DESIDERATA......

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --
Not "Found in Old St. Paul's Church"! -- see below
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,..
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.


I hope you enjoyed it also......

Hugs and blessings Jayde

PTSD (POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER)....

A very near and dear friend to me is fighting this illness and had support pages on Myspace for it... This is some of the information she gave me to use to give others insight into this illness.. I truly hope it helps if you are fighting it.....

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may occur soon after a major trauma, or it can be delayed for more than 6 months after the event. When it occurs soon after the trauma, it usually gets better after 3 months. However, some people have a longer-term form of PTSD, which can last for many years.

PTSD can occur at any age and can follow a natural disaster such as a flood or fire, or events such as war, a prison stay, assault, domestic abuse, or rape. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in the United States may have caused PTSD in some people who were involved, in people who saw the disaster, and in people who lost relatives and friends. These kinds of events can produce stress in anyone, but not everyone develops PTSD.

The cause of PTSD is unknown, but psychological, genetic, physical, and social factors are involved. PTSD changes the body’s response to stress. It affects the stress hormones and chemicals that carry information between the nerves (neurotransmitters). Having been exposed to trauma in the past may increase the risk of PTSD.

Having good social support helps to protect against PTSD. In studies of Vietnam veterans, those with strong support systems were less likely to get PTSD than those without social support.

People with PTSD re-experience the event again and again in at least one of several ways. They may have frightening dreams and memories of the event, feel as though they are going through the experience again (flashbacks), or become upset during anniversaries of the event.

Symptoms

People with PTSD re-experience the event again and again in at least one of several ways. They may have frightening dreams and memories of the event, feel as though they are going through the experience again (flashbacks), or become upset during anniversaries of the event.

Symptoms of PTSD fall into three main categories:

1. Repeated "reliving" of the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity

Flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again and again

Recurrent distressing memories of the event

Repeated dreams of the event

Physical reactions to situations that remind you of the traumatic event

2. Avoidance

Emotional "numbing," or feeling as though you don’t care about anything

Feelings of detachment

Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma

Lack of interest in normal activities

Less expression of moods

Staying away from places, people, or objects that remind you of the event

Sense of having no future

3. Arousal

Difficulty concentrating

Exaggerated response to things that startle you

Excess awareness (hypervigilance)

Irritability or outbursts of anger

Sleeping difficulties

You also might feel a sense of guilt about the event (including "survivor guilt"), and the following symptoms, which are typical of anxiety, stress, and tension:

Agitation, or excitability

Dizziness

Fainting

Feeling your heart beat in your chest (palpitations)

Fever

Headache

Paleness

Signs and tests

There are no tests that can be done to diagnose PTSD. The diagnosis is made based on a certain set of symptoms that continue after you've had extreme trauma. Your doctor will do psychiatric and physical exams to rule out other illnesses.

Treatment

Treatment aims to reduce symptoms by encouraging you to recall the event, express your feelings, and gain some sense of control over the experience. In some cases, expressing grief helps to complete the necessary mourning process. Support groups, where people who have had similar experiences can share their feelings, are helpful.

People with PTSD may need to treat depression, alcohol or substance abuse, or related medical conditions before addressing symptoms of PTSD. Behavioral therapy is used to treat avoidance symptoms. This can include being exposed to the object that triggers your symptoms until you become used to it and no longer avoid it (called graded exposure and flooding).

Medicines that act on the nervous system can help reduce anxiety and other symptoms of PTSD. Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), can be effective in treating PTSD.

A number of other medicines used for mental health disorders may be prescribed. A doctor should monitor you if you take these drugs, because they can have side effects. Sedatives can help with sleep disturbance. Anti-anxiety medicines may be useful, but some types, such as benzodiazepines, can be addictive.

Support Groups

You can find more information about post-traumatic stress disorder and coping with a national tragedy from the American Psychiatric Association -- www.psych.org.

Expectations (prognosis)

The best outcome, or prognosis, depends on how soon the symptoms develop after the trauma, and on how quickly you get diagnosed and treated.

