I used to love browsing through the stores during the holidays, looking for just the right gift for family and friends. Unfortunately these days, shopping quickly turns into an adventure in pain. Quarter-mile treks across full parking lots, crowds of people bumping into me, and 30 minute waits in long check-out lines are nightmares... Read more
One of our community members, Saraboo, posed an interesting question in her recent SharePost A Healthy Focus. She asked, “How do we NOT focus on the pain and instead focus on life?” Her question inspired me to share what I've learned about controlling my focus and distracting myself from the pain – and then to ask you... Read more
When we live with pain on a daily basis, we often wonder if a new pain is something we should be concerned about. It can be particularly difficult to tell if you have a condition like fibromyalgia, where the pain typically moves around from day to day. Right or wrong, most of us wait to see if the pain gets worse before getting it... Read more
I've seen several people comment that they (or their doctors) think they may have fibromyalgia, but they're just not ready to go there. While I can understand the reluctance to accept a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, there are significant benefits to acknowledging it and starting treatment as early as possible. A new thesis from the... Read more
You may have noticed that I sometimes recommend keeping a pain diary. Basically a pain diary is a daily log that tracks your pain intensity as well as medications, therapies and other activities that may impact your pain. The pain diary can be a very useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. Read more about the... Read more