Peace with Pain

Meditation and Pain

2011-12-02T03:56:00.000-09:30

Meditation, a method of sitting still, controlling your breathing, and quieting your mind, is a proven technique for easing pain. With time and practice, you will find your pain lessening and your attitude toward life improving, even people who have had pain for years.

I've putting this site here which I recommend you take a look at, if I can get this to work.....
http://meditationtechniques.co/3137/meditation-techniques-to-ease-back-pain/
This site offers helpful information, but it certainly isn't the only site. Unfortunately, I must warn you of people who know absolutely nothing yet claim to be knowledgeable on the subject.

If you're new to meditation, I recommend going to amazon.com to find a CD or DVD, again, same warning, so be careful. You'll find yourself drawn to one if you just quiet your mind for a minute.

I must admit that I meditated for years and got out of the habit. I'm back in the habit now. I meditate first thing in the morning every morning, or almost every morning and it is changing my life for the better in so very many ways. I'm calmer, more relaxed, less pain, less thoughts of pain. Meditation is giving me charge of my life again instead of pain being in charge. That's big!!!

Blessings and Peace to all!

Gratitude

2011-12-01T11:46:00.000-09:30

How many times today have you said you're grateful for something? 2? 5? 10? A cheerful and grateful heart is good medicine and serves as a great pain reliever. It's similar to not being able to be angry and laugh at the same time. If your laughter is sincere, your anger goes away.

This works similarly with gratitude and pain. You cannot be in a state of pure thankfulness and be in pain at the same time. They cannot co-exist. So find something to be thankful for and do it/ be it with all of your heart, mind, and spirit. You will be rewarded with peace and comfort. Honest!

Wishing you love and peace.

It Is What It Is.........

2011-11-15T13:01:00.001-09:30

But it will become what you make it!

It is so very easy to get down and out about our situation, the pain, the fatigue. I have two words to say to you for that......please don't! And I'll say right now that this does not run contradictory to my last post about acceptance. They go hand in hand!

You're disabled? So am I! I certainly don't intend to stop there though. I have a book on amazon.com. I have this blog. I intend to begin lecturing in January. The information will be on my website: www.elizabethannjohnston.com.

Don't allow the pain to control your life. I spend most of my days in the bed, but I also climb stairs, play with my dogs, and clean my house a wee little bit at a time. Now, I could say, I can't clean my house. I have a rather large house and it can be overwhelming, but what I can do is dust one room at a time. Clean one section of flooring at a time. OR...I could hire someone to do it all for me. I cannot sit in a car very long to travel, but I have an SUV, so my husband puts the back seats down, puts a mat down for me to lay on and I have my chariot! We live in Texas and we're going to my daughter's on the east coast for Thanksgiving so I can spend time with my family, my incredible daughter and fantastic grand kids! Where there's a will, there is indeed a way.

Please don't be a "glass is half empty" kind of a person! My cup always runneth over! Sure, I have my days, but don't get comfortable in being miserable! God loves a cheerful heart! It's all in what you decide to make it!

Being OK with the pain

2011-11-06T08:30:00.000-09:30

"What we resists persists". You may have heard that saying numerous times in reference to numerous topics, but have you ever thought about it in reference to your pain? Best example: When you have a sharp, stabbing pain, or a spasm what do you almost always do? Hold your breath, tighten your entire body, make everything tense, and sometimes practically have a panic attack. What's the BEST thing to do in that situation? Take deep breaths, mentally relax your body, tell yourself it's only pain and talk yourself out of it. It can be done. I know because I've done it many, many times.

We've programmed ourselves to think that pain is bad, pain hurts, we should panic. That's the proper response to acute, sudden onset pain that is new. God gave us that response to let us know something is wrong and we need to take action quickly.

The opposite is true for chronic pain or the little sharp, stabbing pain or spasms that go along with having had surgery, especially back surgery, or even just having chronic pain without the surgery. In our minds, we know the difference and we must learn to be discerning/ know the difference and respond accordingly. This is the way we stay out of fight or flight which is harmful to us in so many ways, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The key learn to relax even with the pain. Get out of the habit of claiming it! By that I mean "my back hurts so bad I can hardly stand it" rephrase: "the pain in my back is high now, but it's getting better with each deep breath I take". Don't panic! Pain will NOT kill you even though it may feel as though it's going to at times. It's these times we must be extra diligent in watching our words, thoughts, actions. Relax.....it's only pain! Trust me, I know of which I speak!
Peace be with you!

