The Spoon Theory & Chronic Pain

I shared the spoon theory in my last post here.

I’m sure you noticed that the girl in the story has the medical condition Lupus. While obviously not the same medical condition a lot of what she says – No, most – No, all of what she said still applies to anyone with a chronic medical condition.

With fibromyalgia and my other chronic pain conditions I also deal with the daily grind of the limits put on me by my medical conditions. Like Christine, the author, I have a limited amount of energy that I can use each day. Some days I start with more energy, more spoons. Some days I start with less energy, less spoons.

I hope this gives you a new understanding about what it is like to live with chronic pain and chronic illnesses like ours.

My next post is about The Matchbox Theory which I think is actually a little more apt.

September is Pain Awareness Month

In 2001 The American Chronic Pain Association led a coalition of groups to create the first Pain Awareness Month. These iincluded the NAACP, the Endometriosis Association, the American Cancer Society, various nursing organizations and several FM, CFS/ME organizations They assembled under the umbrella of the Partners for Understanding Pain.

This coalition was committed to raising awareness through mass media, public forums, and other sources so that chronic pain may be more readily recognized, better understood without the traditional stigma attached, and more fittingly treated and managed. The partnership, spearheaded by the ACPA, strived to create greater understanding among health care professionals, individuals and families who are struggling with pain management, the business community, legislators, and the general public that pain is a serious public health issue.

Did you know?

• Nearly 100 million Americans experience chronic pain —more than those who have diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.

• Pain is a warning sign that indicates a problem that needs attention.

• Pain starts in receptor nerve cells located beneath the skin and in organs throughout the body.

• Living with pain can be debilitating and adversely affect everyday life.

Examples of pain include: Arthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Headaches & Migraines , Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Sickle Cell Disease, Cancer, Phantom Limb Pain and many more.