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Live well,
despite chronic pain

Changing the way we think about and manage pain

You can do nothing and hurt, or you can hurt and enjoy life

1/28/2020

 
Chronic pain can be cause us to be over-protective.
 
Our natural reaction to pain is to avoid activity that worsens the pain or what we think might do further damage.
 
When we become overly fearful, rest, and stop doing things in anticipation of chronic pain; we can make things worse and continue the cycle of pain. 

​We end up reducing functional ability. We lower strength and stamina.  And we don’t get involved with the social, leisure, and work activities we enjoy. Increasing moodiness ​and depression while lowering overall quality of life.
Don't be afraid of pain. Hurt doesn't always mean harm.
​

pop quiz: test your knowledge of chronic pain

1/21/2020

 
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As a chronic pain patient, who/what can you best rely on to help with your chronic pain?
A. Yourself
B. Doctors
C. Drugs and supplements
D. Family and friends

Correct answer: Yourself. There most often isn't a cure for chronic pain. We must accept responsibility to self-manage our chronic pain and make the most of our lives, despite the pain. 

Take the entire quiz here.

Catch and release isn't just for fishing, it also works with pain and stress

1/17/2020

 
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An excerpt from a great article written by Donald Richard -
Classic Essay: Fly Fishing, Mindfulness, and the Art of Letting Go

"While it’s completely normal for us to get hooked on various thoughts and feelings, the process can be exhausting. The practice of catching and releasing our thoughts is not easy. Releasing them requires the same amount of skill, practice, and patience that we use to properly release a fish."

Read the entire article here.

If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got

1/15/2020

 
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Let's face it, change isn't easy. Nor is chronic persistent pain.

If we keep doing what we we've done in the past to manage our pain but still hurt, why not try something different? Especially something is that is risk-free with zero side effects. 

Change how we think about pain.

Pain is an experience affected by our minds and our bodies as well as the world around us.  So why treat it with only medical solutions  As Dr. Rachel Zoffness said it so well in a recent article, if we treat pain as only biomedical, we’re missing two-thirds of the pain problem.

Learn more in my free e-book Chronic Pain Pain Won't Stop Me.

Don't BELIEVE everything you think

1/13/2020

 
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​Our minds are powerful. They can do great good or do great harm.

When in chronic persistent pain, it can become easy for negative thoughts to pop into our minds and affect how we feel and behave in reaction to the pain.

Creating a cycle of pain.


TIPS

1. Identify negative thoughts. Negative thoughts play off our emotions and can often re-occur for no real reason. They work against us instead of for us.

2. Challenge negative thoughts. Ask yourself: Are the thoughts you’re having realistic. Are they factual? Do they help or hurt you? Are you catastrophizing or jumping to conclusions? Be kind and non-judgmental. You aren’t a bad person for thinking them.

​3. Replace negative thoughts. Replace these thoughts with positive and more realistic thoughts like, I can do this; the pain is what it is; I’m many things – pain doesn’t define me, and this won’t last forever.

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    Welcome

    Chronic Pain Champions is an information resource/blog/support group to help chronic pain patients, their families, and friends, as well as healthcare professionals. Learn more about this site and the author.

    Free e-book: Chronic Pain Won't Stop Me


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    Content presented is for informational purposes only and should be used in conjunction with healthcare professionals.  It is not meant to replace professional advice. 

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    Tom Bowen
    Chronic Pain Champions
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