Prescription Narcotic Medications

2011-11-01T07:51:00.000-09:30

I was reading the news this morning and found some really disturbing information about prescribed narcotic medications. First let me say this, narcotic medication consists of anything from Vicodin to Morphine and everything in between. It MUST be prescribed by a licensed medical doctor. Physician Assistants cannot write a prescription for a narcotic medication, though they certainly can write other prescriptions.

Are you ready for this? It blew me away, I hope it does you as well. The overdose rate of prescription drugs is 4 times higher than it was this time ten years ago.
Narcotic prescriptions are now prescribed 4 times more often than ten years ago.
The law enforcement agency states that narcotic prescription drug overdoses is now an epidemic. They go on to say that it is the most serious public safety threat the law enforcement faces.

Did you get all of that? Did you allow it to sink in because if you are living with chronic pain odds are you are taking a narcotic drug! Please, I beg you as someone who has almost accidentally overdosed herself, please pay attention to this!!! This stuff can kill you even if you don't intend for it to do so!

The doctor went on to say that five years ago they were taught in medical school that even patients taking narcotics for short periods of time could not get addicted but they've since discovered that they were wrong!

You may need narcotic medications from time to time, but please, please, please I beg you look for alternative means of dealing with your pain. There are numerous holistic healing treatments out there. Massage therapy, Acupuncture has been proven and is listed by the American Institute of Health as being effective for the treatment of chronic pain, the same for Reiki (Ray-key), a gentle healing touch. Cranial Sacral therapy is quite effective. I could go on and on. Do you know one of the most important things you can do to help with your pain? Go off of sugar!

Got knee or low back pain? Lose weight!

We've become such a nation of pill poppers that we don't even think about what they do to us! You are worth trying other means of pain management! How about PRAYER! MEDITATION!

I care about you! Do you care about yourself???

Peace be unto you.

Your Body Temple

2011-09-01T06:50:00.000-09:30

I must state up front here that I am speaking to myself in this blog at least as much if not more than you!   I am trying though, so let's all make an attempt at treating well our body temple.

Jesus tells us, "know ye not thy body is a temple of the living God?". The Holy Spirit lies within each of us! This is what makes our body a temple of the living God.

How do you treat your temple?   You wouldn't go into your church and throw trash or tear up the place would you?   So what makes you think you can do that to your body???

Eating junk food, not exercising, not eating our daily servings of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains is being abusive to God's temple, our body.   And then we become frustrated when we're in so much pain! Well, dear friend, what did you expect?   The same goes for over doing it; doing physical things that we know is going to make us hurt, yet we become brain dead and do them anyway. Then complain because we're in pain!

The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.   I don't know about you, but I've been acting fairly stupid as of late.   The good news is that it's not too late to begin again!
I can begin today to take better care of my body and it will respond in kind with less pain, less suffering, and actual healing.
So, my goal for today is to eat no sugar and drink more water.   How about you? How are you going to treat your body temple???

Wishing you peace always.....

Ann J

The Truth About Pain Pumps

2011-08-11T11:03:00.000-09:30

I've been having a severe pain episode for about six months now, having to take pain medication and even getting pain shots about once a month. I was in a really low place physically, emotionally, and spiritually.   My family doctor, who oversees my pain management, was finally ready to give up and send me back to my pain management doctor and suggested that I get a pain pump.

I researched pain pumps. I went to the Medtronic's sight, the makers of pain pumps to read what they had to say about their equipment, I read what my pain management doctor had to say about pain pumps, and I went to Web MD to read what they said about pain pumps. Every site said essentially the same thing. Did you know that the tubing from pain pumps can very easily become displaced and have to be removed? Did you know that a few days after you get a pump put in, it may be so ineffective that you'll want it removed? Did you know that you'll probably have to continue to take oral pain medication with your pain pump and may very well have to have your oral pain medication increased with your pain pump???   And finally, did you know that pain pumps are only 50% proven effective?!!!