Complications

Alcohol abuse

Depression, anxiety, and fear of things that are not usually frightening to other people (phobia), may be part of this disorder

Drug abuse

Calling your health care provider

Although traumatic events like the September 11 tragedy can cause distress, not all feelings of distress are symptoms of PTSD. Talk about your feelings with friends and relatives. If your symptoms last longer, or are worse, than those of your friends, contact your doctor.

Seek help immediately by going to the emergency room or calling the local emergency number (such as 911) if:

You feel overwhelmed by guilt

You are impulsive

You are thinking of hurting yourself

You are unable to contain your behavior

You have other very distressing symptoms of PTSD

You can also contact your doctor for help with ongoing problems such as recurrent thoughts, irritability, and problems with sleep.

Prevention

Research into ways to prevent PTSD is ongoing.

NURSE REVEALS TOP 5 REGRETS PEOPLE MAKE ON THEIR DEATHBEDS.........

Nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality.
I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never
became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a
result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical
details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end.
That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what  others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

FIBROMYALGIA AND DEHYDRATION SIMILARITIES.....

Fibromyalgia and Dehydration Similarities

By James Connelly

Ads by Google

Train your mind www.lumosity.com Improve memory and attention with scientific brain games. Free Trial

Brain Test™ www.braingradetest.com Developed by Neuroscientists Complete brain analysis - Free.

Anxiety Retreat Qld www.fountainhead.com.au/anxiety Anxiety help 14-28 day stay Fountainhead Method 07 5494 3494

How important is water to us? What if we went without it. Let us briefly see what an extreme case of dehydration does to the human body. Its been said that man can only survive 3 days without water. After 1 day the person feels light headed and dizzy,as their saliva slowly disappears and extreme thirst begins to set in. By the second day they become extremely uncoordinated and have problems focusing. As the dehydration takes its toll, cramping starts in the muscles of the arms and legs as the person writhes in pain. On the third day the lips go dry enough that they start to crack. The skin also becomes dry and starts to wrinkle as it loses its elasticity. Because of the lack of water in the body their blood thickens. The thickening of blood prevents the heart from pumping it at full capacity. Starved of vital oxygenated blood flow, brain neurons misfire and the organized electrical activity that drives the conscious mind begins to lose its grip of reality. Hallucinations begin as the subject then goes into comatose until the inevitable.

Sorry for that, Its just to prove a point how important water is to the human body. When one becomes thirsty without refreshing itself, dizziness and confusion sets in. Muscle cramps and pain then follow. Due to the lack of blood flow to the brain, it is unable to perform at its full capacity, thus the pain, fatigue and dizziness. See what I mean?

How much water do you need in your body in order to perform everyday routines without a problem? Science tells us that our bodies are made up of 75% water. So you can imagine how important it is to keep that level on a daily basis. 75%?? We lose water from our bodies every day through simple activities such as sweating,breathing and urinating. As our activity increases so does our level of water loss increase. Going to McDonald's for a #3 with fries and a Coke is not helping the situation of replenishing water loss. Grabbing a coffee,beer and/or sodas are the opposite of what your body needs in order to fulfill, because they actually absorb water away from you. The only way to provide an healthy recourse of everyday living is simply by drinking just pure water! Guess where else you get water from? Yes, Fruits and vegetables! Here we go again! The feeling of being thirsty should really never come into play. We should all be drinking water consistently enough to keep ourselves fully hydrated enough so that we never feel thirsty. Of course we cannot always be in situations where water is always available. Or can we? Its that important that we should treat this as if our life depends on it.

Now lets talk about Fibromyalgia

Have you ever heard of a disorder in which the sufferer deals mainly with chronic pain, chronic fatigue and memory loss? How about a disorder that delivers intense pain and discomfort in muscles and joints all over the body? How about a disorder in which its symptoms also include problems with sleep, headaches, irritable bowel, dizziness, abdominal pain and even vision problems? And that is just some of them. How about a disorder that affects more than 5 million people in the United States today! Its called Fibromyalgia (FMS,Fibro-Myalgia Syndrome)Which has become a such a widespread disorder that Doctors have begun to classify it as a syndrome, which means its symptoms and traits occur together. These symptoms can put one in a very restrictive lifestyle due to the intense pain, discomfort and feelings of despair. Unable to understand what has become of themselves and their ongoing symptoms associated with FMS, anxiety and depression can also take its toll on anyone who cannot seem to find solutions for overcoming this horrible syndrome. People live with painful joints and muscles,waking up in the morning as if they had no sleep at all,and bouts with what has become known as "Brain Fog" a short term memory loss which goes along with inability to focus. So the main symptoms are pain,fatigue and a lack of focus.These and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia bring on what seems an unending battle for a normal life.

