Ideas For Creating a More Comfortable Home

When people think of pain management, they often think of medications, treatments, and remedies. However, a pain management program, should also take into consideration those things that affect a person's ability to live comfortably in their environment. For instance, folks with arthritic conditions or back problems often have pain and limitations with reaching and bending. Activities of daily living can be a challenge. If these people were to consider making some changes in their home, they may find ways to function and live more comfortably. Being able to avoid physically stressful and risky movements will help in overall pain management.

• If you are renovating your home, consider purchasing a large shower that can accommodate a small shower chair. If you have a tub, be sure to have ample supports and grab bars. And make sure any tub seats are securely attached. Being safe and comfortable is important to avoid spasms or risks of falling.
• Consider putting outlets high enough on walls to allow for easier use and less bending. Watch how furniture is positioned. If you have to lean over furniture to plug in appliances and cleaning tools, consider moving things around to make those outlets more accessible.
• Careful planning for kitchen storage can make food prep, cooking and cleaning tasks easier and more comfortable. Place rarely used items up and out of the way. Place frequently used utensils, dishes and pots and pans at optimum levels for easy access.
• For back pain sufferers, standing at the sink can be painful. Take some of the pressure off your back by opening your under the sink cabinet door and placing one foot on the bottom of the cabinet. It is amazing how much pressure can be relieved by lifting the one foot up a few inches off the floor.
• Pull-out shelves and lazy susan turntables can be very helpful for heavy or hard to reach items. Remember that lifting heavy objects far from the body causes a lot of strain on the back muscles. Pull-out shelves enable you to bring the heavy object closer to your body before lifting it.
• To assist in reaching and grabbing things, consider a set of grabber tongs.
• If you have problems bending over to put on your shoes, perhaps a foot stool may help. You might consider keeping a pair of shoes on a small stool rather than on the floor. That stool can also come in handy for resting your feet while fastening and/or tying laces.

These are just a few ideas for creating a more comfortable home environment. I am sure there are many other things that could also make a difference. If you or someone you know is having discomfort managing in their home, consider trying some of these ideas. You may find pain relief in ways you may have never considered before!

Related Topics: Modifying Your Home When You Have MS, Home Modification and Repair

Technorati Tags: chronic pain, home improvement, accessibility

Using Imagery For Comfort and Rest

The other night I developed a back spasm. I think it was because I had been sitting for long periods of time at a conference earlier that day. So I got out my trusty heating pad and planned on settling in early for the night.

I figured I would try some imagery and heat to see if I could calm things down. I knew I could always take a muscle relaxer if I needed to but wanted to see first if I could shake it this way. So I laid down on the pad in my bed and snuggled under my comforter and closed my eyes. With the warmth of the heating pad against the tense muscles, I began to imagine my self walking along a warm tropical shore. I had a favorite place in my mind that I liked to go for pain relief and relaxation so I developed that image.

I have found the more detailed you are in your imagery, the better the outcomes you can achieve. So I began to really imagine myself in this warm sunny place. I defined the beach image using all of the senses. I would listen intently to the tide as the water came crashing in, swirling on the sand before pulling itself back out to sea. I would also hear the sounds of wet sand when the water bubbles up in little places and causes little popping and swirling sounds. I would breath in the smell of the salty sea air and I would listen to the screeching gulls flying over head. There might be laughter in the distance as a few people play near the water or run along the shore. There are never a lot of people around in my image as this is a time for focusing on me.

By now the heating pad has warmed up nicely and I picture myself laying on nice soft white sand. I picture the sun shining down on me warming me and a gentle breeze keeping me comfortable and not overly heated. The nice thing about creating images is that you can control them. In my image I can look up at the sunny sky and see the clouds floating by and the sun doesn't even make me squint! Or I can lay back and rest knowing I won't need to worry about a thing. It is perfectly safe in my image.

Well the next thing I knew, it was morning and the heating pad had long turned itself off. My back seemed fine as I got myself up and out of bed to start my day. I was thankful the imagery and the heat had once again helped me achieve comfort.

If you have never tried using imagery before, consider trying it. It is one of those neat skills that can be used for a variety of things. Once you learn it you can use it over and over again. And another neat thing is it doesn't cost anything to practice and use it! How cool is that?!! I would strongly encourage folks to try imagery at least once.

