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Friday, April 15, 2011

3 Pieces of Advice


Once in a while, I get a phone call from someone who found my blog or an article I wrote or is a friend of a friend of a friend. She or her partner has been living with pain or illness and is looking for guidance. Today, I was contacted today by the well partner of a woman who was recently diagnosed with CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome). He wanted advice, ideas, help, hope, anything.

As we spoke, I realized I have three messages that I tend to emphasize. Here they are:
  1. There is always room for hope.
  2. Keep searching. If one approach doesn't work, find another one. There is always something else to try.
  3. Find the great doctors (and practitioners). Good just isn't good enough. Find the great ones. And, for me, the great ones are often those who are both clinicians and researchers.
What key messages or lessons do you offer to others (or to yourself and your partner) that keep you going or serve as anchor points for living with illness?

3 comments:

Katharine Hope said...

Hi, Thank you for this. I'm wondering if you have written any advice for people with chronic illness who are trying to date, and no longer want to be single.

jeisea said...

Three excellent strategies. I was helped by a US website called World's Healthiest Foods. I mention them because I wanted to know how to increase a certain vitamin to a specific amount using food. Within 24 hours of my question I had a reply with lots of options, links to nutional information and so much more. All this with no solicitation to buy or do anything. I hope you don't mind my mentioning this. Sometimes good information can help us eat well.
Love your blog.

Christy said...

Hello Barbara,

I really enjoy your website! My husband suffers from neuropathy and other pain related issues. I’m gathering a list of quotes and websites that I find useful for other people suffering from pain. I put your link on our blogroll - http://www.painmanagementtracker.com/blogroll-2. I would love to have my page linked to your page too.

Thanks,

Christy