Chronic Illness

Yoga For Chronic Pain An Interactive Class And Q&A

4 Comments

Dear pain warriors, You’ve probably heard of yoga before and thought to yourself “there’s no way I could do that!” But you may not realize that there is a style or type of yoga for every level and ability. Gentle yoga, for example, is perfect for individuals with chronic pain and disability. There are plenty of options and modifications–you can even participate sitting in a chair! We’re excited to offer you a chance to explore yoga from the comfort of your home on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 1 pm EST during a free interactive class and live Q&A with Ryan Drozd, a yoga instructor and wellness expert. Drozd lives with chronic pain himself, so he’s well-versed in helping find movements that are right for you and your body. Register now >> We hope you can join us live, but if not, all of our webinars are recorded and posted within a few days on our website.  If you have questions, email contact@uspainfoundation.org. If you have specific concerns about the safety of yoga for your health situation, please check in with your health care provider. Sincerely,Emily LemiskaDirector of CommunicationsU.S. Pain Foundation U.S. Pain Foundation contact@uspainfoundation.org | uspainfoundation.org 670 Newfield Street Suite B Middletown, CT 06457 

Read More →

Chronic Illness

7 Conditions That Can Mimic Fibromyalgia (And Getting The Right Diagnosis) — Guest Blogger There Is Always Hope

2 Comments

Fibromyalgia is a condition that consists of widespread muscle pain, cognitive failures and fatigue. Because there is no standard blood test or other medical test to identify Fibro, doctors rely on Patient stories and history to make a determination, along with using the “tender point” test. When you have Fibromyalgia, there are particular tender points […] 7 Conditions That Can Mimic Fibromyalgia (And Getting The Right Diagnosis) — There Is Always Hope

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Chronic Pain: Swimming Therapy

16 Comments

  Most people don’t think of Mental Illness when discussing Chronic Pain. Mental Illness can be physically debilitating with many spending large amounts of time in bed. For someone like me who is challenged by both, daily life can be difficult. Today I’m in bed juggling my laptop on one knee trying to avoid the pain screaming on the left […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Anesthesia for Chronic Pain?

9 Comments

  Ketamine is an anesthesia used since the 1960s and has since been proven to work for Chronic Pain and Mental Illness. My pain levels have been through the roof and walking the last 15 days has been difficult. I made the decision to try something radically different. I had my first Ketamine treatment was yesterday. I  read about the LSD […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Fibromyalgia Thoughts #2

28 Comments

The pain has moved to my lower body, it attacks every joint and muscle I have. For the past 10 days, my leg has caused a big problem, it’s hard to walk. Any pressure on my leg makes me scream out in pain. I can’t stand up by myself unless there are objects strong enough to pull me up. My husband isn’t a little guy and it takes two or three tries because I start to cry out. I have no idea what is happening, this level of pain is new for me. It’s not so much the level but the time in constant pain. I’ve been going to bed between 4:30-6:30 p.m. every night thinking resting is the only answer. So far that seems to be the case. I can now move my knee closer to a normal sitting position. Try getting on and off the toilet, it’s been a painful 10 days. I’ve forced myself to bed in order to get better. I’m not looking for total pain relief, that’s not my goal. Right now I want to be able to get out of a chair by myself. The rest of my body feels the normal everyday dull pain, my shoulder still screams out at night. Pain meds, topical patches and ointments the doctor gave me on Friday have provided no relief. I’m laying in bed with one leg balancing the computer, trying not to walk any more than […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Looking For The Light is Texas Ambassador for U.S. Pain Foundation

1 Comment

U.S. Pain Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic conditions that cause pain. HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER: Awareness & Advocacy Programs INvisible Project Advocacy Program Pain Awareness Month Points For Pain Medical Cannabis Program Support & Empowerment Programs Pain Connection Pain Ambassador Network Pediatric Pain Warriors Share Your Story Education Programs Take Control of Your Pain Learn About Your Pain Pain Medicine 411 Pain Education Portal (PEP) Talks Clinical Programs National Coalition of Chronic Pain Providers and Professionals To learn more, visit: uspainfoundation.org Melinda Sandor Ambassador-Texas U.S. Pain Foundation