Notice I used heat with my imagery. Sometimes if something doesn't work the first time, try being creative and combining simple things. Heat, soft music, change in lighting, maybe some aroma therapy... You may find there is a better outcome and more relief by doing so. And don't be afraid to change your images or think up several different types of images or progressions. This beach image is one image I use but there are a few others I might share as another post. Each one is different and used for different purposes.

If you have a special image you use for achieving rest and comfort, how about sharing it with us on either my Pain Management or Migraine boards here at WebMD! I look forward to hearing from you!!

Indie

Related Topics: Relaxation Techniques, Stress-Free Stress Management

Technorati Tags: guided imagery, relaxation, pain management

Worrying...?? Why?

Worry can be exhausting. Energy spent worrying about things can rob us of energy that could be better spent being creative or coping with chronic pain and disease. And if we have been worrying for long periods of time, it can lead to other problems.

I seem to be a chronic worrier. I know it is not a good thing but that seems to be my nature. In order to try and decrease this negative activity in my life, I have begun to think about some of the things I worry about, think about the reasons I am worrying about them, think about what I expect to gain by worrying about them, and think about ways I might replace the worry with something else that would be more constructive and useful and less detrimental to my physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing.

By taking this little self inventory, I found many of my worries were about things I couldn't control. I found it disconcerting when I asked myself questions about why I was worrying about such things in the first place. The answers made me realize some things about myself I never really explored before. For worries like these, I had to ask myself what did I expect to gain by worrying? And when I realized the things I worried about were uncontrollable, then I also began to realize I would really gain very little by worrying about them. So my next step then became considering a replacement for my worrying. And that took some thought. I did come up with some ideas though that might help me when I begin to worry about something.

• Give my worry a name that describes the issue.
• Determine who actually owns the problem or issue and if it isn't you. STOP
• Determine what it is about the issue that is most bothersome.
• Ask myself what I expect to achieve by my worry
• Make a conscious decision to take action on those things I can control or change or determine the issue really isn't worth further attention in your present manner and let someone else deal with the issues or resolve their own problem

I think one thing I can do when I tend to start worrying is to start praying. Prayer can be very effective in helping us decrease stress and worry. In fact, the Bible mentions that worrying is fruitless and may even be a sign of weak faith. This is something I need to really think about.

• If you tend to worry about issues related to financial difficulties, you might consider replacing your worry with some strategies for changing your situation.
• If you tend to worry about your health conditions or have concerns about pending tests or test results, you might focus on gaining education and understanding about these things. There are some great resources on the WebMD site that can help you with questions about diseases and conditions, procedures and medications.
• You might seek out others who may have an understanding of what you are going through and talk with them. Support groups can be very helpful.
• If you have disturbing symptoms then see a doctor rather than try to self-diagnose. Testing may be necessary to gain a definitive diagnosis. It is often better to check things out rather than wait and develop something more complex or serious. And if for no other than peace of mind, seeing your doctor and gaining answers is much better than sitting, worrying and imagining the worst, which is often what happens.

Well I am starting on my new journey and taking an active stand to decrease worry in my life. Perhaps you might benefit from doing so as well. I believe by doing so I will find more energy for other things. I may begin to feel better physically and be able to improve my eating habits and diet. I might even find by worrying less, I may find a new desire to explore new things and travel new places...Who knows!! I guess I won't worry about that!!!

Related Topics: Facing Fear and Anxiety, 10 Life-Changing Steps to Turn Attitude Into Action

Technorati Tags: worry, stress, anxiety, stress management, generalized anxiety disorder, GAD

Music and Pain Management

Music is an important part of my life. When I am down, it is comforting. When I am feeling nostalgic, I can usually put a memory of some sort with about any song I hear. Lyrics of songs are important to me so if I can't hear them clearly, I won't listen to it.

In church, I used to get the most out of the music part of the service. The words of hymns and special music often shared lessons to be learned and I often understood them better than hearing a sermon.

