How to find the best Christmas gifts for someone with chronic pain

Christmas time is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited for some joy and fun in the very stressful year of 2020. Every year I come out with a holiday/Christmas list that have 15 items and breaks things up by budget amount. This year I thought I’d just share a few of my favorite…Continue reading How to find the best Christmas gifts for someone with chronic pain

A myth, not chronic pain, is at the roots of the opioid crisis

Chronic pain and the opioid crisis: How a myth defines treatment for pain patients

Chronic pain and the opioid crisis. They’re always linked in the minds of the media and the government.  In the past, I’ve written quite a few angry posts about the way chronic pain patients are being treated. It was really more of a vent session for me because I had to give up my pain…Continue reading Chronic pain and the opioid crisis: How a myth defines treatment for pain patients

How to benefit from decluttering when you have no energy

How to benefit from decluttering when you have no energy

Decluttering is hard when you have no energy and live with chronic pain, chronic fatigue, or disability. As I’ve learned a lot more about how to keep my house relatively clean and to tamp down on the utter chaos caused by my minions, I thought I’d talk more thoroughly about dealing with clutter when you have…Continue reading How to benefit from decluttering when you have no energy

How to find pain free clothing when you have Fibromyalgia

How to find pain free clothing when you have Fibromyalgia

This post includes affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy for details.  A few weeks ago I addressed Fibromyalgia sensory overload and the problems that it can create. One of those problems is a high touch sensitivity. Touch sensitivity (called allodynia) makes anything touching the skin painful. This is why scratchy sheets and the wrong…Continue reading How to find pain free clothing when you have Fibromyalgia

So this is what Painsomnia feels like

I go to bed at 11:00 pm, only to toss and turn like a rotisserie chicken for 2 hours. I can’t get comfortable because everything hurts. I know I need to get to sleep otherwise my pain levels will go even higher than they already are, and I won’t be able to function. I finally…Continue reading So this is what Painsomnia feels like

overload and over-stimulation are quite common in people with chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome

How to cope with Fibromyalgia sensory overload

The intense light seems to glare down at me as the excessive noise continues all around me. I feel myself start to become overwhelmed. All I want to do it get home so I can sit in my quiet and dark room. As I rush out of the store someone brushes my shoulder and spikes…Continue reading How to cope with Fibromyalgia sensory overload

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

is kratom a revolutionary treatment for chronic pain

Is kratom a revolutionary treatment for chronic pain?

As I’ve mentioned previously, I was able to receive treatment for my debilitating chronic pain for years, but lost access to that treatment a few years ago. Once that loss became permanent I decided I need to look into other options. Medical marijuana is not legal in my state, so I had limited choices.  I…Continue reading Is kratom a revolutionary treatment for chronic pain?

how to be brave in the face of chronic illness

How to be brave in the face of chronic illness

Let’s talk about bravery. The word conjures of an image of heroes, fictional or real.  Currently we’re having conversations about the bravery of the nurses and doctors that are saving lives during this pandemic. These conversations are important right now and I don’t want to take away from them , but today I want to…Continue reading How to be brave in the face of chronic illness