I went back to my family practice doctor and as politely as possible declined going back to my pain management doctor, whose reputation by the way is the best in 5 surrounding counties!   I asked my family physician knowing what I had just found out, why on earth would anyone agree to a pain pump?   I have the answer.   Desperation.

So now what to do? No pain pump, so what to do about the pain?   I reluctantly agreed to go on pain medication for a while. I asked my doctor to give me 3 months and promised that if I had not improved, I would see my pain management doctor.   It's been a month and I'm already off of the stronger pain medication. Now I'm on something not as strong, that allows me to think with a clear head and doesn't make me sleep all day.   I expect by two weeks to be down to an even lesser strength pain medication.

What have I done to manage my pain? The answer is extremely simple and you may not believe it, but I promise you it is the truth.   I increased the time I spend in prayer and meditation every day. Jesus said if we have faith of a grain of mustard seed we shall move mountains. I didn't need to move a mountain!   I just needed to manage my pain, so I've been working on strengthening my faith. I promise to keep hope in my heart and to love God, myself and everyone else.

There's one more alternative medicine tool that I'm using. I'll tell you about it in the next post.   In the meantime, stay strong in the Lord!   He is the Master Healer!!!

Wisdom from Thomas Edison

2011-07-25T09:00:00.000-09:30

Remember Thomas Edison from your history books?   He did many things besides invent the light bulb. I believe most of us can agree that he was a highly intelligent man.   The following is a quote from him that I found most interesting..........

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the causes and prevention of disease."

He is putting the care of our bodies and our health exactly where it should be, in our hands!   Also, in our minds as in what we think, in our mouths, what we eat, and learning about diseases and how to prevent them instead of depending completely upon our doctors and the pharmaceutical industry for making us well oftentimes only after we have become gravely ill.

Having already had four spinal surgeries, preventative medicine will not do much for me at this point besides keep me from needing a fifth surgery and trust me when I say to you that I see my neurological chiropractor for that very purpose on a regular basis.

I believe it is our job to seek out the holistic things that will cure us as opposed to running into the doctor and asking for the latest pill that has a real good chance of killing us!    Please do not misunderstand me here, I am NOT completely anti-doctor or even anti-medicine, they have their places in keeping us alive in addition to adding to the quality of our lives.

I do however believe that were we to happen to eat healthy, exercise, drink enough water, take appropriate supplements, and do our own research, we could discover many different and positively wonderful ways of taking care of "the human frame" while working in partnership with our doctors.   Holistic, mind/body/spirit medicine is growing in interest by leaps and bounds because people want to be in charge of their own bodies.   Unfortunately, it is also because of the dangerous side effects or "accidents" that have occurred in hospitals or doctor's offices.   Whatever has led you to seek the holistic path, be careful, there are many, many snake oil salesmen out there who just want your money, so do your research and begin with something as simple as making a small change in your diet. Eat healthier! Then go on from there.    You'll be glad you did and I applaud your efforts!   Thomas Edison would be pleased! :-)

No One Understands

2011-07-19T11:36:00.000-09:30

And don't expect them to because they can't possibly.

Chronic pain, all pain is perception. Therefore it's unrealistic to expect someone to know how you feel even someone else with chronic pain. We all perceive it differently. It affects us all differently.

This makes living with chronic pain extremely difficult emotionally because we want so desperately for someone, anyone to know how we feel!!! If they could just understand! Our family, our friends, even our doctors are clueless, making our actions, such as staying in bed when they think we should go out, endlessly frustrating for both people.

Regardless of what they think, you must accept that you're doing the best you can and love yourself enough to not be critical and reject any criticism that may come your way from others. Just tell them to walk a mile in your shoes, or live a month in your body! Or better yet, just leave it alone! Forgive them because they know not of which they speak!!!

Wishing you peace!

Just when you think you cannot take it a moment longer......

2011-07-12T04:49:00.000-09:30

You read, hear about, or see someone who is so very much worse than you and it's at that precise moment that it would be in your best interest to stop and thank God for your blessings!

