. I am a long long way from that blessed state, but if Jesus wants my suffering all I can do is offer it up to him. Any other mental attitude would be futile and lead to despair.

Recently, though, it’s really, really been getting to me, and I’ve been going through some anger (you should hear what I call other drivers on the road…

I really identify with the anger, and in fact when I lapse into road rage I know there is something physical I have to deal with right away–low blood sugar or another impending affliction. That is not written about enough but it is a real, valid reaction to pain, so there must be some way we can turn it to good spiritual effect. Ideas?

 

[datingtrappists]

I want to thank everyone for their prayers, kind words and wonderful advise! I was really going through a tough spot the other day, and I know you all have been a big part in helping to lift my mood. The pain is still here, and I’m still not sleeping well (I’m having to retrain my sleep postition… having a bad knee and sleeping on ones stomach, where the knee is almost embedded into the mattress, is a surefire way to wake up in the middle of the night in screaming pain). I have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon this next Tuesday, and though I don’t like doctors as a whole, I am kind of looking forward to this appointment.

Annie, you mentioned how anger is a reaction to pain, and asked for ideas on how to turn it into something more than just another reason to go to confession (at least for me… my poor priest has heard from me a couple of times already this week… May God bless him greatly for being such a wonderful priest who understands the importance of the sacraments, and especially confession)… Well, after some pro-life candidates were elected, everytime I saw that particular bumper sticker on someone’s car, I would get really angry and it would almost ruin my day; that is, until I started praying for those people’s conversion, that of the political candidates and of the people who supported them. So, I guess one way to deal with that anger is to use it as a reminder to pray for something important, or to offer it up for the salvation of the world.

Another thing that I will be starting tomorrow, when I, hopefully, will be better rested and more coherant, is reading Salvific Doloris, or On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering, written by Pope John Paul II. It has been suggested reading to me, by several people, including the future Saint, my priest, that I just mentioned. Perhaps I can share here some of what I read in the future.

I have found an interesting way to deal, and it even seems to diminish some, with my knee pain. I’ve been taking organ lessons since September, and it seems that playing organ for at least an hour does something… I don’t know what, to my knee that causes the pain to not be so bad for at least a few hours afterwards. Perhaps it is the theraputic value of music (though just listening to music doesn’t have the same effect, even the same songs that I’m playing) or it’s the gentle usage of my knees in using the foot pedals… In either case, I’m glad that there is something, besides heavy painkillers, that allows me to be able to function.

Again, THANK YOU to everyone for all of their prayers! May God bless you all greatly in your suffering.