The Pain Companion
  • Home
  • about
  • Videos
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • reviews
  • resources
  • Contact

Facing the Reality of Chronic Pain is Hard, But it Can Also Heal

2/13/2019

3 Comments

 
Picture
There was a moment when I realized my pain wasn’t leaving because it had morphed into chronic pain. I remember that moment very well. I was driving down the road after a doctor’s appointment where I was told my thoracic outlet syndrome was not getting any better… and I would probably have it for the rest of my life. In fact, it was likely to get progressively worse.

The Awful Truth

​I heard the doctor quite clearly, but it didn’t really land until I was driving home — and then it hit me hard. It felt like a sort of cold, icy feeling in the middle of my chest.

“Oh, I see, this isn’t going away any time soon. Or in the vernacular — I am really screwed.”

And even though I had been living with pain 24/7 for the past year, I had kept telling myself it was about to leave. I had always healed from things in the past, nothing had ever stuck around this long. Any day now it was going to lift and just disappear.

Except it hadn’t… and apparently it wasn’t going to.

And I finally let that in.
​

I felt depressed, lost, desolate and hopeless for awhile. I mean, what are you supposed to do with that kind of news? There’s only so much positive thinking you can muster up to deal with such an authoritative statement. I didn’t want to hear it, I didn’t want to know it, I didn’t want it to be real.

Accepting What’s True

Part of me wanted to blame the doctor for having ever said it, because saying it somehow made it more true. A doctor’s prognosis carries a lot of weight which influences our ability to keep going, to keep a positive attitude and to believe in ourselves and our ability to heal. But on the other hand, I’m grateful I was told the truth.

I now realize the moment in the car, when I allowed myself to accept the truth of my situation, was probably the first step toward true healing. I had to accept that life had changed. Instead of assuming I was just going to get better by default, because that’s what always happened in the past, I had to come to grips with the fact that I had a condition that didn’t benefit me by pretending it wasn’t all that bad.

I made some lifestyle accommodations so I didn’t keep causing myself more pain by trying to force myself to keep up in ways that really weren’t healthy for me.

I had to learn to simplify, to say “no” and to take care of myself in new ways.

That was hard.
​

Instead of looking either for a non-existent quick fix or simply trying to ignore the fact that my body was crying out for help, I had to take serious stock. I made decisions about how I was going to live, and heal and ultimately thrive over the long run. Those choices not only had positive effects on my pain levels, but they also enriched my life and taught me a lot about honoring myself and my own path.
3 Comments
Elizabeth Auwarter link
2/22/2019 04:24:44 pm

I absolutely agree with that experience. I realized that the moment I started to truly be able to work through my chronic pain was to realize that it was a part of me, not a part I needed to feel guilty about, but a part that I needed to make accommodations for and give myself grace with.

Reply
Claire Saul link
2/24/2019 03:01:28 am

I still remember when my surgeon admitted that it was only after opening me up that he could see there was nothing to be done for my nerve root damage. A huge part of me was relieved as I was beginning to believe it was all in my mind, and then it hit me that this was forever and how would I live like this. For me acceptance has been very liberating - I understand that people without a chronic condition may think acceptance is giving in and negative, but I believe it is the only way to move forward! Great post, Sarah!! Claire x

Reply
Seventy Seven link
5/2/2020 02:41:57 am

Buy Speakers at Cheapest Price with Amazing Quality
https://seventysevenstyle.com/collections/wireless-products/products/touch-bedside-lamp-night-light-bluetooth-speaker-rechargeable


Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Welcome to The Pain Companion Blog! Reflections and sound advice on living with chronic pain - a peaceful way station on the path to greater well being.
    About Sarah Anne Shockley

    Picture

    Books

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Chronic Illness Bloggers
    © 2015-2021 Sarah Shockley and thepaincompanion.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sarah Anne Shockley and www.thepaincompanion.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.