Pain Management

Several people have asked me how I do it. How do I keep smiling and positive through the pain? Honestly, it’s not always easy. In fact, some day it’s near impossible. On those days I have a number of strategies that help me get through.

Reader’s Digest had it right. ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’. And that is so true. There is nothing like a good belly laugh to break the cycle of pain in your brain. Therefore, I try to inject humour wherever and whenever I can and I really appreciate others who can do that too.

I remember a time that I was chatting online with a friend. It was a particularly bad day. I typed that I wanted to chop off my leg! This girl did not miss a beat. She told me to do it in the bathtub and make sure I put down a drop cloth to keep the blood contained. The thought of actually doing that was so absolutely ridiculous that I burst out laughing. That’s all it took to break the cycle of pain in that moment. It didn’t seem quite so bad after that.

The main key to pain management is to keep your mind occupied with something other than the pain. I’ve been known to randomly recite nursery rhymes and hum or sing little bits of obscure songs. One day a co-worker asked me if I realized what I was humming. I had to stop and think about it for a second before I realized it was ‘It Ain’t Easy to be Green’ by Kermit the Frog. Seriously, I could not make this up.

Having a hobby you enjoy can be a great escape from ‘reality’. For me, it is paper crafting. I make artist trading cards, junk journals, greeting cards, tags, etc. many of them to swap with friends. It takes a lot of my concentration and puts me in the ‘Zone’ where everything else falls to the background including the pain. And getting ‘happy mail’ from a friend will make the world a better place every time.

Since I’m still working full-time that keeps my mind active from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’m entering orders, talking to customers and solving problems as they arise. All these things keep me going when others would simply give up but I refuse to let ‘it’ defeat me.

Like I said before, it is not always easy but along with the medication prescribed by my doctor and occasionally my trusty heating pad, I manage to live my best life in difficult circumstances. You can do it too. I try to remember that there are people in this world in worse places or situations than me. I have a roof over my head, clothes to wear and food in my belly. I’m gainfully employed, have friends to support me and a family always willing to help me. I’m very blessed.