Living with chronic pain

[sammason]

If you, or somebody you love, has chronic pain you might like this blog post. I can't say that I agree with the part about animals not complaining. They complain in their own languages which, if we spend time with them, we can understand. I don't agree with the part about GOD either but each to their own. What I do like is this blogger's

Comments

[theidolhands]

Yes, I agree, I think they meant well, perhaps saying it's a "blessing" to be free of pain, but of course those of us who have suffered have found our own ways of viewing that pain and it isn't always negative.

It's strange, but sometimes pain can feel like a gift, you can learn things through it, but that is not to dismiss the suffering of others; that's just a personal reflection. The simple truth though, is that too many people do take simple things for granted, and that can be as basic as breathing and mobility.

Thank you for sharing, as always.

[sammason]

Now you mention it, I do find myself saying 'I'm blessed' quite often in relation to my disability. It's largely because I prefer not to say that 'I'm lucky.' I don't believe in god (the goddess is far more relaxed) and I don't believe in luck, just in a goddess (the universe) far bigger than I am.

But yes, I'm blessed. My barista smile (see userpic: that's not my face but I smile like that) works wonders. I make blessings happen to me and to those around me. 'Do as you would be done by,' is a good motto, along with 'Swim in the pond, not in the mud.' With regard to the crippage, I'm blessed in that it brings out so much good in nearly everybody. Esp now that it's starkly visible (wheelchair, impaired vision, blah blah) I get helped by everybody. Sometimes more help than I even need or want! but too much kindness is better than not enough.

[fallconsmate]

i had a long-time friend call me day before yesterday.

she woke up one morning and was FREE of all her pain. no meds any longer. she was in tears because of how thankful she was, and how she had not realized how much of her was wrapped up in controlling not only the pain but her REACTIONS to the pain so that her children are not stressed by this. (she has three little girls at home.)

i am honestly SO VERY HAPPY for her. i am! and at the same time i had a moment of anger that i am still in pain. i know darn well our situations are different. and i wouldnt trade me being pain free for her being in pain again (or nearly anyone, there are a *few*).

but there was that few moments of anger and "why me?". and i hated myself for the weakness.

[sammason]

Oh yes, that thing about 'looking better'! One of my stock responses deals with 'You're walking better today, Sam!' by responding 'It varies.' And I deal with 'You look well! Always so positive!' by pinning on the barista smile again.

When I let somebody hear me hurling F-bombs and suicide threats, it means I trust that person. If they haven't heard it before I try to give a few seconds' warning.

All of this when I don't even have pain! I have a lot of vile symptoms as you know, but the neuropathic pain hasn't started on me and I keep hoping it never will.

[sammason]

It's hard work being too ill to work, isn't it? I'm sorting out my Access to Work claim (covers my taxi fares to work) and it's time well spent, but a right faff esp with numb fingers.

[skezier]

I think that is a good post but don't quite feel that for me I can agree with the God bit as such but it does sometimes help people

[sammason]

Welcome to the comm! As you'll have seen by now, I keep my personal blog separate from my science one. No secret about having both but the science blog is an escape from disability. As mentioned upthread, I dread neuropathic pain. But I dread cognitive dysfunction more. I know people on LJ, mostly on this comm, who have one or both of those symptoms and who continue to live well.

If you'd like to start a new thread on this comm about your own story, do go ahead :-) You'll need to join the comm but there's no charge! mrs_tribble and I (whoever sees your join-request first) will 'approve' you straight away. I set up the comm to request-only membership purely as a precaution against bots and trolls.