I am a vocalist and musician. I play music by ear. Keyboards and autoharps are my favorite instruments. It has been a long time but I feel I need to make some time to play my instruments again. I think it will help me feel better. I used to sit down at the keyboard with my head set on and just play—play anything that came to mind. I would go from one song to another, and play something I had never heard before. It didn't matter. I was just letting my fingers do whatever they wanted to do on the keyboard. It can be very relaxing and cathartic to do that.

One of the skills/tools in my pain management arsenal is concentration as a means of distraction. I learned how to focus my thoughts and I use music as my medium. I have learned to focus my attention on a particular instrument and follow it through a song. It takes practice to be able to be selective and remain focused but it is a wonderful skill to practice. When I am in severe pain, I will turn on some music and listen intently to it. Soon I find I calm down and begin to feel better. I would encourage anyone to consider this as another option for pain management. A floating flute solo, stringed instruments, maybe an oboe or a French horn - any of these can be great. The key is to find one that is not the main instrument carrying the melody. Listen for an instrument of harmony, or perhaps a bass guitar - something that will require you to focus your attention. You see, you can't focus intently on two things at one time. If you are focusing on the music, you can't focus on the pain. Consider giving it a try!!

Related Topics: More Hospitals Healing With The Help of Music Therapy, The Sound of Healing

Technorati Tags: music, pain, music therapy

2006 Resolutions - There's still time

It's mid-January -- is it time to reconsider your decision not to make resolutions this year? Why not do it now?

First of all, take a look at the things you feel you didn't accomplish. Look at them and see if you can figure out why you failed to do so. Perhaps they were unrealistic. How about breaking big projects down a bit to making them a little easier to accomplish? How about looking at time management issues and try a new approach to planning your days, weeks, and months...You might be able to get more out of your day and have more time for yourself.

Explore different approaches to achieving a particular goal. Like they say...”There's usually more than one way to skin a cat.” Maybe you still have the chance to realize your goals!

How many goals do you have listed? Are there too many? Are you trying to spread yourself too thin? Maybe if you cut back on the number of goals, you will see more success. And once you achieve goals you can take them off your list and make room for others!

Did you have pain or limitations that kept you from doing things or going places? Did you find you were unable to manage routine tasks and maintain a home? Maybe you need to consider delegating or asking for help. If you can't pay, maybe you can find someone who needs something you have or something you can do and work out a trade off. One hand helps the other.

I encourage you to seek out positive people to spend time with. Try not to get into a rut of negative thinking. Don't assume you can't do something without exploring it completely. Don't develop or support a defeatist attitude. Be realistic about your abilities and limitations.

So think about the endless possibilities for 2006 and begin to shape your future!

Related Topics: Making a Life List, Getting Motivated to Get Fit

Technorati Tags: 2006Resolutions, timemanagement, goalsetting

Car accidents, trauma and stress

Several weeks ago, I was involved in a multi-car accident. One Friday morning I left early while it was still dark and started my slippery snowy drive to work some 30 miles away. After several miles, it became more freezing rain than snow and I could see the glistening pavement ahead of me reflected by my headlights...I knew the dangers of black ice and I drove slow and avoided changing lanes or traveling close to other vehicles, etc. just in case...

I approached the overpass ramp I drove over every day, and prepared to exit. I was shocked when I rounded the bend and saw a stopped tractor trailer in front of me with several other vehicles scattered on each side. In that split second I caught a glimpse of an overturned vehicle in front of the rig. All I could think of was "Oh my God-Where do I go!" At that same moment, I realized I was on black ice. I yelled out to God as thoughts rushed through my head:

"Turning wheels steer vehicles"

"Drive the furthest to slow down the most"

"Shut off the engine as soon as you stop moving."

My car began to slide. I was headed right for the tractor trailer. I noticed there was a very narrow space between it and the guard rail to the right so I steered toward it while quickly tapping my brakes. God was with me as I managed to squeeze my SUV between the tractor trailer and the guardrail-just missing them. With my vehicle now along side the rig, I braced myself, screamed "God save me" and I applied my brakes. I came to an abrupt stop with the sound of crunching metal and plastic and for a second I sat in shivering shock quickly looking about me and out at the other vehicles involved in the accident. I immediately shut off the engine. And I cried and thanked my Lord for his divine protection...