Read More →

Chronic Illness

I’ve Been Nominated For The Disability Award

44 Comments

I’m blown away Stacey Chapman at https://fightingwithfibro.com awarded me The Disability Award. You have to check out her site, here’s the original award post,  https://fightingwithfibro.com/2019/04/27/the-disability-award/ Her sunny personality welcomes you with every post, she’s informative, topics are fresh, up to date and she reviews products we might be interested in. She is very knowledgeable. Following her is a must. As part of my nomination, I choose other Disability Bloggers to give this award to. They are as follows: Wendy at  simplychronicallyill.wordpress.com Patricia at  https://patriciajgrace.wordpress.com Colly at https://dopaminequeen.com Alyssia at https://fightingmsdaily.com Mackenzie at lifewithanillness.com Robert at https://robertmgoldstien.com Gavin at https://sedge.com Nominees: Please answer the questions, choose your own nominees and develop your own set of questions. Stacey’s questions are so good I’m going with her’s. Display the award badge. What was the first sign of your illness? My chest and right clavicle starting hurting and would not go away for months. What is your worst symptom and how do you cope with it? Whatever it takes, pain meds, a nap, meditation, looking at the flower garden, put feet in the pool, letting them float. What one thing about you has changed as a result of your struggles? I understand people with all types of disabilities better. What words of advice or encouragement would you give to someone else suffering? Accept it, embrace your illness as part of your daily life and work on what relieves your pain. Name one good thing that has come out of having […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

The Importance of Having a Fibro Family for Support-Please Join Our Fibro Family! — Guest Fighting With Fibro

1 Comment

The past two weeks have been really exciting for me, with so many readers or other Bloggers reaching out, commenting and emailing. It’s been SO great!! When I started blogging, I really had one goal: to try to use my experience of living with multiple chronic illnesses to help others-I somehow had to create a […] via The Importance of Having a Fibro Family for Support-Please Join Our Fibro Family! — Fighting With Fibro

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Lyme Progress #8 Fibromyalgia

9 Comments

    I’ve written 76 WordPress post on Chronic Lyme, rarely acknowledging the other Chronic Illnesses I have. When I started treatment for Lyme someone said to me, just wait you’ll get all types of other illnesses. I thought I was dying, having IV Therapy treatment seven days a week, Sunday bandage change, and do it all over again. I flew to D.C. […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

22 Lesser Known Facts About Fibro — Fighting With Fibro

5 Comments

Thank you for the information packed post. Reblogged from Fighting With Fibro. If you’re like me, you’re always trying to stay apprised of new information surrounding your illness(es). Sometimes, it seems like I never see anything new and oftentimes, it seems the data I read is just somehow recycled; one site to another. So I spent some time (okay, a lot of time) gathering facts that, maybe, […] via 22 Lesser Known Facts About Fibro — Fighting With Fibro

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Zechstein Magnesium Chloride Mother Earth’s 250 Million Year Old Healing Treasure

5 Comments

Last week Fighting With Fibro  shared a cream that worked on her Fibromyalgia pain. It was a magnesium based product, being curious I had to understand the difference of the type she purchased. The magic word is Zechstein, many products claimed to relieve pain and a host of other problems but they didn’t have Zechstein included in ingredients. https://fightingwithfibro.com/2019/02/19/finally-something-that-actually-works-for-my-fibro-and-rls-pain/ I could not find the […]

Read More →

Children

MANAGING FIBROMYALGIA IN CHILDREN

1 Comment

Welcome to Remedy, a blog by U.S. Pain Foundation. Remedy aims to provide people with the support they need to thrive despite chronic pain. It features the information about promising treatments, tips and strategies for self-management, resources for coping with the emotional and social effects of pain, unique perspectives from patients, clinicians, and caregivers–and much more. To submit an article idea, email contact@uspainfoundation.org. Posted: January 14, 2019   By Brent Wells, DC, a chiropractor and founder of Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab If your child feels tired and achy, you may not worry initially. After all, there’s nothing urgent about what seems to be mild, general discomfort. However, if your child is constantly in pain, exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and experiencing intense moods, he/she may have fibromyalgia. This condition is fairly common in adults, but parents and clinicians may overlook the possibility of juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome — that is, fibromyalgia in children. JUVENILE FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue. According to experts, children will often describe this pain as “stiffness, tightness, tenderness, burning or aching.” This pain can last for months and is often accompanied by other symptoms that affect a child’s overall well-being, energy level, and emotional health, including: Tender spots on muscles Difficulty sleeping and fatigue Aches, including stomachaches and headaches Lack of focus or memory Anxiety and depression If your child is experiencing these symptoms, you should […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Fibro Friday: Hamster Wheel

