ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP YOU SOOTHE ACCIDENT-RELATED PAIN
Thank you to Teresa Greenhill for this Guest Post
Back, neck and other painful injuries are all too common after a car accident. Experiencing pain and inflammation as a result of these injuries … Read More
DANCING CAN HELP YOUR DEPRESSION
It is quite common for people who have been injured in car accidents to become depressed. If your injuries involve long-term or chronic pain, trauma and loss, depression becomes ever more likely.
This makes perfect … Read More
LEARNING ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN – A SHORT VIDEO TO HELP
Hania and I (mostly Hania) have been experiementing with a new format. We thought it might be interesting to learn some facts about chronic pain with a Doodly video. Doodly … Read More
HOW TO OVERCOME SUSPICION OF PEOPLE IN PAIN
This is not really as hard as is may seem. The solution is to take a closer look at the evidence. Here is how you can do this.
First, let’s take a … Read More
WHY IS CHRONIC PAIN SO OVERWHELMING FOR SO MANY PEOPLE?
For those who missed it, I have edited and expanded a talk I gave last year to a Rehab First Seminar in London, Ontario. It is rather long, so rather … Read More
WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD – HERE’S HOW
I know this is a little off topic. But after reading about the exciting work by the RoomTo Read organization, I couldn’t help myself. I had to share.
First, A Little Backstory… Read More
TINA FEY HAS THE SECRET
It is not helpful to discount or diminish any persons’ pain or suffering.
By discounting, you are (thinking) or saying to this person,I think you are suffering a lot less than you say you … Read More
IN PRAISE OF GSD (GETTING SHIT DONE)
My wife used to make fun of me. She said I was “A man on a mission”.
I wasn’t offended – I kind of agreed with her. I was driven to create a … Read More
CHRONIC PAIN – NOT ALWAYS HARD TO BELIEVE
An interesting memory popped into my head the other day. I like it when this happens.
I remembered an insightful comment from a leader of a chronic pain group I knew.
At … Read More
KINDNESS HELPS CHRONIC PAIN
Please help yourself to an article I wrote a few years ago. It is entitled:
Treating Chronic Pain with Compassion, Empathy and Kindness
published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology Practice in 2015.
Please … Read More
CHRONIC PAIN IS MORE THAN JUST PAIN
This is a very new idea for many people – even health care professionals. But, it shouldn’t be.
Even people who live in pain every day sometimes don’t put all of the pieces … Read More
UNBELIEVABLY GOOD – RESOURCE GUIDES FOR FIBROMYALGIA
All in one place. Can you believe it?
I was surprised to find this much good information in one place. Information that is up-to-date, science-based and accurate. The guide all have a tone … Read More
LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN – A FIRST PERSON STORY
There are many types of chronic pain. They all have several things in common:
- they all follow from physical injury or illness
- they all involve long-term relentless pain
- they all cause
Why are You Going to War With Your Pain?
When you go to war with pain, pain always wins.
Always.
This is a very difficult lesson for many people to learn.
The harder you fight, the stronger your pain … Read More
A VERDICT IS NO CURE
Some doctors, lawyers, insurance adjusters, employers and even family members still believe that once your lawsuit is over, you will be all better. Your pains will magically disappear and you can return to work and … Read More
PAIN AND ANTI-DEPRESSANT MEDICATION – SOMETIMES IT’S THE HOW THAT COUNTS
Sometimes doctors are too quick to prescribe anti-depressant medication for people who suffer from chronic or long-term pain.
And sometimes it is this quickness that can cause trouble.
Anti-depressant … Read More
PAIN, LIMITATIONS AND FEELING “not enough”
Heart Berries is a sledgehammer, according to the New York Times review.
And I couldn’t agree more.
Here is a little more from, Parul Sehgal of the Times.
‘Heart Berries’ Shatters a … Read More
I AM STILL CONFUSED
This story is lurking around in my brain and continues to haunt me. I try to make sense of it, but it still confuses me.
A patient with severe back pain and secondary depression came into … Read More
A 2 MINUTE RULE CAN HELP WITH YOUR DEPRESSION
One of the hardest parts about pain and depression is that they both sap your energy and motivation. They do it individually and then they gang up and do it together. … Read More
KICK-ASS INSPIRATION
To learn about the real-life struggles of people who live every day in pain, check out the related facebook group and twitter feeds.
Here, you can find valuable information from the people who really know what they … Read More
AGAIN – CHRONIC PAIN IS NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD
It is not a psychological problem, not like a dream, not like a memory, not imaginary.
Unfortunately, it is all too physical and all too real.
In fact, chronic … Read More
THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT – FUNNY AND USEFUL
Do these guys really look like they could team up to create something useful?
Not really.
So why is a scientific concept named after them? It must be a coincidence, but to … Read More
MORE LOSSES, MORE PAIN, MORE LOSSES
Have you been pushed or kicked off the ledge?
This how it has felt for many people that suffer from chronic pain – real physical long-term pain – after they have been cut off … Read More
HOW TO HELP PEOPLE THE WAY MELINDA GATES DOES?
The new book by Melinda Gates is called, The Moment of Lift.
It is an incredible read. Well written (as you would expect), entertaining and so inspiring.
And, on every … Read More
CAUGHT ON VIDEO – NOW WHAT?
What happens if a private investigator takes a video of you mowing the lawn and sends it to your insurance company? Are you in trouble? Will your benefits be cut off? Will your lawyer … Read More
HOW TO TRUST AGAIN AFTER YOUR INJURY
When you live in pain every day, life is hard. And you need a lot of support.
Some of your friends and family will be very kind and helpful. Others may surprise you … Read More
“YOU MUST SEE A LOT OF SUFFERING”
The other day, for some reason, I found myself looking over an article from the Chronic Pain Letter. I hadn’t seen it in years – it was dated, September 4, 2011.
