People in pain know what works for them and what doesn't. It's time for unsolicited advice (have you tried yoga?) to go away.

All the yoga in the world can’t make chronic pain disappear

Nothing like the sweet ring of “have you tried yoga?” in the ear of somebody with chronic pain. What these people miss is while yoga is great, it can’t fix chronic pain. Why? Because pain controls everything. It controls: -what I do – what I eat – when I sleep – my relationships – my…Continue reading All the yoga in the world can’t make chronic pain disappear

Sometimes it's the little things about living with chronic illness that annoy you. There's nothing like yet another person trying to sell you a magic cure, or tell you that you're not trying hard enough.

How the absurd little things annoy you when you have a chronic illness

Life with chronic illness can be stressful, weighty, and overwhelming, but sometimes it’s the absurd little things that annoy you. Life has been a stressful mess the last year and a half, so I figured it was time for some chronic illness humor. Here are a few things that annoy me the most, with sarcastic commentary…Continue reading How the absurd little things annoy you when you have a chronic illness

The devastating impact of Covid 19 on disabled people

Covid and disabled people feel like a topic that has been touched on many times. Somehow though, it feels like the news articles miss the mark. So today I want to talk being disabled in a pandemic. In February 2020, I didn’t know I was disabled. Hard to believe, right? I knew I was in…Continue reading The devastating impact of Covid 19 on disabled people

Losing friends to chronic illness is a frequent occurrence. Sometimes it's because people are afraid, they don't know what to do, or they just don't want to deal with it.

Where did everybody go? Losing friends to chronic illness

Someone once told me that losing friends to chronic illness or disability was not a thing, and if I felt alone it was all my fault. Words failed me. Years later, I have a better response. It struck me that this is what people don’t understand about chronic illness or disability. In their lives, if you…Continue reading Where did everybody go? Losing friends to chronic illness

Many politicians think that chronic pain is the cause of the opioid crisis. Yet, cracking down on pain patients has only increased overdoses of illegal opioids.

Why politicians are wrong about the opioid crisis

Dear politicians in Washington, The opioid crisis was not caused by chronic pain and yet you seek to punish people in pain anyway because we’re the convenient scapegoats. I’ve written dozens of articles about the opioid crisis previously, but it has clearly not reached you so I’m begging you to listen this time. What you…Continue reading Why politicians are wrong about the opioid crisis

How to have a successful Covid-19 Christmas with chronic illness

Holiday season is upon us. If you’re American you’ve just finished celebrating Thanksgiving, hopefully in a safe fashion. Now the holidays of Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza etc. are upon us and we’re all wondering how to thread the needle of safety and seeing family. It’s been a long year and everyone is desperate to spend some…Continue reading How to have a successful Covid-19 Christmas with chronic illness

Pain awareness and being called to be brave

Sheryl over at A Chronic Voice hosts a monthly get together for people with chronic illnesses to write about certain topics. This month we’re talking about: Feeling, Grueling, Tempting, Running, and Mending. September is also pain awareness month and so I’ll be filtering my posts through the lens of chronic pain all month. Feeling I…Continue reading Pain awareness and being called to be brave

What people with chronic illness really want is to stop faking well

I often get questions from well meaning healthy people about what I want from them. I’m not great with words on the spot, so I thought I’d put a list of things I think people with chronic illness really want. 1. To not have to fake being well Many people with chronic illness put in…Continue reading What people with chronic illness really want is to stop faking well

when you have a chronic illness, quarantine life is nothing new

When you have a chronic illness, quarantine life is nothing new

Some of the world is starting to emerge from quarantine, while others are head back into it because of reopening too soon (thanks Texas). But while healthy people get to go back to their regularly scheduled lives, people with chronic illness or disabilities are being left behind. It’s still too dangerous for anyone with health…Continue reading When you have a chronic illness, quarantine life is nothing new

How to prioritize your health when you have a chronic illness

Having a chronic illness or living with chronic pain can quickly become overwhelming and that’s why it’s important to prioritize your health. Because of this one of the most important things to remember is that it is okay to tell people no. Here are four things to keep in mind when it comes to saying…Continue reading How to prioritize your health when you have a chronic illness