If you will allow me to indulge here (it is after all my blog!), chronic pain patients tend to become self-centered, selfish, thoughtless, rude, crude, and at times socially unacceptable and we do it all in the name of .."but I'm in PAIN!" You and tens of millions, that's right tens of millions of other folks just in the good ol' United States of America, so....what if we ALL decided we had a right to behave badly???

As I said in my last blog, give what you wish to receive. LOVE is the answer, not griping, complaining, (please pardon my language), bitching! Biting someone's head off won't make you feel better and once it's out there, you can't take it back!

So please think of all of those people in this world who have it so much worse than you and pray for them. Then be thankful for.....there but for the grace of God.......go I!

I wish you peace!

Being Loving and Kind

2011-07-01T06:53:00.000-09:30

As chronic pain patients the two most important things we could use as I see it, are love and kindness. No one can understand what we're going through, so love and a little bit of kindness goes a long way.

The important thing to remember is that we must give what we want to receive!   So, if we want love, we must give love. If we want kindness, we must be kind toward others.   We receive what we give away. Plus it simply makes us feel better!   It gets us out of our state of pain and makes us forget about our own suffering.

Being loving and kind is a wonderful way to keep from suffering.   Find someone to do something for to help make your own troubles seem less.   Remember, there is almost always someone who is having a more difficult time than you!   Find that person, go to him/her and do what you can to help them.   Even if it's just a phone call. Cheering them up will in turn lift your spirits!

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."   Jesus       A great rule by which to live and to enrich our own lives!

As A Man Believeth

2011-06-30T07:13:00.000-09:30

"As a man believes in his heart, so is he." Jesus

Twenty years ago the big deal was to "think positively", but that has since rather faded away because even while positive thinking certainly has its benefits, Jesus fully understood what it took to effectively change our lives by believing wholeheartedly. That's faith!!!

Believing something with your whole heart and not doubting will give you answers! You'll suddenly find yourself knowing the right thing to do. You'll find yourself living with more peace, knowledge, and understanding of Truth, God's Truth. What is truly best for you!

This is why meditation is so important...it gives us the opportunity to listen with our hearts!

Give faith a chance. Give meditation a chance and instead of listening with your head, listen with your heart as that is where your true wisdom lies!
God Bless You!

Pain and Sugar

2011-06-28T08:28:00.000-09:30

Fibromyalgia, CFS, Lupus, Arthritis, (I could go on and on); let's just say all autoimmune diseases are susceptible to sugar intake.

If you kept track every day of what you ate, you would find that pain increases proportionately to the amount of sugar you eat. Please remember that sugar is everywhere!   I'm talking about sugar substitutes too because your body treats it the same way.

The culprit here is yeast. Studies have found that people who have autoimmune diseases have a high amount of yeast in the body. Sugar feeds yeast creating new little yeasties which in turn makes you feel worse, lowers your energy level and increases your pain level.

I personally have, for the most part, gone off of sugar because even a teaspoon seems to do a real number on me, making me feel just awful!   So, it's best if I just stay away from it.   Yes, it takes a lot of label reading, but once you know where the hidden sugars are, shopping will be quick, easy, and you will be very happy for having made the effort!   Your body will thank you for it.

Trust me on this, I know of which I speak! :-)         Peace to all!

Taking Care of Yourself

2011-06-27T03:26:00.000-09:30

I could tell you to eat healthy, exercise, pray, meditate, follow doctor's orders, take good care of yourself! But would you do these things???    Why not?

You're not stupid yet you do stupid things! Why?

Some things we do that are detrimental to our health are unavoidable, but most things we do that we know are going to cause us pain, yet we do them anyway are simply a matter of not taking care of ourselves.   Why?

I want you to think about this, really think about it.   Why do we do things that we know are going to add to our pain???   You think you're gonna get away with it this time???   Or...do you unconsciously believe that you deserve to be punished???!!!   Think about that!    The answer may, just may surprise you because you would never ever admit aloud to yourself or anyone else that you think you deserve to be punished.    Yet....you do. Over and over and over again.

