The Pain Companion Resources

DOWNLOADABLE PDFs from The Pain Companion

Pain Diary Template

Template to use in creating a Pain Diary to monitor specifics of daily pains, their levels, and duration. Aids in tracking efficacy of medications and physical therapy as well as being generally useful to take to practitioner appointments.

Statement for Practitioners

A statement to take to your medical or therapeutic practitioners when you feel you are not being heard or understood in your pain.

The Fear Protocol

The Fear Protocol is a method I developed for myself to deal with panic attacks at night, and general anxiety over health and money issues any time.

Technique for Releasing Difficult Emotions

This meditative technique can be used any time strong, difficult or unexpected emotions arise.

Helping Family & Friends Understand Your Limits

Clearly communicating the ways in which pain affects you and your ability to interact and participate in order to be understood and get the support you need.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Chronic Babe 101 by Jenni Grover

Ravyn's Doll by Melissa Swanson

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.