Introducing (and finally going public) Pain Sufferers Speak RAW

Right now you are reading this post on Pain Sufferers Speak's Main Blog For Everyone.

***Now I want to introduce our global community's 2nd Blog for ADULTS ONLY called Pain Sufferers Speak RAW!***

Warning: Some Profanity and Adult Content and Gritty Daily Reality Guaranteed!!

Here is the description for the Blog:
"Unplugged and unsensored. I am gonna cuss, rant, discuss my views on controversial topics, shower chair antics, wheelchairs I wish to leave behind, poop talk, piss, puke, unhealthy relationships in my past. Gonna be a wild RAW unsensored Ride for Pain Sufferers Speak. Still intend to respect privacy, and basic ethics of course.  No lies of omission here 100% Unsensored. This is the REAL WORLD so if you want the REAL DEAL subscribe to my RSS Feed and pull up your big boy pants or big girl panties--This blogs for you! Willing to share only because I refuse to accept that I am the only one this stuff happens to.  Love to have your input, thoughts, comments, questions or snide remarks anytime!"

So come join me for an unsensored ride through life with chronic pain and illness. Its gonna be a bumpy fun ride, Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters!!

Click the link below to go directly to Pain Sufferers Speak RAW "Adults Only" Blog
http://painspeaks.tumblr.com/
The "Multi Elements" to Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Community are: 1) our Main Blog--Pain Sufferers Speak; 2) our "For Adults Only" Blog--Pain Sufferers Speak RAW; 3) Facebook Community Page with over 50 Showcase topics loaded with FREE INFO; 4) Twitter as @painspeaks; 5) our EXCLUSIVE "Members Only Secret Family Support Facebook Group" with 24/7 support for everyone; 6) OPEN GROUP on LinkedIn called Pain Sufferers Speak just for FREE PROMOTION and Expanding Your Professional Network, 7) BranchOut, Facebook's Professional profile builder, 8) Vitality Link profile, 9) We are traded now on Empire Avenue as PAINSPEAKS / Liz Hall, 10) connect.me profile for networking and community growth--We have the rare priviledge of being chosen as a Founding Trust Anchor on their site.

Each part is unique and has different benefits--Join only 1 part OR all---Its up to you!!

Liz : )

People May Scatter, But Hope For Your Future IS A Choice

Wanna figure out who your real friends are? Live in chronic pain or be diagnosed with a chronic illness and people scatter--I know because I have seen it happen in my own life. I am always the strong one to such an extent that a cousin of mine (who I am very close to) actually told me to suck it up at my Grandma's funeral!! She said she couldn't take if I was gonna cry. That was in 2000 and I was not capable of telling her how I really felt about what she said then and I never have, because I know it would change our relationship forever in a negative way. When others don't understand that being strong only hides pain, but it does not erase it. Plus when others don't live with pain, then they tend to judge you and maybe not even believe your pain. This judgment can come from family and friends--When I was recovering from my first back surgery at age 24 not one of my friends came to visit me at first. Finally after 4 weeks my best friend in the world came and gave me a sponge bath and I actually cried--not because it hurt (it did big time) but more because she was the only one. I lost everyone else who I thought were real friends--turns out they were fair weather friends. Only a handful of my relatives visited and a few others sent cards and I come from a huge family!! Now I know who my real friends and family are, and I only count on them. It sucks to be alone in pain. It hurts physically, emotionally and spiritually--it is like a death. Someone finally told me I was mourning the loss of my former healthy self and my career. I think we all do our share of mourning and should give space and time to feel that. We go through the same process--denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance--its the 5 stages of grief. Yes, showing your pain or grief or emotions takes strength and the more you show the stronger you are. That is not to say that if you are not ready for acceptance that you should be stronger--its a process and each stage is necessary and needs and takes time. You must give yourself permission to take the time and feel each stage. Each person takes a different amount of time with each stage--no pressure to rush because then it will only take longer. You must love and accept yourself first (and most importantly) before you will ever get out of the depression phase. That was hardest for me to accept. I didn't want to love the new "broken" me--with degenerative disk disease that has invaded my once healthy and strong back--now 4 disks are herniated and I have neuropathy down both legs with burning pain and numb spots that cause my balance to be off and me to fall occasionally. How could I love that? How could anyone love that? My husband of 18 years answered these questions best when he said, "How could I stop loving you? I commited to 'in sickness and in health' and I meant it. Your disability and failing body took nothing away from my love for you." The reality of his unconditional love brought me back from depression. If he could love me this way, then I had to find a way to love myself. I do love and value myself again, and I hope as you read these words that you have found a way to love yourself, too. Some of you are stronger than me, and will find a way to love yourself without anyone else. You know that your disability, illness, pain or suffering is only a part of you, it is NOT all of you. Your limitations do NOT have to define you or limit your mind......unless you let them. I have found amazing inner strength and inner beauty in everyone who suffers with chronic pain and chronic illness, or lives with any type of disability. My sincere hope is that you can, not only see these traits in yourself, but you can harness them and use them to reach your goals and acheive your dreams. From your goals and dreams, you create hope for the future--which is necessary for us all. Don't let the changes you see in your body stop you from having goals and dreams and hope for the future!!!

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 : )

A little bit about me.....

I have degenerative disk disease and 4 disks are effected—2 in lumbar/low back, 2 in cervical/upper back & neck. Required 2 back surgeries-1st in 1996 at age 24 when my right leg went completely numb (L5/S1), and 2nd in 2008 when left leg had pinched nerve (L4/L5). Left with neuropathy in both legs and feet which causes balance issues, weakness & falling sometimes. Due to doctor’s recommendation, I have not driven since 2006 and remained mostly homebound to prevent further injuries and keep pain level reasonable. Even though complete disability was recommended in 1996, I did not file for Social Security Disability until 2006 and was not approved until 38 months later in 2009.  After 9 years of endless typing as a paralegal, I also have carpel tunnel in both wrists and arms with moderate nerve damage in both. Occasional panic attacks helped to diagnose PTSD in 2009. My disabilities do NOT define me. They are my life’s challenges and I choose to be positive and thankful. That’s right-Thankful! Without my issues, I would work full time and only get nights and weekends with my husband & 2 children. Instead, I am here every day to make breakfast and eat with all of them. I am here when the kids come home from school, and love helping with homework & school projects.  I make dinner and cook as often as I am able. My husband and I share household chores and responsibilities. Due to my disability, my husband works out of our home and we get quality time together each day.  I have had the time to rediscover my love of writing and make daily connections through Pain Sufferers Speak’s community which is my passion! I love sharing FREE health/wellness information, doing webresearch 5 days a week, helping people to feel less alone in their pain, and encouraging others to share their pain in a healthy way. I feel truly blessed and excited about the future!