A couple people were out in the rain running from vehicle to vehicle. I realized the big truck that was following me earlier had hit the back end of the tractor trailer. I had slid passed that very spot he now sat. I got out of my truck and with the others we went to his truck and I could see he was badly injured. I immediately started to speak calmly to him and tell him I could hear sirens in the distance. Help was on its way. I then began to pray out loud for God to be with him and everyone involved in the accident. I then went back to my truck to grab my cell phone.

Suddenly the others ran stumbling toward my truck shouting "Look out--here comes another one." Immediately, I heard scraping sounds and a loud crunch. And moments later another and yet another as vehicles piled up on the other side of the tractor trailer...Each time the tractor trailer seemed to rock a little and inch toward the side of my truck. In fact the entire road seemed to shake under me... I got away from my truck and away from the other vehicles as fast as I could.

Assistance arrived and suddenly there were people all around. I stood for a moment in the pouring rain dumbfounded. Everything seemed so surreal all around me. And suddenly I felt very cold, wet and shaky...A lady in one of the vehicles nearby asked to use my cell and I leaned over to hand it into her...She was pinned in her vehicle and required assistance to get out...After her call, I went to stand up and the next thing I realized was a sharp pain in my low back and a slight burning sensation moving into my buttocks. It seemed to intensify as I walked and I realized I needed to get some help.

I have an old back injury and physical limitations in my legs and when my back hurts, my legs often weaken significantly. I rationalized my pain to be spasms from bracing myself during the accident and then twisting to get out of my vehicle. As a pain specialist and RN, I understood the need to break the spasms as soon as possible in order to avoid muscle damage and further complications. I was taken to the hospital and treated. They confirmed my condition and medicated me. I was released home with meds prescribed to further help relieve the pain and spasms. Ice was ordered for the first 24 hours to reduce inflammation that might have occurred.

For the rest of that day and into the next morning, I stayed on the heavy meds and laid in bed giving the back a chance to relax. The next day I used the heating pad as well and by Sunday, I was improving and although not 100% recovered, I was able to get out and go to church. And I made myself go to work on that following Monday.

For someone who lived for years in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains and drove during some of the most intense winters, I have never had a major fear of driving in bad weather...until now. It has been a month since the accident...The pain, burning and tightness in my back and legs has improved. I feel this is because I obtained treatment promptly and aggressively.

The thing that distresses me most is my intense fear about driving. I also find myself now worrying about family, friends, and coworkers who I know have to drive in the bad weather. I worry something will happen to them. Although I am seeing some improvements, I still have distressing symptoms as I anticipate driving to work in the morning. I am not sleeping well. Memories of the accident still seem to replay in my mind at various times during the day and night. My chest pounds and I get anxious as I approach the site of the accident-especially when the weather is rainy and wet. I find I startle often and I cry easily.

I have shared this with others and they say it is a natural reaction to a traumatic experience. And they say it will resolve over time. I tell myself it is not good to keep thinking about the accident and I deliberately try to shift my thoughts. But I know I am not telling my heart to pound or my stomach to knot up and feel nauseated as I drive and I can't seem to stop it from happening. If it doesn't ease up, I may need to see someone. And if these symptoms continue to be significant or the symptoms increase, I may need to take some meds for a short while as I work through this. If I have to-so be it...I know I have to drive. There is no getting around it. Lord willing, I will one day be able to once again drive as needed in winter weather without the fear and dread I feel now.

Related Topics: Freeway Fright: Facing Fears Head-On, 'Healthy People' Get PTSD, Too

Technorati Tags: stress,trauma,PTSD,webmd

Catching Up With Old Friends

Hello!
The weather here in NJ has been incredible for this time of year! Driving home from work it was 57 degrees and sunny! It does a lot to lift the spirits and make a person feel good. I am sitting on my proverbial WebMD porch! I am hoping to see a few of my friends from the Migraine and Pain Management boards! Ya know, life has been so busy I have lost touch with the Bungie Belles...I am wondering how they are doing these days!

For those of you who have yet to meet them, the Bungie Belles are a group of ladies who share a common experience--headaches. Although they all suffer incredible pain at times, they choose to keep a sense of humor about it. Over the past year, they have supported each other through some painful trials by creating humorous distractions...They are notorious for taking their pain and attacking it head on by creating all types of funny and incredible scenarios designed to reduce their pain to manageable levels. Their adventures have included bungie jumping, humorous decapitations, and costume parties that they create with incredible detail to name a few. Although some folks may think their antics are silly, they have also proven to be effective in distracting people in pain.

