Reclaim Your life
Chronic Pain Relief
Lessons during an MRI
During a very loud and claustrophobic MRI and angiogram of my brain’s blood vessels, I used self-hypnosis to stay still for an hour. Especially after the tech closed the cage over my face and said, “Try not to move your head.”
Read MoreFriendship Distracts From Chronic Pain
Last month, I got to see two of my long-time girlfriends that I have known since 1997. You know. The kind that distance and time do not matter and when you get together it is as if no time has passed. This was not only good for my soul, but it was amazing how this visit distracted from my aches and pains.
Read MoreTrack Your Chronic Pain Health History
Without any notice, my neurologist of nearly three years quit. I was assigned to a new one and six months later the entire practice was no longer covered by my health insurance plan.
I had to find a new neurologist!
The doctor did not have recommendations for me. I called the health plan and asked for a list of neurologists who specialized in facial pain/Trigeminal and Occipital Neuralgia. They told me to go to their website, look up the specialty I wanted and call that office.
After a week of phone calls, I found someone and I called. They told me to have my primary care provider (PCP) send a referral. I explained that he did not treat me for this disease. Their response? “Your health plan requires a referral from your PCP.
My PCP told me to make an appointment to discuss this and then he would give me a referral. The referral was approved and I was finally able to make an appointment. It was scheduled for 5 MONTHS from the date I spoke with the scheduler.
After I told my husband about it, he asked, “Do you track all of this anywhere?”
“Do you mean the 22-page document I have that has every nuance of my health care encounters since 2014?”
Read MoreI Retired From Who I Was Because of Chronic Pain
I retired from being me
At the beginning of the pain, I was just trying to get through each day. I went from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what was wrong with me while still living, working, volunteering, partnering, laughing and doing activities of daily life.
I updated websites and kept books for clients, but I began to make mistakes. I was no longer reliable, so I reluctantly quit.
I continued to work in my home office with clients who had emotional and physical pain. When I called a new client as they were on their way to their appointment and said, “I need to cancel. I have a neurological disease and am in too much pain to see you this morning.” I knew it was time to quit working.
Read MoreComparison and Chronic Pain
“How is your body these days?” I asked a good friend.
“I know it’s nothing compared to what you’re going through, but,” she said.
My Pain is Nothing Compared to Yours
Argggghhhhhh. I am so sick of hearing “it’s nothing compared to your pain” when all I want to know is how a loved one is truly doing.
I get frustrated when I know they are withholding because they think their pain is nothing when equated to mine. Stop comparing! Pain is pain. And you get to have yours.
I would tell all of the deep relationships in my life that my pain does not stand in the way of who we are. Our relationships. Stop tiptoeing around who you are. It stands in the way of our deep intimacy.
Come back to who we were and we will navigate this permanent and incurable disease of mine.
Read MoreThe Benefits of Chronic Pain
Note that it is probably too soon to see the advantages if you have just been diagnosed with chronic pain. Trust me. I live with a number of persistent pain diseases. There will come a time when you can’t help but reflect on the changes you have made.
In the initial frantic days of getting diagnosed, then moving through shock, denying my disease, blaming, anger, and loneliness, I had no idea that I would one day see through this hurt, feel grateful and be able to list the benefits of my diseases.
Read MorePain Does Not Equal Harm
Pain does not equal harm. What?
I admit that this was one of the hardest things for me to understand. How can that be? But I have nerves that are spasming. How is this not damaging them? Are you sure they are not getting torn each time this happens? No?
Read MoreGratitude Heals Chronic Pain
I did not say Gratitude Cures Chronic Pain.
I have permanent incurable diseases however; I am healed more every day by the actions I take.
Read MoreTrigeminal Neuralgia and Chronic Pain
A quick blog today.
My video of my TN story posted today on the US Pain Foundation’s site. Click here to view the video.
Please know that there are many organizations putting research dollars into your chronic pain disease and offering helpful ideas on how to thrive in your daily life.
Read MoreSites Talking About Pain Awareness Month
In honor of attention being focused on those who live with chronic pain, I thought I would make a quick list of sites that are concentrating on helping you improve your life!
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