How my pain will kill me

I visited an urgent care clinic this week because I hurt my foot. I thought it was broken, but I was diagnosed with cellulitis (which Dr. Kara and I have decided is due to my eczema). However, I’m worried that it could be CRPS because of the level of pain I’m experiencing.

I hate having my blood pressure taken. It hurts. While the cuff strangled the blood flow in my arm, I tried to stay calm. But I seriously thought I was going to rip the thing off before it was done.

I told the nurse that my blood pressure would be high because of my pain levels. (My foot really hurts.) And I was right. The nurse talked to me about monitoring my blood pressure, which is something I used to do — until I figured out that my blood pressure fluctuates depending on my pain levels.

Being unable to adequately manage my daily pain means that I am also unable to manage my high blood pressure. I suppose I could take medication for the high blood pressure, but since the cause is mostly uncontrollable and debilitating pain, it seems like a futile effort. And I don’t want to be dependent on doctors. Because, as you know, doctors suck.

21 thoughts on “How my pain will kill me”

  1. It’s probable those antibiotics WILL help. Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m as guilty as anyone of attempting to predict the future (I’m actually not too bad at it – 9 out of 10 times, tomorrow will suck), but you gotta keep taking those nasties and “hope” for the best. I know, easier said than done. I’ll hope for you if you’re out of the dirty “h”-word supply. 🙂

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    • We shall see if the antibiotic helps. I think the doctor said it would take a couple of weeks. The weak hydrocodone isn’t helping that much, so I still have some left. As for what will kill me, I believe untreated high blood pressure is a likely candidate. Of course, I can’t rule out the aliens. 🙂

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        • I don’t think many doctors know about CRPS. And I don’t think anyone knows how to treat it, even the aliens. No, I’m on my own… unless I get cancer. Then I have a whole industry to treat me.

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  2. I’m sorry you’re experiencing this in your life now and that you can’t find a doctor that doesn’t suck to help you. I hope the leg pain improves and it’s not as serious as you believe it might be.
    I was never told that my pain levels would affect my blood pressure when I first became ill. When I started to see incredibly high readings it scared the crap out of me because I’m used to having low blood. However, now that I understand the connection, when I go to the emergency room for help to get my pain under control at least I’m not afraid the staff will think I’m there seeking drugs anymore.
    With all the problems people with chronic pain have to live with, I believe judgement from other people might be one of the worst.
    Feel better soon 🙂

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    • There are many causes of high blood pressure, so I wouldn’t count on the ER staff attributing it to your pain levels. But I think the pressure not to treat pain is mostly occurring in the US, unless you tell me differently. As for the judgment of others, I could care less, until it stops me from getting the treatment I need. But I’m used to that, so at least it’s never a surprise.

      Speaking with pain patients these days, I think we realize how lucky we are if we have a good doctor. I hope your doctor(s) are treating you well. 🙂

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      • So far, it’s been after they see my blood pressure that they believe my “story” and as long as that continues to happen I’ll get the help I need when have to go in without any issues.
        Although it didn’t start out that way, I think I’m one of the lucky ones when it comes to doctors treating me well now. Without a pain specialist as part of my medical team, I think I’d still have doctors not believing the level of pain I have and trying to prescribe me antidepressants to treat my pain.
        The “pressure not to treat pain” doesn’t make any sense to me. The more I read about policy changes that take options away from pain patients the less sense it makes.

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        • The Powers That Be have decided that we need to go back to the 1980s, when chronic pain was only treated with antidepressants. They believe that opioids are a gateway to heroin addiction. And they think if the supply of opioids is seriously reduced, less people will become addicted to drugs.

          Those who suffer from addiction can create a lot of havoc in their communities, including criminal activity and angry, grieving loved ones left behind. So, addiction gets all the attention, because the majority of chronic pain patients don’t cause any trouble. Perhaps we should. 🙂

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