Updates

Dear Blog Readers,

Hello. I have added a couple of new resources, including a medication reminder tool (listed under the "Interactive Tools" category on the resources page) and a link to a discussion about dealing with sleep that is affected by chronic pain (listed under the "Miscellaneous" category on the resource page). I am hoping to find more resources on the second topic in the future.

Many New Updates

Dear Bog Readers,

I have done several updates on my blog today. I have added more resources links (including a link to a very useful online pain tracking tool).

New Poem-Happiness

Happiness

By: Leah A. (Blog Admin)

A dull ache throbs in the back of my skull

As I gaze at a sunrise. The drowsy prairie

glows in hues of rose and violet.

Absentmindedly, I massage my aching skull,

And I smile.

How should I measure my happiness?

Should I measure it in the number

Of throbs that shoot in my head per minute,

Or the paltry number of days when I do not have pain?

Should I measure it according to items scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper--

A list, which I made years ago, of the things my migraines forbid me to do?

Or, should I measure it in the number

Interactive Online Tools for Chronic Pain Patients

1. Online Tools Including Guided Imagery Practice and Medication Side Effect Charts

Link: http://www.painaction.com/Members/Library.aspx?t=550

This useful website provides many interactive tools related to chronic pain. These tools include guided imagery activities, in which an audio recording guides chronic pain patients to relax by using mental images, and a side effect chart. In the side effect chart, a chronic pain patient can place the mouse over a medication and learn about the potential side effects of the medication. This may help chronic pain patients when making decisions about which medications to use.

2. Chronic Pain Assessment

Important Update!

Dear Blog Readers,

Hello, everyone. To make it easier for my readers, I decided to break up the resources on the resource page into related categories. I hope this helps!

Thanks!

Miscellaneous Resources

1.  Surviving Finals Week with Chronic Pain

Link:
http://chroniccurve.tumblr.com/post/21332969917/college-and-chronic-illness-finals-week

While all college students struggle during finals week, finals week poses even more challenges to college students who have chronic pain. This blog post gives some useful advice about what students can do to make their finals week a little more manageable. I also feel that this advice could help college students with chronic pain during any point in the semester, not just during finals week.

2. Yoga for Chronic Pain

Link: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/lupuscommunity/search?query=yoga+for+chronic+pain

This youtube channel contains a series of instructional videos that walk chronic pain patients through gentle yoga specifically designed for people with Lupus and other chronic pain disorders. These relaxing activities an opportunity for patients to exercise in a less intense way that is less likely to aggravate pain. Of course, if you start following these instructions and feel that it aggravates your pain, stop doing these yoga activities.

3. Tips for Dealing with Lack of Sleep Due to Chronic Pain

Link:
http://www.lupus.org/resources/15-questions-strategies-for-restful-sleep

This webpage contains commonly asked questions about lack of sleep and Lupus, although I feel that certain parts of the FAQ can apply to other chronic pain condition as well. For some advice on how to improve sleep that is complicated by chronic pain, see responses numbers two, four, and seven.

Resources for Staying Connected to the Chronic Pain Community

1. List of Chronic Pain Organizations

Link: http://www.forgrace.org/resources/pain-organizations/

First of all, I would like to point out that the website that contains this list of great chronic pain organizations is a great chronic pain organization itself. This organization, For Grace, was founded by a chronic pain victim and advocate and contains many great resources, with a focus on women in pain, that may be of use to you. This list contains links to the websites of many prestigious organizations, such as the American Chronic Pain Association and Partners Against Pain. If you are looking for organizations that can help you get in touch with other people in chronic pain, or places you can call to ask questions about living in chronic pain, these websites may be a great place to start.


2. Partners Against Pain

Link:http://www.partnersagainstpain.com/measuring-pain/assessment-tool.aspx

This is one of the many organizations listed in the above resource list, but I felt it merited it's own post in my resource list as well. This website has many useful resources and tools for chronic pain patients, including pain measurement guides and pain diaries that patients can print out to track their pain levels. People with chronic pain may find that these resources will help them assess their own pain.

3. Chronic Pain Site

Resources About Mental Coping Practices

1. Mental Coping Techniques

Link:
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/11-chronic-pain-control-techniques

This article, from spine-health.com, explains some mental exercises that can help people cope with especially painful episodes. While these exercises do not erase the pain, it may make the painful episode more tolerable.


2. Inner Health Studio-Meditation

Resources About the Emotional Side Effects of Pain

1. Endohope- Guilt As Side Effect of Chronic Illness

Link:
http://endohope.org/2013/05/08/guilt-is-an-understandable-side-effect-of-chronic-illness/

This blog post breaks down several reasons why people with chronic illness, including chronic pain, feel guilty. Personally, I enjoy this article because it helps me understand some of my own reasons for the guilt I sometimes feel.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior-Dealing with Guilt

2. Link:
http://rawarrior.com/3-questions-3-answers-about-guilt-chronic-illness/

This short blog post offers some helpful tips about dealing with the guilt that often comes with chronic illness. While it focuses on people with arthritis, I think the tips can apply to people with different conditions as well.


3. Interviews from Others Coping with Pain

http://www.healthtalk.org/peoples-experiences/chronic-health-issues/chronic-pain/coping-emotional-impact-pain

This article, from HealthTalk.org, contains many short video interviews of people with chronic pain.

Updates

Dear Blog Readers,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have added several more resources to the resources page, including resources about how to cope with the emotional side effects of pain and how to describe pain to others. I hope you find these resources helpful.

Also, I would just like to remind you that I am accepting writing from chronic pain patients. If you are interested in submitting something, please see the submission guidelines.

Thank you very much!

New Poem-Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask
By: Blog Admin

In front of the mirror,

I carefully construct my mask.

To hide the pain streaking through my brain,

I pull the corners of my mouth into a smile

And cajole my eyes to obedience.

I force laughs through my teeth,

So their light will shine in my eyes, obscuring the pain.

People who Accomplished Great Things with Chronic Pain

Dear Blog Readers,

Hello. I have been trying to find a list for the resource page of celebrities and important people from history who had chronic pain. However, since most lists only have three or so people listed, I have decided to compile my own list. I am hoping this list will remind you that you can accomplish important things, even with your pain.

1. Lewis Carol wrote Alice in Wonderland while suffering from chronic migraines.

2. John F. Kennedy suffered from intense chronic back and stomach pain.

3. George Clooney, a movie star, suffers from cervicogenic headaches.