Category: Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Is pain destroying your social life? Picture of isolated tree

How to Stop Pain Destroying Your Social Life

Posted on By Despite Pain

Is pain destroying your social life? Understandably, when pain levels are high, you probably want to curl up in bed. The last thing on your mind is socialising. But what about when the pain levels aren’t quite so high? Do you socialise then, or do you turn down invitations to places or events because your pain might escalate?

Pain can have such a hold over people. They often live with a fear of the pain. Anxiety kicks in and a voice in their head says, “Your pain might get worse. You need to stay at home.” Sometimes this leads to them feeling trapped in their own homes and they can become extremely lonely and isolated….

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Chronic Pain Recycling bubble wrap to improve my life. Picture of bubble wrap, tape and scissors

I’m Recycling Bubble Wrap to Improve My Life

Posted on By Despite Pain

I hate throwing anything out. If there might be a use for something, I keep hold of it. The other day I noticed a pile of bubble wrap which I’d been keeping hold of and I have the perfect project in mind for it. Most people like to recycle these days because it’s good for the environment. But I’m not just recycling the bubble wrap for environmental reasons.

I’m clumsy and accident prone, therefore wrapping myself in bubble wrap might actually improve the quality of my life….

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Chronic Pain Person wearing hat in cold winter weather. Protect your face from cold weather

How to Protect Your Face From Cold Weather

Posted on By Despite Pain

Generally speaking, pain doesn’t like cold weather – everything tends to hurt more which means I need to find ways to stay warm. It’s easy to cover up with coats, hats, gloves, and warm socks, but what about my face? It’s open to the elements. Whether you live with or without facial pain, nobody can like their face being freezing cold to the point of numbness. How can you protect your face from cold weather?

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Awareness Pic of cactus plant on black background. words - How to help people understand your pain

How to Help People Understand Your Pain

Posted on By Despite Pain

Pain is personal, isn’t it? Two people who live with the same condition experience it differently. That doesn’t stop them from understanding the pain they each live with. In support groups, people really do understand how the pain affects you. But do other people? Is it possible to help people understand the pain?

After I published this post this post to explain what trigeminal neuralgia feels like, someone told me that nobody understands the condition, so there’s no point in even trying to explain it.

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Chronic Pain Online Support groups are helpful. Tree with hand.

Are Online Support Groups Helpful for People with Pain?

Posted on By Despite Pain

A few years ago, while talking to my pain clinic doctor, I told him that I think online support groups are helpful and that I run one for trigeminal neuralgia sufferers. I asked him if they ever ran patient support groups within the clinic and was shocked when he told…

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Awareness September is Pain awareness month. The theme is Let's talk about pain. #LetsTalkAboutPain. Purple background with purple flower.

Let’s Talk About Pain – Pain Awareness Month

Posted on By Despite Pain

September is Pain Awareness Month and this year the theme is Let’s Talk About Pain. We’re almost into the third week of September already, so I’m a wee bit late to the party! But in a way, that’s kind of fitting. Pain has a bad habit of getting in the…

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Chronic Pain How chronic pain or illness is affected by stress. I picture - stressed woman holding her head.

How Chronic Pain or Illness is Affected by Stress

Posted on By Despite Pain

When we know we might be physically injured, we try to protect our bodies from the impact of the trauma by tensing our muscles. We do the same in a stressful situation. But instead of protecting us, the tense muscles can cause more problems. If we live with chronic pain…

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Chronic Pain Living with pain or illness: Life in the slow lane. Narrow country road in Scotland

Living with Pain or Illness – Life in the Slow Lane

Posted on By Despite Pain

Living with chronic pain or any type of chronic illness can often be like living life in the slow lane. My life is certainly like that. There are two speeds in my life – slow or very slow. I know that I’m simply not fit for a different type of…

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Chronic Pain How to cope when you are judged because of pain or illness. Yellow flowers.

How To Cope When You Are Feeling Judged

Posted on By Despite Pain

People who live with chronic pain are often under scrutiny — how do we cope when we feel judged? Feeling Judged Lowers Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem Friends, family members, colleagues, doctors, social security — even strangers — can sometimes judge people who live with chronic pain or illness. And that’s such…

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Awareness Pain can steal a sense of purpose. Picture of cactii.

Pain Can Steal A Sense Of Purpose

Posted on By Despite Pain

Everyone who lives with chronic pain or illness knows how much it takes away. I could certainly write a long list. Health conditions can often just sneak into people’s lives like a thief and steal so much from them. One thing it can steal is a sense of purpose. I…

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