So the problems that go along with Dehydration are:

Muscle pain - fatigue - dizziness/confusion - headaches - vision problems - Abdominal pain- nausea - constipation

The problems with Fibromyalgia are:

Muscle pain - fatigue - dizziness/confusion - constipation - headaches - weight gain - indigestion - vision problems - Abdominal pain - nausea - sleeplessness,

What is M.E.?........

M.E. is a neurological disease and stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. 
My = muscle
Algic = pain
Encephalo = brain
Mye = spinal chord
Itis = inflammation

It is an injury to the Central Nervous System. usually triggered by an infectious disease process, e.g. a virus, or by chemicals over stimulating the immune system. It is a multi-system disease, affecting not only the neurological system but also the immune, musculoskeletal, endocrine (hormonal) and cardiovascular systems.

Prognosis is variable depending on how much and which part of the brain has been damaged.  Complete pre-illness recovery is rare but possible (around 6% of cases.)   Some improvement, even marked improvement (different from full remission) is more likely than complete recovery, although relapses can occur several years after remission.  Most cases stabilise at varying degrees of disability.  Around 30% of cases are progressive and degenerative  and degeneration of end organs may result in death. (One quote of early death rate in M.E. is 10%.This figure includes suicides.  Early death from cardiac pathology is put at 2%.  Pancreatic failure can also contribute to early death.

Symptoms can be multiple and vary from person to person but common symptoms include post-exertional malaise, cognitive problems (such as short-term memory loss and concentration difficulties), muscle and nerve pain, muscle weakness, noise and light sensitivity, sleep and temperature disturbance, orthostatic intolerance (inability to sustain upright activity e.g. standing, sitting or walking) and sensitivity to food, alcohol, chemicals and medicines.

M.E. may or may not be the same as CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). This is because there are currently 10 different interpretative criteria for CFS, some with a psychiatric and others with an immunological specification. If the CFS criteria used involves damage to the Central Nervous System, then it could well be the same disease as M.E. Other CFS criteria used, especially the Oxford criteria, focus on patients whose fatigue could be of psychiatric origin and this is not M.E.

The name M.E. has a long medical history of being a neurological disease (see our document ‘Saying No Can Be Positive’ for further medical history to the name), being classified in neurological textbooks since the 1960s.

The name CFS was created in the 1980s with almost exclusive emphasis on the word ‘fatigue’, leaving out much pathology (structural evidence of disease) and previous physical M.E. research findings. The vagueness of the term CFS is thus attractive to insurance companies, drug companies promoting anti-depressants for fatigue and government departments intent on saving money through benefits, support and research programmes. Any illness which has guidelines excluding pathology tends to not be taken seriously by medical authorities and the like.

Therefore, the term CFS can be harmful as a label to M.E. sufferers because it can exclude pathology. Sometimes, however, researchers and medical staff use the term CFS to mean M.E. So the situation is unacceptably confusing. M.E. is a more specific name implying the pathology which has been found

PARKINSON'S DISEASE OR LYME DISEASE....

Parkinson's Disease or Lyme Disease

If you or anyone you love is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, please, please, please - see a Lyme literate Md, have a blood test through IGENEX tick borne specialty lab only ( http://www.igenex.com ). Join a lyme disease forum for patient help with finding a Lyme literate Md and how to get tested.

There are many, many stories about patients misdiagnosed for years with Parkinson's only to find out they had Chronic Lyme Disease.

For more information see the links below and check back often as more will be added as they are discovered.

