Are You A Chronic Pain Sufferer?

Are you one of  the many millions of people who suffer from chronic pain? Long-term pain can be debilitating, depressing and affect your  family life.You're never going to get rid of it or are you?

About a decade and a half ago I was sitting by the fire one Winter night when my left wrist began to hurt.Over the course of the evening it became excrutiatingly painful, spread to my other wrist and hand and by morning I was unable to use my hands.During the course of the next weeks the pain spread to all the joints of my body, including my jaw.My hands and feet were swollen like bananas, walking was like stepping on hot ball bearings.                                                             I tell you this not for sympathy but to show the beginnings of a chronic pain problem that can be solved.

My diagnosis was Rheumatoid Arthritis.I was sometimes in Hospital, for a short time in a wheelchair and in constant pain.Some treatments were helpful, some were not and in fact made me worse, as I ended up with a low blood cell count and had a bone marrow biopsy.Prednisolone was helpful for a time but intravenously lost it's effectiveness after a few days.I had all the treatments know to medical science and eventually called a halt.This was my turning point and the moment I took responsibility for my pain and my situation.      I began to research and found out all I could about the condition and the way it has been dealt with over time.I was open-minded and prepared to try anything as long as it was legal and didn't damage anyone, especially me! I realised eventually that I did not want to be a victim of R.A. or of anything else and that I was fully responsible for my recovery, how I lived and what I did.In time, with patience, I went into a full remission with occassional relapses if I'm not taking enough care or start taking my remission for granted.I'm not one to bleed on anyone I can find, telling  my story to anyone who will listen and I tell it now in case it helps anyone out there to find their answer.I firmly believe that some people like to be victims or don't know any other way to be and hold on to their victim status for the attention or benefits it brings them.That is for some a very confronting thought and if you reject that thought, you might find some benefit in considering it again carefully.                            Eventually my Specialist pronounced me in full remission and stated that it was "a miracle".

So how did I achieve it?   I developed a "Kit Bag" of ideas, procedures,methods and tools, all coping mechanisms to help me through.  Simple? Very simple, anyone can do it,  often the cost is nothing but it's hard work on occassions.Have you got time to committ to your survival and health? Do you want a life? A life in which your chronic pain disappears or is manageable? If you are serious about it and have honestly answered the question about being a victim and dealt with it if you have found you are a victim, then set out optimistically on a new path.

To develop your own personal "Kit Bag" think through the course of your life and note down anything you have enjoyed, that's been rewarding or fulfilling or that you take pleasure in or is helpful to your self-image, feelings of empowerement and sense of self.Think about what you did as a child when you were in pain or discomfort and try to find ways to replace those remedies if they are not still available to you.Make as long a list as you can and keep adding to it over time, check  things out and revise if you need to.Keep it fluid and flexible. Your list is very personal to you, some of the things on it may work for others, some won't...you have to work on it for it to be effective.If you allow yourself to have an open mind, you may find things that really help that wouldn't have been available if you'd closed off to them.For some,  those things might be prayer,spiritual healing, T'ai Chi, Tibetan Healing Chanting, chocolate, swimming, gentle exercise, hugs, a good cry, new comfortable shoes, Bach Flower Remedies, a pet, cultivating a more optimistic outlook, community work, Emotional Release Therapy, giving up work,setting up a Support Group and so on and on......For some, these things will be too simple or too difficult, but you have the choice available to you to go forward or remain in pain.You then need to pull out your Kit Bag every time you are struggling with pain and select the thing that seems to be the most helpful at the time.It may be several things together..chocolate, a cup of good coffee and a hug from a friend.Whatever it is may work or not.If not, don't abandon it but try something else, it may work next time.               I wish you good luck and an appetite for hard work.

Please leave a comment if I can be of help or answer your question and I'll do my best.That in the end is all we can do.