6 Comments

Repost I’ve struggled with Chronic Lyme, Fibromyalgia, and Dementia for six years, every week it’s a follow-up or test for the latest ailment. I’ve made the decision to step off the Doctor Hamster Wheel in 2019. I saw a Rheumatologist two months ago, the clueless PA told me there wasn’t Lyme in Texas. REALLY? The doctor named a few possible illnesses and took my blood. The doctor’s visit was a bust but the lab work revealed my Calcium is high. Which can cause serious complications? She suggested having my Parathyroid checked. WOW, something came out of the lab work, I have another ailment to deal with! I saw the Endocrinologist, it was straight forward. A blood test, a scan at the hospital and possible surgery. We scheduled the scan immediately since it was affecting my heart. I fell down the stairs and banged myself up a good one. I landed a perfect 10! NO, I can’t lean my head back for two forty-five minute sessions. The test was rescheduled. 2019 is starting like the other six years, with a heart test scheduled, a Parathyroid scan with possible surgery, and a test for Traumatic Brain Injury from the fall. There are a few days left in 2018, I want to know who I am, how have I changed in that time. I developed Agoraphobia, haven’t driven in six years and have only seen the inside of doctor’s offices. I took the first step […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Round And Round, The Hamster Wheel

1 Comment

      I’ve struggled with Chronic Lyme, Fibromyalgia and Dementia for six years, every week it’s a follow-up or test for the latest ailment. I’ve made the decision to step off the Doctor Hamster Wheel in 2019. I saw a Rheumatologist a two months ago, the clueless PA told me there wasn’t Lyme in Texas. REALLY? The doctor named a few possible illnesses and took my blood. The doctor’s visit was a bust but the lab work revealed my Calcium is high. Which can cause serious complications. She suggested to have my Parathyroid checked. WOW, something came out of the lab work, I have another ailment to deal with! I saw the Endocrinologist, it was straight forward. A blood test, a scan at the hospital and possible surgery. We scheduled the scan immediately since it was effecting my heart. I fell down the stairs and banged myself up a good one. I landed a perfect 10! NO, I can’t lean my head back for two forty-five minute sessions. The test was rescheduled. 2019 is starting like the other six years, with a heart test scheduled, Parathyroid scan with possible surgery, test for Traumatic Brain Injury from the fall. There are few days left in 2018, I want to know who I am, how have I changed in that time. I developed Agoraphobia, haven’t driven in six years and have only seen the inside of doctor’s offices. I took the first step […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Ten Important Fibromyalgia Facts

3 Comments

National Fibromyalgia Association 1. ALWAYS believe in yourself emotionally and physically.  No one can tell you what you are experiencing is not real!  FM is a chronic medical disorder just like diabetes, hypertension, & asthma.  While there are still gaps in our complete understanding of FM, the symptoms are real, & patients’ concerns are legitimate.2. NEVER feel guilt for your […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Lyme Progress #4 *Photos*

3 Comments

Original post 5/23/2018 Reposted for The Fibromyalgia Directory.  It’s summertime, ticks and insects carrying tick born illnesses are worse than last year. Practice all precautions if out in tall grass, tall scrubs or trees. I’m dealing with in Dementia, Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy, Lyme Arthritis, Cognitive issues, PAIN, falling, PAIN and pain medicines. There are days you want to cry, scream, on […]

Read More →

Chronic Illness

Lyme Progress #1 Pain Management

9 Comments

  You may have noticed the name change from Lyme Update to Lyme Progress. The reason for the change, it’s time to start looking forward, short-term and long-term. I still struggle with illnesses which Lyme left and have days can’t get out of bed. WINNING is looking forward. The chronically ill understand this mindset. After dismissing my Lyme Doctor in Washington, I came back to Texas determined to build a team of doctors who could manage the different aspects of my illness. The next post I will talk about the long list of doctors required, today I wanted to discuss my immediate complaint. PAIN, PAIN, PAIN! I made my General Practitioner the main doctor, he was my GP prior to Lyme but many years had passed. We didn’t know each other any longer and trust had to be earned on both sides. We have scheduled 30-minute appointments instead of normal 15 minutes, we have more time to talk. Talking is a big part of getting to know each other. I’ve had several appointments with him and last week we talked about PAIN. Being a bit detailed, I put the list below together to show the different types of pain. Pain is pain is pain is not the same pain. There are many types of pain and over time they can feel like one but are not. The information provided helped him see there were many areas of my health not being […]

Read More →