Preface: I'm getting excellent treatment. Suggestions about addressing the pain are neither necessary nor desired. This post is about how physical pain affects and interacts with ADD symptoms.


Anyone else have severe physical pain at times, or chronically? And how does it interact with your ADD stuff?

For the past few days, my back pain has been so severe, it's hard to walk. Getting in and out of the shower feels risky b/c I don't know for sure I'll make it, and getting dressed is horrible.

I feel like I have such limited energy anyway, and then pain just sucks up whatever's there and my concentration is zip, with or without meds. Yesterday I had to leave a workshop I'd really looked forward to. With just the pain, I'd have made it through; with just the ADD stuff, I'd have been stimulated enough to fly through the day. (It was an advanced driving skills workshop at a racetrack.) So sad!


Postscript for those who might have missed the preface:
Please, no suggestions about dealing with the pain. This is just about how pain affects ability to cope with ADD.

I think pain, most especially chronic pain like that, affects everything. I have some neck problems that at times can put me in a good amount of pain, and it seems to over shadow everything. It's not even near the degree that you describe, and it still affects everything.
Even something non pain related, like a great deal of stress, will put me on overload with my ADHD symptoms.

My husband has chronic back pain, and it was starting to affect his mental health (he does not have ADHD). He had a fusion done on his back, but it hasn't brought relief. It really controls a good part of his life, and there are days that he can't see beyond the pain he is in.

I think it's just in general, ADHD, no ADHD, chronic pain can really really wear on a person, and consume the body so much that it's hard for everything else to function normally.

Sorry to hear about your struggles!

This is a hard question to answer when I cannot share how I deal with the pain. How I deal with my pain is directly tied to how it affects my day-to-day functioning.

When I fail to keep up my ADD and other medical management, my supplements, and exercise, it does affect my energy levels, emotions, and ability to function cognitively.

That is all I know to share without going beyond what you are asking for in this thread.

The best thing to do is take care of your pain first and stay on ADD meds. I think the pain supercedes everything else when you are hurting.

My best-Becky

Anything like that is going to be a constant distraction. I have allergies and for weeks on end my nose will tingle or eyes will itch or something, and just that alone makes it so hard to pay attention...if I were in actual pain...actually, before my sinus surgery I used to have unbelievable headaches that made it hard to keep my eyes open. Those were a huge distraction. I just wanted to run around or do anything to keep my mind off the pain. Sitting down and listening to someone talk or something boring like that was not really possible.

Anyway, you need the ADHD medication and all other strategies for dealing with ADHD (structure, exercise, etc.) to keep from getting derailed. It's as simple as that. You just have additional hurdles to dealing with your ADHD, but the coping mechanisms are the same.

I'm kind of wishing I couldn't focus right now!

Then maybe I could distract myself from all this sinus pain I'm having!

I pulled some muscles up close to my C2 and C3? Vertabrae (right seek?) the other day and have been in tremendous pain. The pain always takes precedence over ADD. I trying all my self-care regimen and still hurt. It just makes it harder to concentrate, and when it is my neck or head I can't do much of anything.

If it were my leg or foot, At least I could get comfy and do some work.

My thoughts. Have tried to do stuff today and have slept instead and, I got a good night's sleep.

Becky

are you shore its muscles youve pulled raddmom if its more than 9weeks then or much less an feeling on an off in back an leegs then see back doc i know quit alot about backs,, after breaking mine ....>>whats you been doing an taking in your regimme those tens units work wounders pain killers work in short tream chat in pm if you wish to know more...wish you...>>>well radd mum good luck dorm ps iam not a doc an its only advic thanks

I do anesthesia and pain management for a living. I also lived with chronic pain (mostly back) for at least 10yrs prior to going into to that specialty so I can really relate/sympathize. It is an ABSOLUTELY F'ing miserable place to be. In conjunction with add/adhd, forget about it! When someone already has attentional issues and you throw that into the mix, concentrating is almost an absolute impossibility. Talk about depressing. I personally was so miserable a year ago that I was almost willing to hop on the table and have a surgeon implant a pain pump in me. Today, after making some adjustments in my life i.e. sleep hygiene, dropped caffeine, added some stretching amongst other things, I am virtually pain free. (Have large disc herniation at L4-5, spina bifida occulta, and major myofascial trigger point syndrome to the point of fibromyalgia) Sounds like an infomercial doesn't it?! Well for just $19.95 you too can..... Just kidding (about the $19.95 part) Having that personal experience has helped me phenomenally in my profession to relate to clients and also pick up things other physicians have missed. (The adhd intuition helps alot too!) The stimulation of the stress response and the distraction that chronic pain causes can really drive a person a little nutty, ok maybe alot. I know it did me. If any of you guys have any questions regarding pain, anesthesia, or just want to chit chat for that matter you are more than welcome to private message me. I'm not selling anything, nor am I trying to solicit clients. I have been on this forum either lurking or participating for almost a year since my adhd diagnosis and feel that this site is the most important/useful/fantastic source of support that I know of. What a great resource! Anyway, I refuse to take on any members/guests as clients. I would like to be there for the members of our "family" like so many other members have been there for me whether in direct communication via posts or just by learning from lurking and reading threads. Kind of cheesy I know but that's what I think. Hang in there you guys, it can get better.

P.S. If you needed treatment or something like that I could give you suggestions on what type to get etc.. I'm just sayin' I ain't tryin' to make a buck!

are you shore its muscles youve pulled raddmom
Thanks dorm for your concern. You are right about getting help. I have the number of a sports med doc. If all my physical therapy exercises, stretching, and aleve don't help, I will make an appointment-I have stenosis, degenerative arthritis, and took fosamax to rebuild bone from the bone loss caused by Lupron. Includes a thoracic compression fracture. My upper neck and shoulders are a nightmare-made worse by fibro.