It's time to stop living in the state of denial and accept your limitations, then just stop it!   Stop punishing yourself.   Stop doing all of those things that will put you in pain the next day, if not days just because you think you can when you know full well that you can't!!!

The fact that you can no longer do things that you used to be able to do is not your fault! Things happen. Age happens. Arthritis, fibromyalgia, back injuries, neurological diseases and damages, on and on....they happen! Life happens!   Deal with it!   Deal with it!!! Let up on yourself!

Find a way to be at peace with it! Life will be so much better when you do!

Pain versus Suffering

2011-06-26T00:56:00.000-09:30

The Dali Lama said, "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional".

I take that to mean that we all have pain at various points in time, yes, even chronic pain, but it is up to us as to whether or not we choose to suffer!

So, what is the difference?    Pain is hurting and going on with your life any way, regardless of the pain within our known limits!!! Suffering is allowing the pain to be in charge and shall I dare say, wallowing in the pain. Allowing the pain to be in charge.

Are you not the captain of your ship, the master of your destiny???   If not, why not?

I must admit to you that I have been going through a difficult few months with my pain experience being very high and I have indeed suffered plenty!   I have allowed the pain to be in charge!    I have stayed in bed for the most part (not a good thing! It sends "sick" signals to your brain!!!), I've eaten all types of junk food, I haven't exercised, or only occasionally have I done Spring Forest Qi Gong which always makes me feel better!   I have been suffering and allowing the pain to be in charge.

The good news is that I am turning that around, drinking more water, exercising, doing my prayer and meditation faithfully.   I'm thinking positive thoughts!    I acting as though my body is a temple of the living God! And therefore, taking care of it as though it were a true temple! I have decided that I have suffered enough and taken action to end the suffering and bring joy back into my life!   God loves each and every one of us and does not want us to suffer. Love, Peace, and Joy are our God given rights!   So, claim your rights, right here and now. Stop being a victim and BE KIND AND GENTLE TO YOUR BODY!    You deserve it!   It's the way God wants us to live.....to the fullest!    In Peace!          God bless you!

CALL SOMEONE!

2011-06-23T01:31:00.000-09:30

Yesterday I found myself in the miserable position of being in absolute agony and having no one to talk to, rather to cry to, until my pain pill took effect.   I finally called my son who is extremely compassionate, patient, and understanding, (as is my daughter!) and who can make me laugh in a matter of a very few minutes.

While I was bawling my eyes out and saying "I can't take it any more", he insisted that I could indeed take it, reminded me that I've been in this position many times, and that I would get through this too.   I think I would have just about lost my mind had I not had my son to talk to me and "bring me around". I was out of control!

When we live with chronic pain, we are inclined to have acute episodes the likes of which is (pardon my language), pure hell and nothing, absolutely nothing except a strong pain shot or pill will help.   If you live with pain, you know of which I speak.

Thank God, these "episodes" aren't very often.   Mine are sometimes brought on by something physical that I've done and probably should have known better, but sometimes, they're brought on by something as simple as eating sugar. Yes, sugar and that includes sugar substitutes such as Stevia.

My point here today is that you need a list at your bedside or your favorite chair of names and numbers to call when you get into this predicament.   Talking to yourself, telling yourself "it's only pain", just doesn't take care of it. Your body has completely taken over the situation and you are out of control.   Call someone!   Call someone who is understanding, patient, compassionate, perhaps who has been where you are in that moment.
You are suffering and you need help!   Reach out and get it! After all, you deserve it!   You're giving someone an opportunity to be a good person....to do a good deed!   And when it's all said and done, you can do the same for someone else!    Do not suffer needlessly!   People need people!

Be good to yourself and allow someone else to be good to you too! It's a God thing! He put that person there for you in that moment. Be thankful!

Wishing you peace always!

Amazing Device!

2011-05-16T06:57:00.000-09:30

Very seldom do I find something that actually lives up to its claim, but I have in this simple, yet profound "healing pad".   I was in incredible pain a few days ago from twisting by back while do some house cleaning. Fortunately for me, my husband had ordered the "healing pad" a few days before.   I spent three days in agony, could barely get out of bed by myself nor could I walk upright. But then the healing pad was delivered, not a day too soon!