A message from another forum:

Did you know that Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with lyme disease three years before being diagnosed with Parkinson? Did you know that 4 workers on his movie set were also diagnosed with Parkinson? The movie set was in Conn. - lyme country. My brother in law was diagnosed 20 years ago with Parkinson, 10 years before that he was bitten by a tick while camping. He is starting his research on the correlation between the two! My husband was diagnosed with bipolar, dementia, degeneration of the brain, parkinson, etc. etc. Four months ago he was finally tested for lyme disease tests were positive including spect scan. He has been on antibotics for four months now and doing quite well. Each month he gets better and better. I had to fight tooth and nail for a Doctor to listen to me to no avail. Finally, I took him to see a Lyme Literate Doctor and the rest is history. Just wanted you to know and to take your conditions into your own hands, the Dr.s don't know everything. We are living proof of that.

10 EVERYDAY TASKS MADE EASIER...

For the 76 million Americans, and heavens only knows how many people from other races, who are living with chronic pain, simply getting through the day can seem like an uphill battle. Everyday tasks that others may not think twice about, such as getting dressed or driving a car, can become extremely difficult to accomplish. If you’re living with pain, making a few adjustments can make your daily routine much more manageable despite chronic pain.

Making Your Bed
Chronic pain can make getting out of bed in the morning a chore. Once you do get up, making that bed might seem impossible. First, don’t be a perfectionist when you’re living with pain. You don’t need hospital corners to get a good night’s sleep. Don’t even tuck the top sheet under the mattress — just smooth it out and arrange a comforter on top. If you must tuck, use a long-handled wooden spoon to push the sheet under the mattress.

Bathing and Grooming
Getting in and out of a bath or shower can be tough on people living with pain. Put a towel at the edge of the tub and sit on it to swivel in and out. Consider installing grab bars if pain makes you unsteady on your feet. In the shower or tub, sitting in a waterproof shower chair can also help prevent falls and make personal care easier. If blow-drying and styling your hair are difficult tasks, ask your stylist for a hairdo that is easier to maintain.

Getting Dressed
If you have chronic pain, just putting on clothes can leave you feeling worn out before you even set foot out of the house. Choosing clothes that you can easily slip over your head or step into is a good pain management strategy. Eliminate buttons if you have pain in your hands; choose Velcro or hook-and-eye closures instead. Assistive devices like zipper pulls or button hooks can make getting dressed a little easier; find them in stores and online.

Driving
Driving is no easy task for people living with pain. Just getting in and out of your car can be difficult, especially if you have cloth-covered seats. Consider installing a vinyl seat cover, or put a large plastic bag on the car seat to help you slide in and out. If arthritis pain makes it hard to grip the steering wheel or gearshift, try wearing golf or weightlifting gloves.

Lifting and Carrying
Lift smart, especially if you have back pain. Don’t try to lift anything that’s too heavy for you. When you do lift an object, lift with your knees, pull in your stomach muscles to support your back, and keep your head down and in line with your straight back. Keep the load close to your body. Reaching out to lift and carry an object can injure back muscles, causing more pain. Finally, don’t twist when lifting.

Cleaning the House
Few people like housekeeping, and those with chronic pain can find it quite exhausting. The first pain management tip is to pace yourself. Don’t try to tackle your whole house in one swoop; focus on a single room per day. Put a complete set of cleaning supplies on each floor of your home. Invest in a lightweight vacuum cleaner. Recommended by the Arthritis Foundation, the Oreck XL Upright vacuum is 8 pounds and has handles that reduce stress, strain, and pain in the wrists.

Grocery Shopping
Pain management during shopping trips starts with wearing the right shoes. Cushioned, non-slip soles are best. Even if you’re picking up only a few things, use a shopping cart for support or, if available at your market, use a motorized one. Purchase a reacher from a medical supply store and bring it with you to get items from high shelves. If you feel pain in your hands because they’re sensitive to cold, bring gloves with you to wear in the frozen-food and refrigerated aisles.

Getting The Job Done
Being stuck behind a desk all day can exacerbate back pain. For better pain management, take short breaks to walk around the office. Sit in a chair with good lumbar support. Place a pillow or a rolled up towel behind the small of your back for even more support. If using the computer causes pain in your hands or wrists, wiggle your fingers and stretch your hand muscles every 15 minutes. Consider placing a wrist support next to your keyboard to help prevent further strain.

