Tony

It’s hard to accept that at 38 you can have chronic pain. I used to be a hard-working boilermaker. I’d work 12-hour shifts and weekends, and I earned a decent income.

A year ago I developed nerve pain from a work accident, which crushed two discs in my neck, and subsequently crushed the nerves leading to my right arm.

I had emergency surgery to replace and fuse discs in my neck but the nerve damage was permanent, and now I live with chronic pain in my neck, right shoulder and down my right arm.

My pain rating is a 6 or 7 out of 10 every day, but simple things like looking down at my phone can send the pain to a 10 out of 10.

It’s been a massive life change.

I used to coach my son’s rugby league team, we’d ride motorbikes and wrestle, like boys do. I can’t do any of that now.

Most days I can fall asleep, but I wake up just a few hours later and getting back to sleep is hard, when all you feel is pain.

I never liked taking medication, and now I take a mix of painkillers every day.

Socialising with friends gets exhausting. Instead of wake boarding and waterskiing, I sit on the bank and watch.

My mates are great but they don’t understand the full extent of my condition; how I can look fine but be in pain.

It’s different for a man. We don’t like to visit the doctor and we prefer to be brave, but I’m learning that it’s best to be honest.

I can’t work anymore, and I’m not sure what else to do; I’m still working it out.

I’m a single dad, I still need to cook meals and look after my kids; I put on a brave face for them.

I don’t have a partner to help keep me motivated, but I’m taking a pain education course and I’m not willing to throw in the towel.