People living with trigeminal neuralgia share what they wish their friends, family, and doctors understood about this extremely painful condition. Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is often called one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, yet it remains widely misunderstood. I have several posts on my blog about Trigeminal Neuralgia.You…
Chronic Pain
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Biojrnl Health Tracking App Review
Disclaimer: I have been given free access to the Biojrnl health tracking app, and have received payment for writing this review. However, the opinions expressed here are entirely my own. I have not been asked to give a positive review, and I will always be honest about my experience of…
Chronic Pain
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When the Pain Doesn’t Disappear — Guest Post by Erika Conrad-Wess
Living with pain that doesn’t want to disappear is never easy, but somehow, we have to find a way to get through each day. In today’s post, I am thrilled to share an article by an old friend, Erika Conrad-Wess, who talks about her journey with trigeminal neuralgia and how…
Awareness
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What’s it Like to Live With Pain — With a Capital P
I’ve been writing about what it’s like to live with pain for several years. I’ve also been living with this unwanted companion for several decades. Over that time, I’ve learned that P doesn’t just stand for Pain. It also stands for many other words related to living with pain. What…
Back Pain & Scoliosis
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When Your Body Says No, But Your Diary Says Yes
Sometimes, our bodies say “no, not today.” But out of necessity, or even choice, we sometimes need to override the off switch. Unfortunately, that doesn’t switch off the pain. But if we have an appointment in our diaries, we do occasionally need to override that “no, not today.” Somehow, we…
Chronic Pain
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When Doing Nothing Is Doing Something
At the end of last week, I was thinking to myself: I have been doing absolutely nothing all week. And then the guilt kicked in. But I’ve come to realise that when you’re living with pain or a chronic illness, very often doing nothing is actually doing something — looking…
Uncategorized
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Travel Without the Hassle…No Packing Required
Summer is upon us here in sunny Scotland. Except, it’s not very sunny. There’s been a heatwave south of the border, but most days it’s actually quite wet, and dreich here in Scotland. Perhaps it’s time to fly off to a warmer climate for a quick break. Travelling sounds wonderful,…
Blogging & Writing
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The Stories I Couldn’t Find — Guest Post by C. Helen
I love sharing guest posts on Despite Pain because they allow another voice to be heard and another story to be told. This week, I’m delighted to welcome C. Helen, who recently published her novel, The Other Side of the Butterfly, which features a main character living with chronic illness….
Back Pain & Scoliosis
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Living With Scoliosis: When Things Change
June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, so I thought it was the perfect time to explain a wee bit more about my back pain. I have been living with scoliosis (a curvature of my spine) for fifty years, and with the pain it’s brought for over forty years. I’ve learned to…
Back Pain & Scoliosis
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Adapting to Chronic Pain — Again and Again
Adapting to chronic pain isn’t something that happens just once. Pain can change over time, and when it does, we have to learn how to live with it all over again. Adapting doesn’t make life perfect; it just makes some things possible — until the next change comes along and…