Off to self-care now.

Becky

thank you raddmum for geting back to me....>>>> ohhhhhhh.......id go now to the doc an dont wait till then radd seeing from what you say with the stenosis /deg arthits i know ofve it well thing with the pain killers is they make you more vanable to allergys in more ways than one i know from what yours saying it wont be so easy to sout all this ourt but there a few tips that can help your wellcome to pm me we chat more on it an i pass you advic only allways see your doc befor anything see you in the self care ;.))) dorm good luck radd an get well soon

Dorm, you are a mind reader, I was just sitting here thinking the same thing. I am getting the number now and calling him. I should not have to live in so much pain. it is so bad I can barely do anything.

Thanks for your kind heart and caring.

eheheheh......why thank you radd theres also something on back rescruch on a artfich disc that last 20years that might be helpfull to have done ....maybe you should ask about it ,,,,,yeh my x wilf had the samething......>>so i know whats you mean from both points ofve view get on to them an try get something done if you can i wish you luck pm when you know,,,,wounders how meanymore have the same porbelm?????????? dorm

Thanks Dorm,My neck is better today-on a scale of one to 10, 10 being the worst pain, I'm down from a 8.5 to about a 6 now. I've had to work for a period of time and then take a break and keep this pattern up throughout the day. Plus I've been doing stretches and relaxation and it seems to be helping. I think I will set up an appointment the same day that I see my ADD doc and really get on top of us.

A lot of us are taught to tough things out, but that is often the dumbest thing to do. I hate going throughout the doctor stuff, but once they get my MRI and x-rays from Springfield, maybe they can get me on a treatment plan that will keep my pain very low and how may function really well.

I am taking some Cymbalta, an antidepressant that my doctor said is used more in pain clinics banned by psychiatrists because it is so effective in treating chronic pain. Next week I double my dose to the normal 60 mg the bill dose so we'll see what happens then.

Thanks so much for caring it is so nice to know there are so many good people on this forum.:)

How is everyone else doing with their pain? What are some your coping techniques? I know when I'm in a lot of pain my mood gets really crappy, I get short tempered and snappy with my family.I don't really bad when this happens and try not to be so crabby butit doesn't usually work for me.Whether this is related to the ADD and the pain, I don't know. Please share your input.

Becky

glade your necks bit better i know what you mean about copeing ive done that myself but you also need to think carefull on the meds said things cos it can make things wroc >>speaks from expaice i was on 2hurd ++ pain killers amouth just to get by iam on hardly any these days...an the other tabs as for other things ... id keep the dose as it is an see the film ofve back /neck....go from there.. laso....zince an fressh fruit orgica helps a great deal in the long run paceing your self as you do now is good also .....i dont tend to get moody if iam in pain i just get on with it untill iam very ill or i have to rest.....note to self iam in that stage at this time ....;l.) ive got a high pain theses hold so if its under that i wont see the doc then again i dont see doc for much anyays ....that the radd scal<< score m8 8.. bit me 8% is what i have on a noramal day....brealy notic that at 10 then iam resting an abouve then i stae to back off doing things....i think these who have add adhd have more pain recpats in there brains so can feel more maybe not all the time iam glade your doing so well radd m8....we each walk our path its lovely to have freinds like we do on the forums ....see doc an see what they say how long you been like this now? dorm >>

Just stop, because you decide it and be my friend and talk to me anytime. I know it can be stopped. I'll find doctors or what ever. Your pain is all or ours. Let's concor it together. If you don't want to be my friend it's your choice. There isn't anything wrong with you a friend can't change. There will be more that you can imagine soon.

X means more, and that only is what I see in you and our friends.

Don't be anything, but who you really are. That is who I want to know.

Your Friend nothing else

Preface: I'm getting excellent treatment. Suggestions about addressing the pain are neither necessary nor desired. This post is about how physical pain affects and interacts with ADD symptoms.


Anyone else have severe physical pain at times, or chronically? And how does it interact with your ADD stuff?

For the past few days, my back pain has been so severe, it's hard to walk. Getting in and out of the shower feels risky b/c I don't know for sure I'll make it, and getting dressed is horrible.

I feel like I have such limited energy anyway, and then pain just sucks up whatever's there and my concentration is zip, with or without meds. Yesterday I had to leave a workshop I'd really looked forward to. With just the pain, I'd have made it through; with just the ADD stuff, I'd have been stimulated enough to fly through the day. (It was an advanced driving skills workshop at a racetrack.) So sad!


Postscript for those who might have missed the preface:
Please, no suggestions about dealing with the pain. This is just about how pain affects ability to cope with ADD.

thanks x man for the perface .....it seems very likely i have adhd pain makes my confion an hyper mind go haywire ..........as if on a tredmill dorm

Good news, I just realized the pain in my neck is nearly gone! I guess the stretching, pain relievers, and varying my activities finally paid off. We will see how it is tomorrow.

RADD

ClarityWare, I used to work in an office that brought many individuals to us who were in pain. So that was our first impression of them. After a few weeks, the pain subsided, some were almost quite different personalities! Pain, whether ADHD or not, does seem to come to the forefront of the personality both inward to ourselves, and outward in how others percieve us. It exacerbates any personality issue. People who live with chronic pain, can do a lot of headwork to still be a joy to themselves and to others around them.