Annual Pain Summit

Denise Coleman Living With It I am a 57-year old woman who has had five back surgeries and has... Send Message Subscribe: Denise Coleman

Thursday, July 02, 2009
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NOTE: I am attempting to link websites to my Post. Please bear with me if this doesn't work, I will keep trying until I get it right. Thanks for your patience. I haven’t been doing much writing lately as I haven’t been feeling too well. I have, however, read and enjoyed many of...

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Thanks for the update
Karen Lee Richards
Friday, July 17, 2009 at 08:57 AM

Hi Denise,

I was sorry to hear you were having such a hard time for awhile there. I hope you're continuing to feel much better. I know what you mean about feeling bad when you can't meet your own expectations for yourself. I struggle with that, too. I've been going through a flare for the past two or three months and it gets so frustrating. There's so much I want to do, but my body just won't cooperate. I finally had to give in and just go to bed for a couple of days. Thankfully that helped, and I'm starting to feel a little better. I just hope it lasts.

I enjoyed reading your report on the things discussed at the Annual Pain Summit. It's so good to know there's such active advocacy going on for us. And kudos to you for all your hard work!

Thanks for all you do,

Karen

re: Thanks for the update
Denise Coleman
Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 01:44 PM

Thank you for your kind remarks. I think the work being done by the volunteers and staff at POPAN is very important, especially now that there are so many challenges to the ongoing availability of strong pain medications by the FDA and other government sources. After 40 years of terrible pain I am finally able to manage my pain to a significant degree with the Intrathecal Pump and I honestly don't know how I would handle having to live with the level of pain I had before I got the Pump in 2000. Plus, there are millions of people in pain who deserve the most effective treatments available. So much needs to be done to increase awareness about the impact pain has on so many lives and how people in pain can advocate for themselves with their medical professionals so they receive the most effective treatment.

I encourage you to check out the website www.popactionnectwork.org to learn more about what we are doing.

Hope your flare-up has subsided and you are having a pleasant summer.

Best,

Denise