Welcome! I’m so happy that you’re here. Please have a look around and make yourself (un)comfortable.
So what’s this all about anyways?
Chronic pain management
Have you ever been in pain? Of course you have. We’ve all had a stubbed toe or sore tooth. Some of you may have even broken bones, or dealt with life threatening injuries. These are what are called “acute” pains. They have a clear cause and they heal within a few weeks or months after treatment or rest. “Chronic” pain is another beast entirely and it is my (unfortunate) area of expertise. This is pain that persists long after the healing process should be over. There are so many reasons for why this happens and everyone’s experience of chronic pain is unique.
It is still largely misunderstood and therefore challenging to treat or even diagnose. Thankfully, general awareness and acceptance of this invisible condition is growing. Research and advocacy efforts have been increasing over recent decades, helping those who suffer to put feelings into words.
With over 20 years of experience managing chronic pain, I have many stories to share. Stories of navigating the medical system, dealing with anxiety and depression, losing my identity, and so much more.
I know that there are many people like me. 1 in 5 people are said to suffer from some form of chronic pain in Canada alone.
My goal with this blog is to create a sense of community and connection. Not only for readers experiencing similar situations, but also their caregivers, family and friends, health care providers, and anyone looking for a new perspective on the impacts of chronic pain.
What I will not do…
What I will not do is outline for you the best ways to live with chronic pain or other illnesses. I will not tell you how you can be “better”, “stronger”, or “more resilient”. Basically, I will not, to the best of my ability, give you advice.
And honestly, I’m still figuring this all out myself. I might even change my mind as the years go by. I’ll learn more about a topic or be introduced to new and opposing ideas or simply come to understand a deeper part of myself. In that sense, I’d likely contradict myself if I gave you advice, and I’d prefer not to lie to you.
The stories I write here are from my own perspective, based on my exposure to the world around me. They represent my ideas, thoughts, feelings, and opinions alone.
I write with a mix of satire, sorrow, and silly. I invite you to laugh and cry with me as we connect through all too familiar stories of struggling with invisible pain. I hope that we can connect through our shared experiences and that you find some comfort in reading my stories.
A little about me
- I am Canadian woman in my thirties living in British Columbia, Canada with my partner Josh and our rambunctious dogs Ayra (Ehh-Ra) and Oberon (O-Brr-On).
- I grew up in a French Catholic community in Southwestern Ontario with my wonderfully large extended family.
- My experiences with daily pain started when I was around 13 years of age. The boy I liked in school apparently liked me back. His way of showing it was to kick me in the butt so hard that he damaged my tailbone. To this day, I cannot sit comfortably in a chair for any length of time.
- At 16, my world was turned upside down after I was in a head on vehicle collision (MVI) with a cement barricade. From 70 Km/h to 0 Km/h in a split second. This event would change both the course of my life and how I experience it.
- I’ve had difficulty breathing since childhood, which was exacerbated after breaking my nose in the collision. I was a mouth breather up until I had surgery on my septum in my early 20s.
- I’ve spent the last 10 years working in the field of Geographic Information Systems (I’ll let you google what that means), though I’m more interested in working with people than technology.
- The vast majority of my 20s and early 30s was spent living a highly active lifestyle at work, at play, and in my volounteer work with Search and Rescue.
- I’m a big sharer. I love talking about my experiences and hearing from others about theirs.
- I love to teach. Even more I love to ask questions and learn. My clients at work sometimes roll their eyes at me when I ask for more detail about their request. The more I understand your needs, the better product you shall receive!
- Honesty and integrity are my most important values. Also, I’m a terrible liar.
- Laughing through the pain keeps me sane. Though I’m learning the incredible power of expressing sadness through my tears (aka snotty sobs).
