"I Would Choose Pain"
This is amazing!! Love it!
Mayo’s Pain Rehab program does something very similar to this, but with bottles of water.
(via lifewithautoimmune)
I was recommended this website a while ago, perhaps worth a try :)
This hangs in my doc’s office so patients can better communicate pain. I’ve gotten so used to answering the 1-10 pain question, that I quit looking at it. Thus I usually report a 4, 5, or maybe 6 on the worst days. Stopping to actually look at the progressively sad faced round man, I realize my sliding pain scale is way off. I’m tough, I can handle the pain, but that attitude is doing me no favors. Do our docs take this into consideration? Can’t be sure. The men on the right are my last few weeks, unless I’m taking pain killers and end up with the mischevious gremlin faced man of the left. Regardless, I realize I owe it to myself to try and better communicate what I’m feeling, and tough doesn’t always help. There is a time to let your guard down, and that’s at the doc’s office. Do yourself a favor and reconsider these little men.
(via faithhopepain)
National Invisible Chronic Illness Week 2011 is Here! September 12-18th.
I will be posting a statistic or fact related to invisible illnesses each day.
Whoops. I didn’t even know it was this week. Go me!
(via rattataratti)
Tara Parker-Pope from the NY Times touche son chronic pain and the struggle to properly diagnose, treat, and understand this phenomenon. Why is it that our physicians are not educated to properly work with those suffering from chronic pain, and how can we as patients help?
“Most doctors view pain as a symptom of an underlying problem — treat the disease or the injury, and the pain goes away. But for large numbers of patients, the pain never goes away […] Chronic pain often goes untreated because most doctors haven’t been trained to understand it. And it is isolating: Family members and friends may lose patience with the constant complaints of pain sufferers. Doctors tend to throw up their hands, referring patients for psychotherapy or dismissing them as drug seekers trying to get opioids…”
“If the doctor can’t figure out what the underlying problem is, then the pain is not treated, it’s dismissed and the patient falls down the rabbit hole.”
You know the standard question: “rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst pain imaginable”?
Well, this is a little pic that more accurately describes our level of pain on a daily basis. (Pic not mine, “our” being chronic pain/chronic illness sufferers.)
I love this! My current = 7.
I’m currently at an 8 on this scale. it’s gettin’ up there.
My chest… keeps going between a 2 and a 10. :( Stupid costochondritis! :(
(via autoimmunelife)
“…I need you to visit me when I am too sick to go out. Sometimes I need you to help me with the shopping, cooking or cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor, or to the store. You are my link to normalcy of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of my life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.”
A letter to those without chronic pain from those with.
Please take a moment of your time to read this.
Chronic pain or illness is extremely difficult for an individual, but we often overlook the impact it has on the people closest to us. It can be painful to see someone you love suffering so much, and to know that you are unable to do anything to help them. Most people react in one of two ways; they become either overly solicitous or punitive.
Especially at the beginning of your journey with a chronic condition, your loved ones may act as your caretaker. They constantly ask you how you are feeling, take on the responsibilities around the household that you used to hold, and “fluff” your pillow at every opportunity. There is a strong emphasis on your illness or pain, and a neglect of the positive parts of your life. If you withdraw, whether from pain or depression, they may feel punished by you and be uncertain how to respond.
On the other end of the spectrum are punitive responses. These responses are not necessarily intended to hurt you. It is difficult to know how to react, especially with a chronic condition. However, it can make a bad situation worse. Loved ones may resent the changes your condition has brought to their lives, especially financial. They may see you neglecting certain responsibilities you used to ignore, and question the honesty of your complaints. My mom, without really meaning to be hurtful, often makes comments to me about how much of a strain I have put on them financially. It is hard, because I know she genuinely cares and doesn’t really resent me for it, but I also know it is tough and there are changes that have had to be made in all of our lives because of my pain.
Ideally, your loved ones will learn to act in a neutral manner. They will not ask you how you feel, or how your pain is, because they will have learned that when you think about your pain, it is worse. Instead, they will offer diversions and distractions to help keep you occupied. If they notice that you are struggling, they can help by asking you what your pain management strategies are, rather than coddling you or getting angry.
Hopefully, everyone around you will learn to react in a neutral manner. It is difficult, though, because most people’s instinct is to begin with caretaking. Unintentionally, they can make it more difficult for you to cope with your pain. Personally, if someone has a habit of acting either way, I try to take them aside and explain to them what would be most helpful for me. Most of the time, people act the way they do because they want to help you in any way they can, and are happy to hear suggestions.
