This year, on Rare Disease Day, I want to focus on Motor Neurone Disease (MND), also known as ALS in the USA. There are thousands of rare diseases which affect millions of people globally. I often write about trigeminal neuralgia, a rare facial pain condition that I live with. But…
Category: Awareness
Awareness
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Neuropathic Pain Awareness Month ~ NERVEmber
During NERVEMBER (the month formerly known as November), the International Pain Foundation shines a light (an orange light) to raise awareness of neuropathic pain. What is Neuropathic Pain? Neuropathic pain is a form of pain that comes from damage or malfunction in the nerves themselves. Neuropathy often has no visible…
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Understanding Invisible Disabilities — It’s All About Empathy
Understanding invisible disabilities needs to begin with empathy.
But, sadly, empathy seems to be disappearing in our country.
Invisible Disabilities Week takes place from the 19th to the 25th of October this year. It’s a reminder that what people need is empathy, not ignorance; support, not suspicion; compassion; not cruelty.
Awareness
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Trigeminal Neuralgia Facts ~ TN Awareness
Since Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day takes place on the 7th of October, I thought I would share some important facts about this painful condition. It’s not just painful – it’s also cruel and misunderstood. And even though I’ve talked about most of these facts before, they’re worth repeating because trigeminal neuralgia needs more awareness.
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Chronic Pain Is Complex ~ Pain Awareness Month 2025
Living with pain daily is life for millions of people throughout the world. We wake up with it. Go to sleep with it. It’s there, affecting everything we do in life. Chronic pain is common. It’s not a rare condition that few people know about. However, it is a condition…
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Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day And Facial Pain Awareness Month
I wrote a few weeks ago that I wanted to take a blogging break to focus more on myself and get my art journey back up and running. However, I didn’t want to let October go by without writing a post as it is Facial Pain Awareness Month and the…
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Make Gluten-Free More Affordable For People With Coeliac Disease
A gluten-free diet for anyone with coeliac disease is not a choice. It’s a necessity. But a gluten-free diet is also very expensive. The charity Coeliac UK is running a campaign just now to try to make gluten-free food more affordable and accessible. I hope that policymakers and the food…
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Why I Blog About Trigeminal Neuralgia and Chronic Pain
I know that regular readers already know why I blog about trigeminal neuralgia and life with chronic pain but I thought I would write this post for anyone who doesn’t know. I have a reason for doing this and will explain that later. Why Do I Blog About Trigeminal Neuralgia…
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Trigeminal Neuralgia – So Painful But It’s Invisible
As I write this, I have sciatica. I am struggling to walk due to a trapped nerve and I can’t straighten up properly. It is extremely painful. If people could see me right now, they would instantly know that I am in pain. As my regular readers know, I live…
Awareness
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Trigeminal Neuralgia – Cruel and Evil – Get Out of My Face
I once wrote a letter to my pain. It was a break-up letter. My pain didn’t take a bit of notice but it felt good writing it. I’m going to write another one, this time to my not-very-dear friend, trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is cruel, evil and vicious and I…