Let’s Not Accept that Label

Pain management is critical for living a hopeful life with CRPS. We use and we try various medications and treatments, but the pain is relentless. We have sleepless nights and excruciating days, but we can persevere. There is hope.

My first suggestion is getting a Dorsal Root Ganglion Spinal Cord Stimulator in addition to a Neurontin, and other supportive medications as prescribed by your physician. High-quality CBDs work as well.

Joyful Distractions for Living

All that said, we can fight depression and suicidal thoughts and tendencies with distraction. There are so many ways to distract ourselves from the pain.

A Few Ways to Distract Ourselves:

• Exercise: Move those CRPS limbs and strengthen muscles surrounding the affected area. This will help prevent Atrophy and Dystonia.
• Entertainment: Watch positive movies, TV and videos. Staying positive helps our bodies to recover from the pain. Watching negative (death, violence, etc.) shows stresses our bodies and we can become anxious and depressed.
• People: Friends and families give us relationship and fellowship which we need as human beings. We are made for relationships and community. People can offer us love and care.
• Pets: Having pets gives us joy. We often laugh and play when we have pets which works to heal our bodies, minds and spirits.
• Hobbies: Find one if you don’t have one. Take pictures, write, sing, dance, play… and do it like nobody’s watching. Anything we can do to keep our minds busy can help reduce the pain.

Get Creative

Whatever you do, unleash your creativity. Being creative unquestionably gives life meaning. When we have a reason to live for the living, we are less likely to fall into hopelessness.

Be safe,

Jana

P.S.: How do you distract yourself? Please, let me know in the comments.

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Photo credits:

Sergey Shmidt on Unsplash | Gaetano Cessati on Unsplash | Jonas Vincent on Unsplash | Manuel Meza on Unsplash | philippe collard on Unsplash