5 things I learned being 26 and having a chronic pain condition
- It’s okay to ask for help
- Forgive yourself
- Sometimes you just need to stay in bed
- Say No more often
- Love yourself
The last thing a 20 something year old wants to hear is that they have a chronic condition. I know it was in my case. I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, otherwise known as suicide disease. A rare nerve condition that causes them to over react. I received this diagnosis after an accident where I fell on the ice and broke my right hand. I went through the typical things that you do with a broken hand. I had a cast and did physical therapy.
Three months later I was still in amounts of pain that most people would never dream of surviving. In August I had a surgery to put a spinal cord stimulator. That has helped with the pain. The doctors say that one day I will most likely lose the fine motor skills in my right hand.
I am lucky. I have a family who is really supportive of me. A fiance, who is so understanding of my condition and how it affects everything we do. There are days when I cannot even get out of bed. When I can't be touched by anything. When the weight of the sheet makes me want to scream. I have good days and bad, just like everyone else.
Everyone is going through something. It’s not our place to judge.