I've used this pad off and on for three days now and I'm almost as good as new!   I'm continuing to use it on my upper shoulders as well as my arthritic knees. My knee which needs to be replaced, had significant less pain after just 2 15 minute sessions. Instead of waking up with my usual pain and stiffness, I was pain free and could walk without my usual morning limp. The results have been amazing!   I don't use the word amazing very often, but in this case, it is no exaggeration. The pad comes in three different sizes and uses far infrared heat for healing.   It also has jade stones inside the pad for additional healing effects.

http://www.losethebackpain.com/backpainreliefproducts.html

If you cannot get to the site from here, go to www.losethebackpain.com and click on products. You'll find the "healing pad" under products.    This pad is not cheap and believe me, I know it's risky to spend that much money on something that you aren't certain will help. Please trust me when I tell you that you won't regret this purchase. Ask your kids to pool their money and buy it for you as a birthday present! You'll be glad you did.

You can thank me later!

Wishing you peace!

Coughing can worsen back and neck pain

2011-05-11T07:06:00.000-09:30

I recently had the misfortune of having a virus which led to bronchitis.   I coughed frequently and sometimes so hard that I thought I was going to cough up a lung! ;-)

All of this coughing led to terrible back and neck pain and spasms so severe that I actually gave in and went to see my doctor for pain shots.   I have a fairly good size arsenal of holistic remedies, but the spasms were so tight and had been for over a week, I had to have the shots to break the pain cycle.

Now, I shall go visit my chiropractor tomorrow for an adjustment. He will be able to adjust my back with greater ease as the spasms are not as tight thanks to the pain shots!

The moral of this story is that everything has it's purpose and time.   My family doctor knows that I do not go running into see him for shots very often and when I do, I'm in excruciating pain! He also knows that I've tried every trick in my book before I went in to see him.    My chiropractor is grateful that my back is not in intense spasm so his adjustment will go easier and be more effective!

This is western medicine working with holistic medicine.   We are much better off when we combine the two to compliment each other instead of neglecting one or the other simply on principle.   Be open and flexible. Know what to do and when to do it!    And of course, always, always pray!!!   Prayer is the best medicine and is best used at all times!

Wishing you peace always in all ways!   And the blessings of God!

Be Transformed

2011-04-29T08:09:00.000-09:30

"Be ye transformed by the renewal of your mind".        Jesus

Thoughts are actual things, they produce energy that create in their kind. It is scientific fact, not some mumbo jumbo that I and many others have made up. If you want to know what your thoughts have been, look at your life today. If you want a better life tomorrow, be very careful what you're thinking today! Good, happy, loving, kind thoughts create a good, happy, loving, kind life!   "Poor me" thoughts, or thoughts of sadness, depression, fear produce a life of depression along with all of the things you fear. Remember the story of Job when he said "the things I have feared have come upon me".

Regardless of your situation, let me say that again...regardless of your situation you have the God given ability to decide to be happy! It is quite literally, your choice! It's your life.   What do you want to be? Happy? Sad? Miserable?    You decide!   God has given us free will to live our lives as we choose.

I choose to be happy.    I wish the same for you.   God bless!

God's Strength

2011-04-25T06:13:00.000-09:30

When you think you simply cannot make it another minute, when the pain is getting the best of you, and has beaten you down, you can turn to God to give you strength to make it through.

"So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Just when you think you cannot make it one more day, hour, minute, you can count on the mighty power, strength, and love of God to pull you through. Trust me, I know of which I speak!

Wishing you a blessed and peace filled day!

Why? versus What?

2011-04-08T09:38:00.000-09:30

Yoda told Luke in Star Wars Episode V when he was about to ask "why?" about something, "No! No! There is no 'why'!"    I've always been intrigued by that. Why can you not ask "why"???

I believe I have the answer and how this may relate to you.   Personally, I've probably asked God a thousand times "why me?"; "why this?".   Have you ever done that?   Perhaps you have. If so, let me give you this to ponder.    Asking why gets us nowhere. It leads to nothing but frustration, confusion, even anger. It's a dead end road.     So what do you ask?   Good question!

