Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sioux Indian Prayer

A little background:  This prayer was chosen by Indians from 16 tribes meeting in Arizona.  Original copy came from Cabot’s Old Indian Museum in Desert Hot Springs, California. It was printed in Los Angeles newspapers to observe “World Day of Prayer” in 1958.


Iron Shell, Lakota, Sioux tribe



Sioux Indian Prayer

O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I come before you, one of your many children.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.


Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
Ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made,
My ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may know the things you
have taught my people, the lesson you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.


I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy—myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands
and straight eyes, so when life fades as a fading sunset,
my spirit will come to you without shame.

--Author Unknown--

******************
Remember: Pain Sufferers Speak's "4 Elements" Global Community respects all religions, all faiths, and all beliefs. Sending Love, Hugs & Blessings to Everyone! Liz : )

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Resource Links For All Types of Pain



Resource Links For People in Pain
http://www.ampainsoc.org/people/

Thank you for visiting the American Pain Society web site. APS is a multidisciplinary scientific and professional society. Because of legal restrictions and financial liabilities, APS is not able to offer individual consultations or medical advice. However, you may be interested in reading the position statements found in our Advocacy and Policy Section. You may also look for APS web site content information of interest to you by using our web site search feature.

To meet the information needs of the general public and especially for people in pain, APS has assisted in the launching and development of the American Pain Foundation, a nonprofit information resource and patient advocacy organization serving people with pain. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by providing practical information for patients, raising public awareness and understanding of pain, and advocating against barriers to effective treatment.

Most painful conditions can be treated and we hope you will find successful treatment options and compassionate care for your own situation.

Organizations That Can Help

American Pain Foundation

http://www.painfoundation.org/
The American Pain Foundation web site is an online resource for people with pain, their families, friends, caregivers and the general public. This site is devoted to patient information and advocacy, and provides many links to additional resources.

National Pain Foundation

http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/
Treatment Options, Personal Pain Inventory, Personal Pain Journal, Links, Education, Support, etc.

Arthritis Foundation

http://www.arthritis.org/

Pain Center
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/pain_center/default.asp

51 Ways to be Good to your joints: Relieve Stress and Pain
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/51_ways/relieve_stress.asp
Back Pain
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/bank_pain.asp
American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/

Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families
 http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/ content/MIT_7_2x_Pain_Control_
A_Guide_for_People_with_Cancer_and_Their_Families.asp


Myths and Misconceptions About Pain Control
 http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/
NWS_2_1x_Myths_and_Misconceptions_About_Pain_Control.asp


American Chronic Pain Association

http://www.theacpa.org/

American Council for Headache Education

http://www.achenet.org/

Cancer Care

http://cancercare.org/

Chronic Pain Outreach Center, Inc

www.painconnection.org
A resource for people with chronic pain, their families and health care providers

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm

The Mayday Pain Project

http://www.painandhealth.org/

The Vulvar Pain Foundation

http://www.vulvarpainfoundation.org/

National Fibromyalgia Association

http://fmaware.org/

National Headache Foundation

http://www.headaches.org/

The TMJ Association

http://www.tmj.org/


Information from the National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

NINDS Chronic Pain Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/chronic_pain.htm

Amid Ongoing Controversy, Researchers Find Opiates Relieve Chronic Pain From Nervous System Damage
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_article_chronic_pain_opioids.htm

NINDS Peripheral Neuropathy Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/peripheralneuropathy_doc.htm

NINDS Trigeminal Neuralgia Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/trigemin_doc.htm

NINDS Central Pain Syndrome Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/centpain_doc.htm
NINDS Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy.htm

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Fact Sheet
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/rsds_fact_sheet.htm

NINDS Shingles Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/shingles_doc.htm

Shingles: Hope Through Research
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/shingles.htm

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/TMDTMJ/default.htm

Pain (oral, facial)
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/PainOralFacial.htm

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

http://www.niams.nih.gov/index.htm

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

http://www.nci.nih.gov/

Panel Calls for Greater Attention to Cancer Patients' Pain, Depression, and Fatigue
http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/symptommgmt

Understanding Cancer Pain
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/understanding-cancer-pain

Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/paincontrol

Substance Abuse Issues In Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/supportivecare/substanceabuse/Patient

Pain (PDQ®)
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/supportivecare/pain

