I often don't feel like talking or explaining the same boring chronic pain story over and over. And I'm thinking there may be a few people out there who feel the same. So, here's some artwork for you folks. Feel free to use it to order caps, t shirts, mugs, honestly, do whatever you want with it, just don't take my name off or manipulate the artwork. Oh, and pop me a message of thanks. Perhaps even come back with some images and I'll create a pain gallery!!!
Chronic pain is a waste of life’s precious time, its a huge hold up. But if you have to deal with it then you have to find a way to cope through the awful journey and survive it. Before my precious implant (Professor Teddy I love you!!), I couldn’t move much without pain, everything hurt and it hurt all the time. And yet, my gorgeous friends and family kept telling me ‘but you look so good for someone who’s in pain all day!’ (Uum… thanks??).
Mr. Collen said the main goal of the exhibit is to raise awareness about the problem of chronic pain. However, he said he hopes one day to find a sponsor to take the exhibit on tour. “People don’t believe what they can’t see,” Mr. Collen said. “But they see a piece of art an individual created about their pain and everything changes.”
When your signals don't function properly you have to come up with new systems to get through the day. This is one I found very useful, it goes something like this: Don't forget to wee!
My creativity has been one of my main coping mechanisms through my chronic pain life. It's the place I go to feel free, release the steam, express my pain, and to get distracted to the point of pain! But it's worth it every time. There isn't a lot I can achieve with my capacity so one drawing, one painting over months, one post on my blog... anything, it's all worth it.
How many definitions for pain signals are out there? It doesn't stop and I have to be really honest here, it all sounds like hogwash for a person who was unstoppable and prior to her injury had the stamina of a bull (as a friend once described me).
This shouldn't take too long to grasp but I understand it may take a little while to actually put it into motion... Not used to having help hey? Well I wasn't either, never needed any. But once I realised I could get more out of my day by learning "Yes please", it got easier to say it. In fact I ask for help now. I even leave things on the floor if its a bad day (just push it aside with my foot, it'll be dealt with later) because I realise it means more capacity to do other things and LESS PAIN. Of course this only applies if you have help...
I don't like the car... or other transport. I would be a passenger for a quick trip (cushions galore and my experienced husband driving) and wonder what all the pain was [...]
Oh how many times have I had an injection, operation, procedure, great massage, brilliant half an hour and instantly thought I would be back at work in [...]
Its limiting living in a birdcage!!! But when you are injured, unable to work, need to rely on a system for money, you don't want to risk losing your only source of income. So you sit, gagged, locked up, don't attempt or try anything and that can be most damaging. How did I survive in the birdcage?
