Copingwithdisability.com: dealing with my second disability

December 21, 2007

dealing with my second disability

I was born with cerebral palsy. I have had several operations over the years to keep my condition from getting worse. My last operation in 1996 went very badly and left me with severe chronic pain. My experience with chronic pain was like having a second disability. I had accepted and learn to live with having cerebral palsy and being in a wheelchair to the point where I was thankful for what my disability had given me in terms of a caring personality. I was very confident because I understood how to deal with my cerebral palsy and how to make other people feel comfortable with me and my disability. I was able to maintain a positive outlook most of the time. I was told many times that I was a joy to be around and that I made other people feel good. However, when I developed the chronic pain this all changed not immediately for the first two years I was able to maintain my positive outlook for the most part. I was told that the pain would go away eventually. Unfortunately as the years went on the pain got worse and it became harder and harder to be happy. Unlike the positive feelings I had about my cerebral palsy I could find little redeeming value in being in constant severe pain. I was still able to smile and function for the most part but the smiles were not genuine like they used to be. the worst thing was because of my lack of energy and grumpy demeanor I did not want to be around people. As a result overtime I lost my friends. thankfully I have a big family and they were very supportive through it all. Eventually the pain got so bad that I went into the hospital for a couple months and they change my medication to something commonly prescribed for cerebral palsy related pain. And as of late 2006 I am no longer in severe pain. on a scale of one to 10 my pain is now at a three or lower sometimes that is something I thank God for and I can happily deal with.

my advice to anyone in chronic pain is to not give up and to keep trying different things until you find something that works for you. Also try not to lose touch with your friends I know it's hard but a support system is important.