What You Need To Know About™ Cancer - An Overview
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/overview

Cancer Facts - Cancer: Questions and Answers
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/pdfdraft/6_sites/fs6_7.pdf

National Institutes Of Health State-Of-The-Science Statement - Symptom Management in Cancer: Pain, Depression and Fatigue (FINAL STATEMENT October 26, 2002)
http://consensus.nih.gov/2002/2002CancerPainDepressionFatiguesos022html.htm

Know Your Options: Understanding Treatment Choices for Prostate Cancer - Pain Management
http://www.cancer.gov/CancerInformation/understanding-prostate-cancer-treatment/page8

Found this List of Links and Many More Resources at the American Pain Society and here is their website:
http://www.ampainsoc.org/people/


Hope this provides everyone with many options for help, information, and support as you journey through life with pain and illness. Sending love, gentle hugs, and many blessings to all my Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters all over the world!!

Liz : )

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Traditional Buddhist Prayer for Blessing and Healing

This beautiful traditional Buddhist prayer reminds us of the power of every moment to bring us ease and inner peace. May it bring you healing.


Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings–
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may your heart’s wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way,
may your life prosper in the four blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.
******************
This beautiful prayer was shared on Pain Sufferers Speak's Support Family Facebook Group by Sharon Johnson. 
Remember: Pain Suffferers Speak's Global Pain Community respects all religions and beliefs.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/buddhist-healing-prayer.html#ixzz1WMNe1I33

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Recommended Reading For People With Pain and Illness


One of Pain Sufferers Speak's Support Family members asked me to recommend some non-fiction books for her.  I have tried to find ONLY a few books I love!! Since I am always reading at least two books at a time, this could be a neverending list.  These are definitely some MUST READS for all of us with pain and illness:

1) The Power of Positive Thinking
By: Norman Vincent Peale (For Everyone)

2) Day By Day
By: Billy Graham (For Everyone)

3) Outliers
By: Malcolm Gladwell (This book was instrumental in my forming Pain Sufferers Speak)

4) Blink
By: Malcolm Gladwell (Will help you make decisions in a new way)

5) A Fresh Start--How to let go of emotional baggage and enjoy your life again
By: Leonard Felder, PHD

6) How to Survive the Loss of A Love
By: Melba Colgrove, PHD Harold H Bloomfield, MD and Peter McWilliams (This book literally fell off a shelf and hit me in the head while I was going thru my divorce at age 18)

7) Don't Bet Against Me--Beating the odds against Breast Cancer and in life.
By: Deanna Favre (anyone with any kind of chronic illness MUST READ)

8) Parenting Isn't For Cowards--The "You Can Do It" Guide for Hassled Parents
By: Dr. James C Dobson (MUST READ FOR ALL PARENTS)

9) When God Whispers Your Name
By: Max Lucado (For Everyone)

10) Freeing Your Mind From Memories That Bind--How To Heal the hurts of the past
By: Fred & Florence Littauer

11) Careers For Women Without College Degrees
By: Beatryce Nivens (Great for needing to switch careers due to illness or pain)

12) How To Be Organized In Spite Of Yourself
By: Sunny Schlenger and Roberta Roesch

13) Personal Finance for Dummies
By: Eric Tyson (All of us have to live on tighter budgets once pain or illness causes loss of income)

14) Debt-Free Living
By: Larry Burkett

15) Make The Connection--Ten steps to a better body and a better life
By Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey

16) Love Hunger--Recovery from food addiction--10 stage life plan for your body, mind and soul
By: Dr Frank Minirith, Dr Paul Meier, Dr Robert Hemfelt & Dr. Sharon Sneed

17) Faith & Doubt
By: John Ortberg (Helped me sort out my faith and anger at God over losing 2 careers.)

18) Love is a Choice--Recovery for codependent relationships
By: Dr Robert Hemfelt, Dr Frank Minirith, and Dr Paul Meier

19) When God Doesn't Make Sense
By: Dr James Dobson (Again so many questions about my faith due to disability at a young age.)

Its not a short list, but I hope these books bring hope and inspiration to all of you!! Enjoy!!

Love, Liz

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Thank you and Welcome!

We have become such a beautifully diverse global community!! I LOVE this family we have created!!