Over this past year, some wonderful friendships and support networks have developed on my Pain Management and Migraine boards and I hope folks won't get so busy with life they forget to stop by from time to time!

--Indie

Related Topics: Mind-Body-Pain Connection, The Laughing Cure

Technorati Tags: pain,humor,healing,webmd

Back Pain Sufferers and Knee Pain

Did you know that many folks who suffer back pain also suffer knee pain? When a body part has been injured or hurts, it is normal for the body to try and protect it. This is called guarding.

When a body part is compromised, the next weight-bearing joint takes on an added responsibility of support. When the body part is the back or the hips for instance, the knees become the next weight-bearing joint. In prolonged cases, the knees can become vulnerable to injury and develop their own set of problems.

It is important therefore for anyone with a back problem to try and avoid knee problems. Here is a webpage that contains some good information about knees and how to protect this vulnerable weight bearing joint. I hope you find it helpful!

Indie

Related Topics: Knee Pain Quiz, Back Pain Shouldn't Sideline You

Technorati Tags: backpain, backproblems, kneepain

Mandatory Pain Management Education

Has its time come?

Pain and its management is a significant problem in our country. This is no secret that abuse of the system and needless suffering occurs every day. There are several barriers that stand in the way of resolving these problems. Here are just a few:

• Lack of formal education for health care providers on the topics and issues related to pain and its management
• Lack of formal education for people involved in the appropriation of funding for healthcare.
• Lack of standardization for diagnosing and treating pain syndromes
• Lack of commitment by the health care professions to devote time to the proper education and training necessary to be competent and effective in their roles in this area of practice.

When looking at these barriers, there is a common thread - Lack of Education. First and foremost, in order to improve the care of patients with pain, formal education is a necessity. When I say formal education, I mean a standardized and robust curriculum that addresses both the basic and the controversial aspects of pain and its management. And although there are some wonderful programs and courses out there, I don't mean a requirement for a few CEUs here and there that people can breeze through for the sake of saying they did it. People need to really learn and better understand the complexities of these problems and understand how to properly treat them. If they had a sound understanding, then they should have no problems or fear of legal and regulatory agencies questioning their practice. I feel a lot of their concern and fear relates to their lack of knowledge and understanding of the issues involved with pain and its management.

Pain and pain syndromes are not going to go away. Mandatory education for all health care professionals, political and health care business/insurance workers, and anyone else who is involved with health care should be considered. It is necessary. Although we all have busy lives, it is time to demand some accountability for the standards of practice in pain management.

It is time for formalized education and training to be made available. It can take a variety of approaches and a blended approach would be best. Online courses, traditional class courses, teleconferences, mini lectures, should all be considered as ways to provide a standardized curriculum. The material can be tailored to different audiences so everyone gets what they need.

There is a tremendous need for professionals to join in the tasks of educating our peers and colleagues. There is one organization that has developed within the past few years to assist in this incredible undertaking. The American Society of Pain Educators under the executive direction and leadership of Barry Eliott Cole, MD, MPA was created for the task of developing qualified and credentialed pain educators. These people go out and teach others about the diagnosis and treatment of pain syndromes.

In its 2-year existence, the ASPE has wasted no time in developing learning opportunities. During October 2004, the ASPE designed and launched a curriculum for pharmaceutical reps-educating them on the proper use of medications for pain and its management.

I also encourage more colleges and universities to offer significant programs and online courses to assist in the education process. Here is a list of organizations that offer pain management education. I encourage people to take this list and make it available to all health care practitioners and people involved in the many facets of the health care system.


Related Topics: Pain Awareness and Management, The Cost of Pain

Tags: healthcare, painmanagement, paineducation, ASPE, webmd

Grieving the Loss of a "Normal" Life

Growing up a tomboy, living in the Adirondacks of upstate NY, I was very active with outdoor activities...Camping, ice fishing, and skating topped my list of favorite things. I also enjoyed snowmobiles and hiking and riding my all-terrain 10-speed. Archery was a family sport for me and we shot and competed regularly. I became a nurse and dedicated much of my career to caring for the elderly. I found it very rewarding.