WHAT? What is my next step? What do I do with this situation?   What leads to action. It leads to answers. What can you do now? And don't say nothing because you can! There is always something that you can do regardless of your condition or situation.    I'm in bed right now on my laptop computer. Sitting is difficult for me and leads to a lot of pain, so I spend most of my days in bed. But what I've discovered is that I can write while laying in bed. I have two e-books for sell on amazon.com right now and I wrote them while in bed.   They're both about chronic pain!   I know about chronic pain!   I also know about holistic cures for pain because I've researched the heck out of it and tried what I recommend.

The actor Christoper Reeves who made Superman come to life did a great deal of wonderful work after his tragic accident left him paralyzed from the neck down and on a ventilator.   His death was unfortunate, but he lived what was left of his life being positive and motivating others.   What a blessing he was! He truly was a super man!

So...what are you going to do with you life regardless of your pain or any physical limitations you may have? I challenge you to be brave and break out of any rut you may find yourself in right now.   Only ask the questions that will lead you down a positive road to places you perhaps have never been before.   What are you going to do now?

Be Blessed! May the Force be with you always! ;-)

God's Compassion

2011-04-02T02:45:00.000-09:30

"The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made."        Psalm 145:9

God wouldn't create us and then not love us and have compassion for us.

When we're feeling alone, lonely, depressed, it is because we a have pushed God away, not because God is not near us all the time.   Loneliness, depression are based upon fear. Depression is actually anger turned inward, but I'm not here to be your therapist, so that's all I shall say about depression. Except to remind you that God is with you always!   We must turn to Him! Acknowledge Him in all our ways!

In living with pain, it's easy to lose our way.   To forget what is important. We forget to turn to God and we forget that not only does God love us, we must love ourselves!   Have compassion for ourselves. Are we not worthy???   Of course we are!   We are children of God! A most compassionate Father!

Have faith! Be kind to yourself and others!   "Love ye one another".   "Love thy neighbor as thyself!"    You'll find that this is wonderful pain medication!
Peace and Blessings be unto you!

Isolation and Depression

2011-03-27T05:42:00.000-09:30

Having lived with chronic pain for over twenty years now,   I am, unfortunately very aware of the isolation and depression that can go with living in constant pain.   It is a battle you must not allow yourself to lose!

Remember....you are worth fighting for!   Never, never, ever give up!

If people have stopped coming to you, which they will sometimes, you must reach out to others. It is crucial to your mental, physical, and spiritual well being to be among others as often and in as many ways as possible. Be it in person, by phone, by e-mail, facebook, twitter, even now....Skype!!! We live in a world and in a time where isolation is simply by choice, not by necessity!

So, reach out....you must give what you wish to receive and remember Winston Churchill's words.....
   if you're going through hell, keep going!

God bless you always!

A Topical Solution

2011-03-20T16:45:00.000-09:30

One thing that I absolutely love to use topically for my back or knee pain is Soothanol X2.   It leaves all of the other topical ointments and solutions in the dust in my opinion. It has Menthol and DMSO in it which burns my sensitive skin a bit, so I first apply Emu oil. That's right, emu oil which in and of itself helps to relieve pain and inflammation, so I get a double dose of relief when I use the combination of the two.   You can find both products on the internet. As with anything you buy on the internet, buyer beware, be sure you use a reputable company. It's available on amazon.com.

Soothanol isn't cheap. I think a small bottle cost around $40., but let me tell you, a little goes a long way and it's money well spent.   Obviously, I highly recommend it as it is the absolute best product on the market today (in my opinion) for topical pain relief of arthritis, bursitis, inflammation or generalized joint or muscle pain.

As always, talk with your doctor about any new drug, even topical solutions such as this.   The most common side effect is itching caused by the menthol, but it also burns if you have sensitive skin. Be cautious!

Here's wishing you peace always!

Give It To God

2011-03-17T06:40:00.000-09:30

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28

Lighten your load.......give it to God! And then let Him keep it! Don't take it back!!!

Peace be with you always!