Pain Management 'Step Meeting" ... ?

[barb dwyer]

No kidding -

I saw a flyer at the pharmacy for this - I was going to pick up a schedule but they were out. This was at the local pharmacy, so I could go back and check out about it...

It got me thinking, though - what good would a step meeting
be for pain?

Anyone ever do one of these?

[nandm]

Interesting concept. I have never heard of it. If you find any info on it I for one would be interested in hearing more.

[barb dwyer]

You know NandM ...

I was tempted to GO ... just to report back HERE what I found out- LOL!!!

I mean, when *I* think about it -

"We admitted we were powerless over our pain and our lives had become unmanageable."
ok. that one sounds viable.

"Came to believe that a Power Greater Than Ourseves could relieve us of our Pain."
ok. I'm game.

Third Step - no problem.

ok now - here's where I"d get hinkie .... FOURTH STEP.

shades of Louise Hay, ya know?

I think I will try to find out more about this.

I mean, make amends ... for pain?
I can see where you might need to go apologize to folks for being snappy on a bad day or something ...

it *is* a concept, tho isn't it?

[ksos]

Barb:

You know, I had a thought about PA about a week ago--but as mentioned, I wondered how a meeting like that would operate...I would love to see if you found that pamphlet and could share it<hopes, hopes, hopes!)

I love feeling the excitement around here! It is actually making me feel pretty darn good!

[barb dwyer]

hi Ksos!

I *am* excited about this new forum!!!!!

I've dealt with pain in varying (but constant) degrees for years and years.

I'm so excited about a place to come together and share notes and tips and alternatives!

OK then -

My days off are monday and hopefully tueaday of next week.
I'll go by the pharmacy and see if that poster is still up, and get a meeting time.
I think it was in a meeting room at the hopsital.

[serenityqueen]

I'll be waiting to see if you can get some info on that Barb.

You know, like so many other areas of my life, it was a great comfort to find out I wasn't the only one soooooo excited to have the opportunity to discuss pain mgt., on a healthy level, with friends in Recovery without the fear of someone trying to step in and "convince me" that it would be ok to take narcotic pain meds.

You know the mind games this disease can play on us,

"It' ok, it's a prescription for goodness sakes! There is no harm in taking medication that your Dr. prescribed for you. You NEED IT! You really do, you have a legitimate condition that . . . . .

That way of thinking kept me sick for tooooo many years. I don't even want to entertain that thought!

Thanks for letting me share!
Judy

[ksos]

Originally Posted by barb dwyer

hi Ksos!

I *am* excited about this new forum!!!!!

I've dealt with pain in varying (but constant) degrees for years and years.

I'm so excited about a place to come together and share notes and tips and alternatives!

OK then -

My days off are monday and hopefully tueaday of next week.
I'll go by the pharmacy and see if that poster is still up, and get a meeting time.
I think it was in a meeting room at the hopsital.

Barb....

I cannot believe that I must get ready for a job interview and promised myself that my previous post would be short and sweet and my final one of the afternoon, and yet I came here! I believe that I am also so excited about having this place to come together and share....

After you initially brought this thread up, I remembered that there are 12 step groups for sexual addictions, food addictions, gambling addictions, etc.

However, and this is a long shot I am taking here, the pain group would probably follow in the steps of AL-Anon, Narc-Anon, all of the ___anons, rather than NA or AA, only because "Pain" is not an addiction--I mean, not the pain we are talking about...However, it is something that we may have to surrender to....

I would venture to guess it may be a spiritually based step group, although I would bet that your first two steps that you posted, would be in this group.

From Barb's post;

"We admitted we were powerless over our pain and our lives had become unmanageable."
ok. that one sounds viable.

"Came to believe that a Power Greater Than Ourseves could relieve us of our Pain."
ok. I'm game.


I must jam now, before I end up selling my beloved collection of porceline pigs!

[jazpoppy]

Barb;

Sounds very interesting. Its a great idea to have a kind of support group for pain sufferers (I know there are support groups out there already). But I think maybe a pain support group in the fashion of AA, NA, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon would not be a bad idea. Especially a pain support group like this thread, for people suffering from pain and addiction and where pain management fits in your recovery. A face-2-face meeting of this sort would be so perfect! Let us know what you find out about this Pain Step Meeting.