I … Read More
REAL COMMUNICATION FROM SETH GODIN
I am a fan of Seth Godin’s work. He is the author of many best-selling books on marketing. His approach is honest, authentic and free of hype.
HOW BAD IS CHRONIC PAIN??
Here are a few startling statistics from the world of science.
- More than 1.5 billion people worldwide experience chronic pain.
2. More Americans are affected by chronic pain than by diabetes , heart disease and … Read More
FORCED RETIREMENT – THE ABYSS
I was struck by some threatening ideas, in a recent book. They hit quite close to the bone – too close really. I am not too far away from retirement myself.
Riley Moynes, a … Read More
LADY GAGA – HER EXPERIENCE WITH FIBROMYALGIA AND CHRONIC PAIN
I just saw A Star is Born, the fabulous movie with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Both of their performances were incredible, I thought.
There is no doubt that … Read More
HOW TO EXPLAIN YOUR DEPRESSION TO OTHERS
Pain is very hard to explain to others. But, depression is even harder – especially to others that don’t have any personal experience with it.
Sometimes, it helps to use grief as a … Read More
ART HELPS US SEE PAIN, AND LOSS
To me, this painting has power – it helps me see and feel a little of the artist’s experience, in a way that words never could.
This painting is by Helen Harley, from … Read More
SLEEP DEPRIVATION – THE GREAT PAIN MAGNIFIER
National Geographic, one of my favourite magazines, has just published an interesting article on sleep. While we sleep, our mind goes on an amazing journey by Michael Finkel. Here is the link:… Read More
PAIN – IT’S NEVER ALL IN YOUR HEAD
“So essentially, you are psychoanalyzing pain perceptions, correct?”
This challenge on Facebook shocked me. I had thought we had come a lot further than that.
But, I was wrong. There are many … Read More
HOW TO USE THE POWER OF COMPLAINT
In society today, complaints are more powerful than ever. Complaints can lead to things being done. And when this happens, it can lead to you feeling less powerless in this unfair world.
Look … Read More
OBJECTIVE MEASURES – NICE, BUT NOT THE HOLY GRAIL
I see a common phrase when I read reports from insurance doctors. It goes like this:
There is no objective evidence of impairment or injury.
This phrase is used to discount … Read More
AN ENCYCLOPEDIA TO HELP WITH YOUR PAIN
I have known and worked with Gloria Gilbert for over 25 years. She is a physiotherapist, with a special interest in chronic pain, who has helped thousands of injured people.
Gloria has just … Read More
MORE WAYS TO MEASURE PAIN
Pain is what you say it is. This is a simple rule used by all pain specialists. This is not the only information used, but it is where all health professionals start.
Health professionals are … Read More
SOUL CRUSHING – HOW IT WORKS, PART 1
It is well known that stress and loss can aggravate physical illnesses and injuries. For example, if you have heart disease, high levels of stress, especially prolonged stress, can make the physical … Read More
KATE SPADE, AND NOW ANTHONY BOURDAIN – WHY?
Such tragedies, the loss of these two very bright stars.
Kate Spade, a highly successful fashion designer, created a string of dazzling retail stores. Anthony Bourdain, was a chef, accomplished writer and … Read More
SO, HOW DO YOU MEASURE PAIN?
A lawyer, I know, told me an interesting courtroom story. The lawyer wanted to try to show the jury how much pain her client had been experiencing, since his car accident. She had asked … Read More
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS UNDERESTIMATE PATIENTS’ PAIN – ALL OVER THE WORLD
For millions of people, who live every day in pain, it is a constant struggle to get their health professionals to take them seriously and to get the help they … Read More
DOUBLE THE TROUBLE FROM INSURANCE DOCTORS
Insurance adjusters, workers’ compensation case managers and defence attorneys need to be very careful when selecting and hiring doctors to do evaluations for them. There could be serious danger ahead.
Some insurance doctors have … Read More
SEVEN SIMPLE TRUTHS ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN
Chronic pain is real, not imagined. It is never all in your head.
You can’t get better until you stop getting worse. The first step is to recognize this pattern. Even by itself,
… Read More
PAIN AND LOSS ARE DANGERS TO YOUR HEALTH
There once was a doctor who was very popular with insurance companies and insurance lawyers.
In his reports, this doctor liked to conclude that the pain people were experiencing was not … Read More
WHAT WOULD OLIVIA POPE DO?
I am going to miss the rapid-fire intense dialogue, a trademark of the recently finished television show, Scandal. My favourite exchanges were between Olivia and her father Rowan. The cadence was hypnotic and immediately … Read More
YOUR OWN SUPERPOWER
Thank you to Angel Chernoff for your recent post: 31 five-second reminders that will make calmness your superpower .
This post is from her positive and inspiring blog, Marc & Angel Hack Life.
I love reading Marc … Read More
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PAIN FOR INSURERS – PART 2
In a previous post, I described how an escalation of losses can hurt both accident victims and insurance companies. Below, is an earlier posting from the Chronic Pain Letter,… Read More
HOPE AND DESPAIR
Sometimes a quote can really hit you.
This happened the other day. My wife and I were listening to one of our favourite podcasts, Terry O’Reilly’s Under the Influence (on CBC), when we heard O’Reilly use a … Read More
RESISTANCE TO SCIENCE IS FUTILE
Science marches on, with or without the non-believers.
But there are still a few hold outs. And, I guess this is to be expected – at least until a way to make pain visible is … Read More
EMPATHY AND CONNECTION
What is the best way to ease someone’s pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to … Read More
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PAIN FOR INSURERS, PART 1
In my last post, I explained how stress and loss can aggravate injuries that cause long-term or chronic pain.
Losses can easily build and escalate when a person can no longer … Read More