 These are the official facebook community page countries with stats:

686 Indonesia
429 Egypt
330 United States
225 India
37 United Kingdom
33 Canada
12 Australia
9 Saudi Arabia
4 Philippines
4 South Africa
3 United Arab Emirates
3 Malaysia
3 Netherlands
2 Denmark
2 Germany
2 Pakistan
2 Hong Kong
1 Austria
1 Cyprus

These are the official country stats from ClustrMaps.com on our BLOG:
Click on the map at the top of our blog to look at the global map!
http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

United States (US)345
Washington (WA)53
California (CA)37
Texas (TX)36
Florida (FL)19
Illinois (IL)13
Colorado (CO)13
New Jersey (NJ)12
New York (NY)11
Pennsylvania (PA)11
Georgia (GA)10
Tennessee (TN)9
Virginia (VA)8
Maryland (MD)8
Michigan (MI)6
Massachusetts (MA)6
Oklahoma (OK)6
Iowa (IA)5
North Carolina (NC)4
Ohio (OH)4
Missouri (MO)4
Arizona (AZ)4
Oregon (OR)4
Arkansas (AR)4
Indiana (IN)3
Wisconsin (WI)3
Kentucky (KY)3
Minnesota (MN)3
Utah (UT)3
New Hampshire (NH)2
South Carolina (SC)2
Alabama (AL)2
District of Columbia (DC)2
Vermont (VT)1
Louisiana (LA)1
Hawaii (HI)1
Wyoming (WY)1
N/A31
Canada (CA)37
United Kingdom (GB)37
Australia (AU)17
Malaysia (MY)10
Netherlands (NL)8
France (FR)7
Italy (IT)6
India (IN)5
Brazil (BR)4
Philippines (PH)3
Japan (JP)3
Singapore (SG)3
Ireland (IE)2
South Africa (ZA)2
Poland (PL)2
United Arab Emirates (AE)2
Russian Federation (RU)1
Romania (RO)1
Germany (DE)1
Serbia (RS)1
Denmark (DK)1
Belgium (BE)1
Austria (AT)1
Croatia (HR)1
Malta (MT)1
Mexico (MX)1
Saudi Arabia (SA)1
Aruba (AW)1
Grenada (GD)1
Chile (CL)1
Bangladesh (BD)1
Taiwan (TW)1
Spain (ES)1
Greece (GR)1
Korea, Republic of (KR)1
Cyprus (CY)1
Israel (IL)1
Tajikistan (TJ)1

And these ClustrMap Blog stats are only from July 1, 2011.  There have been 4,719 blog visitors since we started blogging on April 17, 2011.

Each of these numbers represents one of you. Each of you is a valued asset to our community, because you each bring your unique skill sets, knowledge, and wisdom to our collective knowledge. I feel knowledge is power and more powerful IF you share it with others. What you choose to share about yourself, your illness, your family, your pain will most likely ring true for at least one other person. You might bring hope and inspiration to someone who really needs it. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone in your pain is enough to get through a really hard day--I know I have lived with chronic pain and illness for 15 years. I encourage each of you to POST POST POST on the wall here on our facebook community page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pain-Sufferers-Speak/112276272164064

Contact me on Twitter with a Tweet or DM to @painspeaks
http://twitter.com/#!/painspeaks
Join me for LIVE Twitter chats at 10pm CST (Central Standard Time-USA) each night my pain allows.

Feel free to add me as a friend on facebook. My profile is under Liz Hall and the email is:
http://www.facebook.com/painsufferersspeak

Join our community hub and BLOG for daily advocacy and FREE resources for everyone of all ages! We have been recognized and listed in the EduBlogs Directory of Educational websites.
http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in joining our "Members Only" Pain Family Support Group on facebook, request to join by responding to one of the posts on Twitter or one of the posts on the facebook community page or send me an email anytime--I usually add you personally within hours of your request.

Thank you so much for your loyal support of our community and our efforts here at Pain Sufferers Speak. Sending Love and Many Blessings to each of my Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters all over the world!! Wishing you all happiness and lots of pain free and symptom free days!!!

Be sure to let me know if you have a blog, website, or business that our community NEEDS to know about!! Happy to list you on our blog's "Helpful Links" and add your logo or button with a link to your site!

Liz : )
Creator and Administrator of Pain Sufferers Speak