Reblog: THE SECRET LIFE OF PAIN…

If you have read my last few posts, you know I have spent the last 5 months in and out of doctors spending tons of money on tests to diagnose some chronic and acute pain I thought was associated with a past neck surgery. The tests find little to nothing, so now I am wondering if this is just new manifestations of my fibromyalgia. The last few days I had decided it is time to regroup and try a more holistic approach. Reading this blog post from Back Pain Blog UK and the linked article this morning just confirms that for me. Check her blog and all the other great bloggers on FibroBloggerDirectory.com.

Cheers!
Cynthia

A Correct Diagnosis

I saw this graphic on twitter from Dr. Margare Aranda and thought this pretty much sums up my #currentsituation so I wanted share. Sometimes you really have to fight for your diagnosis.

img_3568

I wrote about trying to get a diagnosis for this chronic pain I have had off and on for a few years now in my last very lengthy blog post. Tests, procedures, scans, second opinions, third opinions. I have one more appointment tomorrow morning. My binder is ready with all of my recent exams. My fingers are crossed. And I have hope.

“At the end of the day all you need is hope and strength. Hope that it will get better, and strength to hold on until it does.” ~ Jazmin Whitmore

I think for many people suffering in pain, just knowing they aren’t crazy and that there is some logical, medical explanation for what they are experiencing gives a profound sense of relief and peace of mind. Getting to the correct diagnosis should get you on the proper road to recovery. As Gandhi said, it’s 3/4 of the remedy!

diagnosis2

Have you had challenges getting a chronic condition diagnosed? Do you have any lessons learned that you can share?

Cheers!

Cynthia

Lessons Learned in Diagnosing Chronic Pain

“Sometimes the curiosity can kill the soul but leave the pain.” ~Alice

Perhaps that title should read “Lessons Learned from Attempting to Diagnose Chronic Pain” since I still don’t have answers…  I haven’t written much lately due to some chronic neck pain/shoulder/arm that has been plaguing me for months. I come home from work exhausted and drained, and spending more time in front of a computer is the last thing I want to do.biscuits

Down the Rabbit Hole

Do you ever feel like the hassle and expense of getting to the root of a medical problem might outweigh the benefits of finding out what the problem is? For the last several months, I feel like I have gone down the proverbial rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland”, where everything is not as it seems!

Alice-Looking-Down-the-Rabbit-Hole-in-Alice-in-Wonderland    Live_action_reference_photo_alice_at_the_bottom_of_the_rabbit_hole_screenshot_blog

Continue reading “Lessons Learned in Diagnosing Chronic Pain”

How to Sleep Better

“Sleep is the Golden Chain that binds health and our bodies together.”

I have struggled for years with getting good quality sleep. There are nights where I just cannot fall asleep, and others where I just can’t stay asleep. While the ideal amount is between 7-9 hours for most, I still average about 6 hours a night. More than 7 hours of sleep, and I feel out of sorts. Lately I have been much better about sleeping through the night, since incorporating some simple strategies.

Those who suffer with fibromyalgia syndrome know how difficult it can be to get a good night’s sleep. In fact, sleep disturbances are one of the common symptoms associated with the condition, which then compounds the daytime fatigue. But allowing the body to rest and recharge at night is so critical to everyone’s physical and mental health, not just those with fibromyalgia.counting-sheep-1

“Sleep is the Golden Chain that binds health and our bodies together.” ~ Thomas Dekker

Continue reading “How to Sleep Better”