Several years ago while working in long term care, I suffered a lifting accident that changed my life forever. During a complicated surgery, I hemorrhaged - losing over 4000cc of blood my chart said. For a short while, I had no blood pressure and I required resuscitation. The doctors were wonderful though and knew what they had to do and they did it and I am here today.

For months following the surgery, I worked with therapists to regain the strength in my legs-- which loss much of their feeling as well as function. My initial endurance was 5-10 minutes before they would buckle. I suffered severe back spasms and my husband helped me overcome them by actually performing stretch exercises with my legs using his own weight to counteract my body's strength. After close to a year of extensive therapy, I progressed from a walker to a cane and thankfully today I am close to cane-free. When my back acts up, the legs still weaken so I still need and use it from time to time.

I remember what it was like when I realized my life would never be "normal" again. I would never do bedside nursing again. The doctor told me it would be too much of a risk to do any lifting, pushing or pulling over 10 lbs or remain on my legs for extensive periods of time. I was devistated. I had spent so much time and commitment learning and becoming a good nurse and now it was all over. My career as I saw it ended way too soon. Taking part in any activities that have risks of falls was now out. That took out skating and ice fishing for sure. I just sat there and thought about my life and realized that everything I enjoyed most was now off limits to me if I was going to protect my ability to walk. I felt I had been robbed and cheated out of what I enjoyed most and had worked so hard to achieve.

I also found the experiences of walking with assistive devices to be a humbling experience. I remember the challenges of going to a fast food restaurant and trying to balance a tray while walking with a walker or a cane. It was incredibly difficult and I gained a new appreciation for others in similar situations. I also struggled with my pride. In my eyes, good nurses were not supposed to get sick, hurt or require help. We are not supposed to walk with walkers or canes. We are the ones who are to help others. I know this is not an accurate portrayal of a nurse because nurses are people and people can and do get hurt, develop disease, and experience significant pain. But it was the image I had developed in my own mind and I had to accept the fact I was wrong.

I went through a period where I didn't want people I knew to see me like I was. I worked extremely hard to perfect my new walk and conceal the slight limp and the fact I would sometimes have to walk by swinging my leg from the hip when it failed to respond like it should. It is something I know I will have to deal with for the rest of my life but I am ok with it now.

Being an independent female much of my life, I think the hardest thing I had to accept was the fact I would need to rely on others to help with certain things I had ordinarily done by and for myself. I still struggle with that one and probably always will.

During these past few years, I have grown a lot from the experiences I have endured. I learned all too well what chronic pain is and how it can rob a person of their life if not treated and accepted. I can now look at the experiences and see a silver lining rather than a hole. I have permanent damage and deal with the complications that remain but I am very thankful for what I have and what I can continue to do.

I remember when the doctors said I would never be able to work full time again and I set out to prove them wrong. I started exploring my options based on my knowledge, experiences, interests, and talents. Soon I landed a job I could perform and enjoy. In fact, for the past several years, I have worked two jobs and managed to go to school as well. And I continue to enjoy what I am doing. I am no longer at the bedside but I feel what I do is meaningful.

I have learned a few things along my own life journey that I would like to share.

• It is important for folks who suffer debilitating pain, disease or dysfunction to realize it is normal to grieve the loss of your former self. The lifestyle you knew may need to be changed in order to accommodate your limitations. Allow yourself to go through the grieving process.
• It might be helpful to seek out a grief counselor if necessary and consider a pain management program that will not only teach you how to cope with chronic pain, but one that will also help you develop new goals and a new direction for your life.
• Sometimes life is not fair but we have to live it. It is ok to seek out the help of others when learning to cope with loss and change.
• It helps to try searching for the positives and not dwelling on the negatives.
• It is important to be thankful for what you have and can do rather than what you have lost.
• I have found learning to be creative and finding alternative approaches to some activities can be very helpful. Doing so may enable you to remain involved in favorite things even if it is in a limited or different capacity.
• Avoid saying "I can't do it." or "It won't work." Unless you have tried it, you have no right to say that!
• Surround yourself with positive people who can help you during the down times. There are bound to be times when you will feel down and discouraged. It is important to have a plan on how to handle these times before you actually find yourself in the midst of them. Make a little list of folks you can call on during these times.
• It is ok to feel sorry for yourself a little once in a while. It is important however, to avoid doing so too long or too often. There is a strong connection between the mind and the body. Keeping your mind full of positive thoughts and emotions will help you feel better and cope more effectively with the challenges you face.

