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It took six full months for me to feel I was ready to have my follow up appointment with Dr Nick Christelis after my Sacral Stimulation Implant. I got a few ticks at the appointment: Device incision healed Leads incision [...]
My new stim’s changed everything. I’m grateful. Can you imagine if the whole process (from trial to permanent implant) hadn’t change anything? In addition to the stim changing everything, I’m living a whole new life that Theo and I attempted [...]
It’s taken almost 9 years but I’ve realised that chronic pain requires alot of study – dare I say never-ending study? I believe my research for pain relief for chronic pain may be paving the way for a thesis! I’ve [...]
I know that living with pain for over eight years reduces confidence and belief. It even (warning, I'm going to use the C word), discourages hope for a cure. But how could I have assumed I found my best self for four years (nearly five actually, gulp!)?
I never shop from my phone, but given Theo and I were away for the weekend (researching our next phase of life), I felt it was worth the risk responding to The School of Life’s Dr Norman Doidge event and [...]
Here are some of the important messages that we hope you have taken on board: Your brain can be a powerful tool to help you manage your pain experience. Like all of our life experiences, that of being in pain can be changed. You are not to blame for your persistent pain. You can experience pain without evidence of tissue damage and not experience pain when tissue damage has occurred. Drugs (or needles) alone are not the answer. The “third space” engagement gives you the best possible opportunity to better manage your pain. Consider embracing the whope model of care. Could this be your slogan? Know pain, know thyself!
John Quintner, Professor Milton Cohen and Dr Geoffrey Bove recently published a very controversial review – A critical evaluation of the trigger point phenomenon. Their article aims to show the hypothesis – “Myofascial Pain arising from Trigger Points” – formulated [...]
Or should I say, looking forward to 2015? Looking forward is more my tune but the changeover of another year, especially with chronic pain, calls me to reflect and to ponder my future. It’s been three gorgeous months in nurturing [...]
APS: How important are support groups for both you and your close family/community? Soula: I can’t say I feel there is much support for my husband and family/community. It’s difficult with invisible pain, it’s a similar scenario with depression, we still don’t get it. Society seems to have been given an immense right to provide their opinion (e.g. with social media platforms) and this has opened up some kind of authority to encourage opinions and much judgment. Not many tread carefully or really think from someone else’s perspective. Although we have more information accessible to us, we seem to be learning less.
But we are grateful to the Conciliator and to WorkCover Assist who helped me to show that through Theo’s and my own initiative I have created my work position. Had we not done this I would have remained in receipt of full compensation payments and Theo could have found a job. Theo was allowed to explain the printmaking process to the VWA-appointed Agent (K) and to point out that it was impossible for me to undertake this task without significant assistance, as was the case for the creation of my book and for my daily work and living. However, their support, although most welcome, failed to make any impression on K or his successor, X. The roles of the Conciliator and WorkCover Assist in this comedy have been reduced to the pointless exercise of pushing pieces of paper around.