If its not a pain in recovery meeting, maybe we could think about starting a Face-2-Face meeting of pain sufferers in recovery in our own home towns??? I know some people are NOT into public speaking or starting 'groups' because it can be such a challenge, but speaking to an AA or NA General Manager (I thinks that what they are called, a GM or GR, General Representative), would be an easier way to get something started. There may be more people willing to help then you might realize.

Thanks for this post.

Love

Jaz

[barb dwyer]

... I phoned the pharmacy to get the telephone # off the poster and learned it's not up any more.

SOOOOooooo.... I wonder if anyone signed up or if the group 'filled'.

Just thought y'all would want to know.

[The_Hammer]

Dear Barb,

I know that all of our stories are different, even though the pain and suffering are the same. I for one caused my family a great deal of pain in that they had no idea that I was abusing my pain meds and had been "sober and straight" for over 10 years. My wife told me at that time that she would leave me if I ever did dope again. And, voila, hear I am 10 years + down the road and strung out on opiates, wondering how I got there. I owe her a great big amends-right? I am not real sure that you can have a problem with pain-killers and not owe someone an apology. THe lies, the conning, the fact that you're not available emotionally, mentally or spiritually, let alone physically must say something about how far the dope reaches into our lives.

Just a thought.

[barb dwyer]

Hi Hammer -

I thought about that... also,
when in pain I tend to be snapish,
if not downright MEAN ...
and then blame it on hurting.

So it's defo something I've been thinking about.

I think whoever had the idea
had a GOOD idea.

[jazpoppy]

Barb;

I too get mean and snappy when I'm in pain. So does my bf, and my mother, and most everyone I know that has a chronic pain problem. Pain causes such physical discomfort and when its either not being treated right or not being treated at all, it takes a severe mental toll on us. Pain is one of the number one causes of depression. I know that when I have an arthritis attack or muscle cramping attacks, I am sometimes impossible to be around. Even with medication, if its not covering enough of it, I get so angry and yet also so sensitive to the things people say, or do. Its not their fault and I feel I owe them an apology, but most of the time, when I apologize they say "oh I know it wasn't you, its your pain, or its your depression." I still feel so bad about it. I think a face-2-face pain mgt. support meeting that we could go to would be so helpful. Doctors can only do so much to help us be comfortable, especially those of us in recovery from addiction. My doctor does the best she can, but if I had insurance I know I'd get better care too, that also drives me nuts. So I'm trying to get on Medicaid in my State. It takes time, but I look so forward to it. I am also going to look into finding a Chronic Pain support group, and if I can't find one, I may start one myself. My bf is a drug and alcohol counselor who also has some chronic pain issues (he is in recovery and has been for 15 years!), so he would be able to help me get a face-2-face group off the ground I hope. It all depends on who wants to participate. So, Barb, please give us as much info as you can if you can about this group in your area. Thanks again for this thread!

Love;

Jaz

[barb dwyer]

Every time I've ever seen this kind of thing it's run through the HOSPITAL ... and never turns out to be much. Because the hospital people do all the talking and well ... other than the ones in pain themselves - what do they really know?

The whole POINT of a twelve step kind of gourp, in MY little alcholic mind, is that it's run by PEERS ... people with the same affliction.

The really nice thing about both these gorups - is I *happen* to work at a hotel that has a meeitng room.

heh.

bout TIME that job turns up something other than a computer that I can do something positive with.

LOL

[Dee74]

I guess I can grasp the idea of making a searching and fearless moral inventory in this area of pain which would include the times I've been waspish or just downright grumpy, and then making amends.

But I already do that - it's already part of my recovery - not so much to stave off alcoholism, but to be the best person I can.

Bottom line is - I'm human - I'm not Gandhi - I'm in pain - sometimes I'm gonna be grouchy; other times I'll be a freakin' nice guy ...and when I'm wrong I'm usually man enough to admit it.

but I guess the support group part of it might be nice LOL - if that floats yer boat

D - 'does not play well with others'

[BUTTERFLY-7]

Pain When I Feel Pain it turns into hurt, then Anger,

[barb dwyer]

D - 'does not play well with others'

there's news.