The Pain Companion
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Free PDFs 

Four of my favorite pain management tools
Use the form to the right to receive all 4 PDFs at no charge
1. Pain Diary Template
2. The Fear Protocol
3. Technique for Releasing Difficult Emotions
4. Helping Family & Friends Understand Your Limits​

Your email is never shared, and you can opt out any time.

PDF #1: Pain Diary Template

A Pain Diary is a daily record of the nature of the pain(s) you are experiencing, their levels, and duration.
A pain diary can be used to track the efficacy of medication and physical therapy and as a record to show your medical practitioners and therapists so you don't have to rely solely on your memory when you go to appointments. It also adds credibility to your reports of continued pain, and gives your practitioners more details and specificity, particularly when you note times and use descriptive words. 

PDF #2: The Fear Protocol

The Fear Protocol is a method I developed to deal with panic attacks at night (do you have those?) and general anxiety over health and money issues. I think anxiety and fear contribute to the longevity of pain, yet they are so much a part of our lives when we are dealing with pain, reduced mobility, debilitation, and money issues. I found this protocol to be very useful and would often run it over and over again until I could relax.

PDF #3: Technique for Releasing Difficult Emotions

This meditative technique can be used any time strong, difficult or unexpected emotions arise. I'm a believer that there is a great deal of emotional pain that accompanies chronic physical pain that is rarely acknowledged or addressed by our healers. This is one of the ways I used to help myself deal with the emotions of loneliness, shame, anger, loss, frustration, terror (again), and sadness.

PDF #4: Helping Family & Friends Understand Your Limits

Sometimes we find it difficult to clearly communicate the way pain is affecting us which can lead to misunderstanding, false expectations, and not getting the support we need. This document helps put some of these things into words for you.

MORE INTERNET RESOURCES

Blogs on Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain

Being Fibro Mom: Thriving the Family Life with Fibromyalgia
Brainless Blogger
A Chronic Voice: Articulating Lifelong Illness
Chronic Babe: Living Amazingly In Spite of Illness
Chronic Mom Life: Balancing Mind, Body, and Spirit
Counting My Spoons: Educating and Inspiring Others
Fibro Warriors ~ Living Life
Health Hats Blog
Loving Life Everyday
Melissa Vs. Fibromyalgia
My Fruitful Home
Navigating the Storms: Thriving in the Midst of Invisible Disabilities
Notebooks and Glasses Chronic Pain Blog
Ribbonrx: Raising Awareness About Life
Spoons to Share
The World Sees Normal: The Truth About Chronic Illness
Upbeat Living: Thriving Despite Chronic Illness

Online Pain Communities

The Mighty
People in pain sharing their stories. Over 1 million readers.
Pain News Network
Articles by sufferers and practitioners on every aspect of living with pain.
Phoenix Rising
Online forum particularly for people suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The Tired Girl Society
Online membership site for women living with chronic illness. Well done monthly ezine for members.

Organizations

The American Chronic Pain Association
Some nice articles here which go beyond the typical relationship of practitioner-to-patient and take a more holistic view of the chronic pain sufferer as a person with emotional and psychological needs for expression as well.
U.S. Pain Foundation
Committed to "connect, empower, and inform" people living in pain. They also advocate for the pain community.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

MedicineNet
A simple explanation of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome with informative illustration.
Cleveland Clinic
A more involved explanation of symptoms and the different levels of TOS

Medical or Therapeutic Help

HealthSoul

This website helps patients find appropriate care and includes reviews from patients. "We are a team of medical professionals, engineers and healthcare specialists. The goal of the company is to help consumers mitigate challenges they might face in finding the right healthcare facility or health insurance."
Infographic on CRPS
Excellent, clear, and informative graphic from Victoria Abbott-Fleming of Burning Nights, a website and non profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and supporting people with CRPS.

Migraines

This is an informational slide show on symptoms of various kinds of migraines, including those experienced by children and teens created by Diamond Headache Clinic, a migraine treatment center that advocates for alternative therapies.

Theravive

Theravive is a network of licensed therapists and psychologists committed to helping people receive the best mental health care available.  Through building bridges with others, we continually strive to lower mental health stigma.

ARTICLES by Sarah

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5 Things People in Pain Need More Than Advice

ProHealth, July 6, 2018
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Helping Others Understand Your Pain

ProHealth, April 14, 2018
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The Cure for Giving Up (When it Seems Like Chronic Pain is Forever)

ProHealth, November 1, 2017
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  How To Live Better With Nerve Pain
    Pain News Network, August 23, 2016

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     How to Release Pain To Relieve And Restore Your Body
      Pain News Network, June 15, 2016

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   Losing Your Smarts To Pain
      Pain News Network, May 15, 2016

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   When Pain Hijacks Your Brain
      Pain News Network, April 12, 2016

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    Talking About Pain: Why We Don't and Why We Should
        Pain News Network, March 15, 2016

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   Breathing Exercises for Chronic Pain
      Pain News Network, February 11, 2016

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