Welcome Caregivers, Significant Others and Families of Spine Patients!

[Justin]

Welcome to the Forum!

Spine issues can be stressful and emotionally exhausting not only for Spine Patients, but for everyone involved including caregivers, significant others and family members.

This forum is here to offer resources and support to one of the hardest "jobs," if not the hardest job in the world (behind being a Mother, of course ), caring for / living with / being married to / etc. a Spine Patient.

My wife has been such an incredible support system over the last year with all of my spine issues, but there are times when the spine issues become "too much" and she desperately needs a break from it all.

Ever feel like that? Well, this is a place to vent, support, share ideas and realize that countless other people are in your same shoes.

I hope you find it useful and thanks for being such a great support system to us, the Spine Patients!

[muddy]

My 8-year journey with intense lumbar pain from a guy who'd work out religiously to one in pain has been extremely hard for my future love/wife. Try as she may, she cannot "get it", and it eats her guts seeing me writhe. Also, sometimes she thinks that I'm making excuses.

(And I'm studying to be a therapist!).

This is an important topic/thanks.

[Justin]

My 8-year journey with intense lumbar pain from a guy who'd work out religiously to one in pain has been extremely hard for my future love/wife. Try as she may, she cannot "get it", and it eats her guts seeing me writhe. Also, sometimes she thinks that I'm making excuses.

(And I'm studying to be a therapist!).

This is an important topic/thanks.

Sure thing, Muddy. Those that support Spine Patients are truly angels. Chronic pain often turns us into people we don't want to be. Good luck with your studies!

[Katie]

My husband of six years is a true saint. We had such great plans when we married; it was his first and my second and he is a true romantic. I feel that I have short-changed him so badly in so many ways, but he never complains.

The stress he is carrying is immense though, and I think he could really use someone to talk to about all this first hand, from the spouse's side of things. He sometimes suffers more than me when things don't go right, like when the allergy test came back and forced the cancellation of my surgery in October.

I was almost expecting it and didn't really 'feel' much, but he just about melted down. I felt awful and wished once again that I could do something to ease the pain he is carrying.

Yes, he is an , Justin. Thanks for this. I'll see if he is interested in joining in here.

[muddywaters]

Thanks for the nice words but I have some time/obstacles before getting licensed.

I'm trying to find in LA a "therapy group" or other resources for caregivers of spine patients but to no avail. This amazes me as a huge percentage of disabled individuals in our society (and others) are back pain sufferers. I spoke to an LCSW in one of LA's most prestigious hospitals and she couldn't find anything re: back pain/caregivers; plus, she was rather disinterested!

The emotional toll on my future spouse of watching me turn into a zombie from Avinza/Neurontin and would surgery work is breaking back emotionally.

I suspect that this subject affects all relationships and thanks for the resources.

Be well folks. ~ ans