Everyone has their own life journey to walk. There is no perfectly right or wrong way to walk it. I feel it is best to seek and learn from others as well as ourself. Try to do the best we can--one day at a time.

Related Topics: Chronic Pain More Devastating to Young, Chronic Pain and Depression

Technorati Tags: pain,injury,loss,change,webmd

A Birthday to remember

Yesterday was my 48th birthday! It was a great day for me! It started out with a phone call from someone very dear to me who I hadn't heard from for quite some time. It meant a lot to know I was remembered on my special day. Shortly thereafter, my daughter called me and sang Happy Birthday over the phone in her playful way and it brought joy to my heart. Throughout the day and evening I received calls and text messages and emails from family, friends and co-workers who took time to share my day. Everyone of them brought smiles to my face and joy to my heart.

When I got home, I had birthday cards from my church family waiting for me! In fact, there was one special card there that had a special treat inside! Every year I have been a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, I have received a special birthday card with a stick of Juicy Fruit gum in it! Our Pastor loves gum and I believe this particular flavor is one of his favorites because every year, he shares a piece of gum with members of our church family! And I always watch for that card—not for the gum, but for the smile it puts on my face!! I am reminded that I have a Pastor who loves the Lord and Loves his church family.

Next, my daughter and her husband and a friend of hers (who is like another daughter to me), surprised me by coming over with flowers, dinner and an ice cream cake! Now I am one of those people who often guesses a surprise before it happens but this time they got me good!! I had no idea they were coming over because we had planned to meet tonight instead"I later learned that was their plan to get me off guard so they could surprise me and it worked!! They orchestrated the evening to include the Chinese food delivery outside my house and their arrival—all without me noticing they were parked outside my house waiting to intercept the delivery!!

We had a wonderful time together and it meant so much. My daughter and her husband are so thoughtful. They wanted to be sure I wasn't alone on my special day!! And my son-in-law had to work all night but rather than sleep, he came over to share in the surprise!! What a kind and loving thing to do for me.

I have always believed that little things mean a lot. But there was nothing little about the thoughtfulness that went into the plans for the evening surprise. It was a beautiful gift in itself. The time they spent with me was precious and I will always remember it with thanksgiving.

Shortly after the kids left, I settled in for the evening. While I nestled under my covers, I thought about the day and all of the events and I thanked my Lord for His many blessings. It was a beautiful birthday

Tags: birthday,gifts,family,webmd

Surviving Another Holiday

Wow the last few weeks went by in a blur. I think back over all of the preparations, the planning and last minute scurrying around that took place. Running here and there with lists and ideas...rushing to find that perfect gift, cook that perfect meal, see the folks and friends...So much...so much...Was I going to survive another holiday?

Then Christmas eve came and Christmas day followed...then New Years' Eve and New Years' Day...All of the plans were carried out as orchestrated on my pad of paper. The church service was special and the gatherings fun. Gifts were exchanged and meals were shared. It was nice to share the time with family and friends.

After cooking and serving our holiday meal, I sat down and took a breath. I suddenly felt tired and sleepy and thought I was going to fall asleep right then and there. And the next thing I knew, I had done just that!! Wow!! My adrenalin level just came crashing down and I was out like a light! Wish I could fall asleep like that every night!!

Later that day, after all of the festivities were over and family had gone, the house seemed so quiet -- a stark contrast from just hours before when the house was full of life. And I just sat there thinking about everything that had occurred during the past few weeks.

While sitting and thinking, I began to remember holidays in my past - both happy and sad--and I remembered and missed loved ones and friends who had brought such joy into my life over the years. I was both sad and thankful at the same time. That evening, I went to bed early and slept well. As I began to drift off to sleep, I smiled...I had indeed survived another holiday.

Tags: holiday,survival,,webmd