Hot Spot - Parts of Me

I wanted to share this "ending" with ya'll. My implant is DONE! It's been a long and painful road. It's been almost 2 years in the works. Stated with an infection that was sealed up in the bone which softened the bone. Step 1: Remove the tooth, Step 2: Bone graph to create more bone and waited 9 months for bone to form, Step 3: Put in a 1" metal rod, wait 6-8 weeks to heal. Step 4: Measurements and molds of surrounding teeth made, and finally on 10-2-08 Step 5: Put in inner rod and silver frame then the crown. Tomorrow waking up, this will not take up any of my thoughts or time. Can't count how many appointmenst I had in between these steps. Had things from black eyes to gums having to be scalped back, but now it's over and I'll admit it; I cried with relief! Thank those of you who prayed for me throughout the process, I "sent" them back today.

Some GREAT Links for Pain Resources and Communities of people just like us:

National Pain Foundation - An on-line educational and support community for persons in pain, their families and physicians. Your source for treatment options and pain information that is peer reviewed by leading pain specialists.

CPSG - We welcome family of the chronic pain patient in our chat room and message boards in a hope that they will become better informed in how to care for and support their loved one. Chronic Pain Support Group

Beliefnet - Inspiration. Spirituality. Faith

Daily Strength - This is a great communities of support of ANY kind, not just medical

Connections - A support group for chronic pain

I've been living with pain since the early '90s, mainly a back injury and surgery for a herniated disc that never fully relieved the pain. I was young when it happened so it was pretty shocking to see how it affected my social life. I felt so much older because of limitations and for a few years I was angry and unaccepting. All doctor visits was how to "take away the pain". After a 360 fusion with titanium hardware and years of learning how to balance activities and treatments, I was able to be a pretty positive/productive person. I volunteered at my local animal shelter, I enjoyed family and a few friends, painted/crafted and accepted the limitations and pain. I had the benefit of counseling and having God enter my soul. If you're open to learning, pain teaches us many, many things. In 2006, my husband and I were in a car accident which has left both hips damaged, elbows and neck in pain...The main treatment for these now are steroidal injections. The injections do enable me to move more freely for a time, but the first week or so of side effects is crappy. Unfortunately, I find myself back on the road of figuring out how to live and be happy with all the different pain parts. So I've signed up with some support communities of chronic pain and other diseases. I know I'll get to where I want to be emotionally and mentally because I can't give up on positive energy. Luckily, a healthy body isn't needed to create love. At the bottom of this page, I'll put some helpful links and if you know of a website or other resources, e-mail me or sign my guestbook and I will surely add them. We can't get away from the pain so we might as well learn about it and how better than other's experiences? The DailyStrength website is where I'll be keeping most of my details and interacting about chronic pain, so join me there if you are interested.