Pet Care

Having a furry or feathered friend can be soothing, but a pet needs your care even on days when your chronic pain is at its worst. When taking your dog for a walk, make sure you have a thick leash with a handle that’s easy to grip to lessen hand pain. Place pet supplies on a low shelf that’s easy to reach, especially if pain or disability has you confined to a wheelchair. If pain gets worse and you need help, call in reinforcements, such as a pet sitter or dog walker.

Taking Medicine
Opening medicine bottles can be a frustrating task when you’re living with pain — especially when what’s in that bottle could help bring welcome relief. Some over-the-counter pain medications now come with easy-open bottle caps. Medicine bottle openers that are easy to grip are available at drugstores and online. Simple tools like these can help make every day a little less painful for you.

8 WAYS TO LIVE BETTER WITH CHRONIC PAIN....

There’s no doubt that living with chronic pain can be excruciating physically and emotionally. But there are things you can do to make life easier. From simple changes in how you arrange your home, your car, and your computer to working to understand your pain, exploring pain management options, and tending to your emotional needs, you can take charge of your life.

Modify Your Home
Navigating your home can be challenging when you’re living with chronic pain, according to Evan Levine, DC, a chiropractic physician in New York City. To aid pain management, he recommends these steps: “Place objects that you use every day within easy reach, and rearrange closets, cabinets, and shelves to make your activities a little easier and less stressful.”

Adjust Your Car
Don’t exacerbate your chronic pain by adding stress and strain when you drive. Instead, make your pain management plan more effective by adjusting the driver’s seat so your feet comfortably reach the foot pedals and you also have maximum windshield and mirror visibility. Moving the seat's lumbar support so that it hugs the curve of your lower back can be a great pain reliever. You can also purchase a lumbar support seat cushion if the car seat isn’t providing adequate support.

Make Your Workstation Work for You
Spending hours at the computer can exacerbate chronic pain if your workstation isn’t ergonomically sound. “Adjust your chair height so your feet rest flat on the floor,” says Dr. Levine, “and adjust your computer monitor to ensure the top of the screen is at or just below eye-level when you're seated.” In addition, for better pain management, try using an articulating keyboard and mouse on a slide-out tray, and be sure your wrists are in a neutral position and not bent back when you're typing. Be sure you take mini breaks when working at a computer to stretch, move around, and rest your hands and eyes.

Seek Emotional Support
Chronic pain and its limitations can wreak havoc on your emotions and relationships. Talk about your condition and your feelings with family and friends and keep lines of communication open. Ask for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed — this can benefit both you and loved ones, who may not be sure how to offer assistance. Online or in-person support groups can also play a role in your pain management, as can discussing your feelings with your pain treatment team.

Do Your Homework
Research your chronic pain and learn as much as you can. Then stay up to date on the latest pain treatments. In addition to using a pain reliever, consider alternative therapies. “Acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation training, meditation, and hypnosis may be helpful in coping with chronic pain,” says Levine. Cognitive therapy, a form of counseling aimed at identifying and changing potentially destructive thinking, behavior, and emotional responses, may be especially beneficial, according to Levine.

Take Control and Get Active
Consider keeping a chronic pain journal. By writing detailed notes you can help your pain treatment team identify what makes your pain better or worse, how long it typically lasts, how well pain medication is working, and any possible side effects. Gentle exercise — with your doctor’s consent — may also help with pain management. Ask your doctor which types of exercise might work well for you.

Make Your Doctor Your Partner
Ask a lot of questions so that you completely understand your chronic pain. Bring a relative or friend along to appointments to help you remember the details of your medical visits. Talk with your medical team about your pain and how severe it is. If you’re taking pain medication, discuss how well it is or isn’t working, as well as any other avenues you might like to explore. If you have multiple doctors, try to make sure that your entire pain management team is in sync.

Don't Let Your Pain Define You
While it's important to know your limits, you should also be careful not to let your chronic pain overshadow every aspect of your life. Look for ways to modify your hobbies and see if there are any products that might make everyday living easier, such as ergonomic gardening tools if you have arthritis. Taking up new hobbies and meeting new people can also be beneficial in pain management. It may be difficult particularly at times of flare-ups, but remember that you are more than just your pain.