Universal Pain Scale

You didn't think MS was it, did you, after how I went on about illness? Aw, hell no. This could be the series that goes on forever and ever. I actually argue (In my head) with Myke that I've got it worse. But of course, everyone thinks what they experience is worse, and it never negates the pain that another person feels.

I think I was 11 when my issues started. I was called a hypochondriac by my father when I told him my right knee hurt a lot, and often. By the time I was 16 I had both knees, my right ankle, and my back in regular pain. At this point, after having looked at a universal pain scale, I'd rate it a 2-3. Nothing unbearable, it never prevented me from functioning normally, it was just occasionally annoying.

It escalated, as untreated pains are wont to do. It started to really bother me when my knees started to go out as I ran, or walked up or down stairs. When my hips started to hurt as well, and I could not longer sleep on my back without waking in pain, I told my doctor. She ignored me. This would be when I moved to Cornwall, so I was 19.

I went to the hospital twice for excruciating back pain; twice I was told it was nothing and to take some Ibuprofen, after cursory examinations. Last year I went in for an unrelated work injury after having dropped a case of Pepsi on my leg. It was July, just days before my birthday. While I was there I half-heartedly told the doctor attending me about my back... And leg.. And hip pain. She bent me up like a pretzel and ordered x-rays, making an offhanded remark.

She asked if I had a family history, which I do. The x-ray revealed the feared early onset of osteoarthritis. In addition, my body was poorly trying to compensate. Tendons and ligaments had weakened, rendering some joints (A few lumbar vertebrae and my knees) hyper flexible. Muscles in my hips and lower back were always tense in an effort to hold me up, pulling my hips and spine out of alignment and causing further problems.

In short, everything from my lower back down is decaying faster than it should. I've been warned that childbearing may be extremely difficult for me. What's worse? My family doctor refuses to treat me, on the basis that I eat sugar. Once again, I am not exaggerating. She is a proponent of the Paleolithic Diet, and claims that because I eat sugar and grains any medication she gives me will not work. So I've had to try and band-aid the issue with various holistic supplements, which have generally not worked for pain management and, in some cases, made it worse.

I only realised how bad it had all gotten when I saw that aforementioned universal pain scale, and realised that on a good day my pain has increased to a 5-6, and on a bad day I'm up at the 7-8 level.

I'm trying to find a new doctor.