Living in Pain

[marie0991]

I am a 22 year old women who was hit by a car while crossing the street. I live in pain. I noticed that this is an area where I smoke. When I am in pain I smoke  when my legs hurt I smoke. I am not sure why because the cig really doesnt do anything for the pain. I hate living in pain. The pain I deal with also has lead me into another direction. I am on pills for pain, for depression, for sleeping at night, muscle relaxers, joint meds and who knows what else right now. So I take the pills daily and that bugs me so there are times when I dont take my pills and smoke instead. I am not sure why. I know this is probaly the dumbest thing you will read today but I felt maybe someone out there can relate or give me advice.

[sherry102]

Have you quit smoking yet ? Not trying to be mean , but smoking like you said won't take away the pain , wish that it would .An I am really not one to be talking , cause I to am trying to quit this awful addiction too........but if you need to talk I am here 🙂

[marie0991]

Stacy,

No I fell off the wagon on Wensday this week. My quit date is 10/15. its soooooooooo hard. I can not believe I even started smoking to begin with.

thanks

[Nyima_1.6.13]

Sounds like you are dependent on all kinds of chemicals .... You might need a physician to help you work your way out of it! FYI...research Indicates that smoking actually increases pain! The pain reduction is primarily in your head. You need to find a healthier way to distract from the pain! There are medical and mental health professionals that deal with chronic pain management. Please try to find someone in your area to talk with. You don't have to suffer! Warm wishes for relief.

[marie0991]

Nyma, never knew that.

Polynha i know a cig isnt going to help congrats on making it a month so far! Keep going!

[Thomas3.20.2010]

I agree that a Chronic Pain Management Professional is called for! There are many tools that can be used to relieve and distract with the pain. You don't have to kill yourself with sickerettes on top of it! They're honestly doing nothing to help you or your situation! Make a good plan and carry it out - One Day, One Hour, One minute at a time!

[Giulia]

Quitting will give you strength you never knew you had.  One way OUT of depression is through quitting.  Because when you master that, you realize you can master anything.  There are many many techniques for dealing with pain that don't involve drugs.  Here's one I found by googling "pain relief without drugs."  http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/11-tips-for-living-with-chronic-pain  But there are many other links to discover.  Experiment, try different things.  That's how we learn.  Keep at it.

[whognu_1-2007]

Well you do get dopamine when you smoke

I severed my right foot 7 years before I quit smoking.

yep, smoked all the way through a bad healing.

Never healed right.

Swells up every day starting as soon as I go vertical.

By 2pm it's throbbing in an indescribable way.

It was this way before I quit and will always be this way.

Smoking never made it feel any better.

[Jordan-11-1-12]

Hi Marie.   There are actually more than a few of us here who live with chronic pain. I, too, have muscle relaxers, pain meds, anti-depressants, anxiety meds, and meds for sleep.   So, I know how you feel.  Let me tell you from experience that not taking meds for depression is a HUGE mistake!  Skipping pain/muscle relaxers is a choice and there is nothing wrong with not taking them.......   but when it comes to meds for depression it is completely self-abusive to not take them, unless working with a doctor. PLEASE don't skip those.

I agree that you need to talk to your doctor about getting an app. with a Cronic Pain Management Professional.  Living with pain 24/7 is not easy, trust me I know, but doing it with help is easier and less tiring and depressing than doing it alone.

As for smoking through the pain... been there, done that. It was a huge trigger for me. But so were other things, too. Like driving, finishing a big meal, coffee, talking on the phone...... Believe me when I tell you that our addiction to smoking uses anything and everything as an excuse to light up. When we do something over and over, for months and years, we become conditioned.  You've conditioned your brain to light up through the pain.  Once quit, its time to condition our brains to do something else instead. For me, when the pain gets me I automatically pop a mint now. Its been 10 months since I quit, so my brain is use to doing other things instead of smoking but, at first, it wasn't easy. I had to distract myself as soon as the thought of smoking came to me. Over and over, I popped a mint and stretched out my back or knee.... this reconditioned my brain.

Please stick close to this site, we're all here to help you!!   And PLEASE to the suggested reading that has helped most of us here to stay quit.   Visit  whyquit.com where there are great articles and videos.   Check out  quitsmokingonline.com   and (my favorite)  read Allen Carr's book. Its a short, easy read, free online (no d/l needed)  Here's the link to it. 

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

[marie0991]

Jordan

I have read the book  already

[YoungAtHeart]

Not to pile on, but smoking is terrible for your circulation - and that impacts the level of pain, I am sure.

To follow-up on Gnu's comments, you can also get a release of dopamine by singing out loud to your favorite music, or laughing out loud (perhaps a YouTube video?)

I (third?) the recommendation for a Pain Management Specialist.  Have you looked into alternative medicine like acupuncture?  A lot of insurance plans now cover it.  There is also bio feedback and meditation and other forms of relaxation,  In chronic pain there is a vicious cycle of pain, tightening muscles which causes MORE pain, which in turn causes more tightening, and on and on.

Everyone can quit smoking!  You just have to devise a plan that works for YOU.  Let me know if I can help with that.

Nancy

[kathy_ryz]

Smoking causes many of the diseases resulting in more drugs. I would definitely talk to your doctor about revising them after not smoking for a while. Let us know how you do!