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Home
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PainSupport Newsletter
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No.158, June 2008
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Editor: Jan Sadler
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An Invisible Condition
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Many people write to PainSupport about the
difficulties they have with getting some people to understand their
pain. This may be because pain can't be seen, it’s an ‘invisible illness’
and a very personal experience.
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Some people especially don't understand that we can
go out, look well and appear 'normal' one day - and then refuse
invitations another. They may not appreciate how our activity
levels can vary from day to day, even from hour to hour - and it's often
something that's just as confusing for us!
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Many people will understand but you may come across some who
don't. We need to make a judgement about how much to tell people about
our condition and who to tell. We don't want to become a ‘pain bore’ and
tell everyone everything! So we need to decide when and where it is
appropriate to explain our condition in order to have our needs met.
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When you describe your pain and the effect it has on your
life, speak in a calm and matter-of-fact way.
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Despite our pain and lack of energy, we need to make the
effort in this or we will find misunderstandings arise and our needs are
not being met.
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What To Do
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Maintaining a positive attitude is often a bigger challenge
than dealing with the actual physical pain. The pain will have changed
our lives. One of the biggest challenges is to come to terms with our
limitations and find a new way of living.
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1. Realize you're not alone. Millions are living with pain
and hidden conditions.
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2. Your pain is REAL. Believe in yourself, even if others
question your pain.
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3. Remember that you're not responsible for other people's
reactions.
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4. Speak matter-of-factly whenever you talk about your pain.
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5. When it's necessary, help others to understand by
explaining, in a calm way, how your pain affects you and what you need.
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6. Learn to honour your limitations and to say 'no' - the
first step toward taking care of your needs.
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7. Discover all you can about your illness/condition.
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8. Join a support group.
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9. See pain 'flare-ups' not as crises, but as challenges in
learning how to cope. Setbacks are a normal part of your condition.
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10. Recognized that the nature of life is change. Pain
changes in intensity throughout the day. Your job is to discover all you
can about ways to reduce the intensity.
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11. You need to create ways to improve your future. Think
how to replace parts of your life that you may have lost with new
ventures and interest.
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12. Keeping pain under control can sometimes be a full-time
job. The best way is to avoid stressful situations and conflicts, focus
on things that are meaningful, pleasurable and fulfilling and do
everything at a pace you can cope with.
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TOP TIPS
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Your pain is REAL. Believe in yourself, even if others
question your pain. You are not responsible for other people's
reactions. When necessary, help others to understand by explaining calmly
how your pain affects you, and if you need help - ask!
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Make contact with others
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No-one understands the full experience of pain like
another person with a similar condition - so if you aren't already a
member of the painSupport Contact Club and
could do with some extra support, now could be the time to join! If
you're interested, look on the website, under 'Making Contact', everyone
is welcome.
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© Jan Sadler, PainSupport
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STOP PRESS!!
NEW CD!
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Now available, Jan Sadler's latest CD, 'Perfect Relaxation'.
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The ‘Perfect
Relaxation’ CD has a variety of inspiring relaxation and
visualisation tracks especially designed to relieve stress and increase
health and well-being. The soothing tones of Jan’s voice allow you to
drift down into a state of pure relaxation. You are then led, in your
imagination, to a scene where you will find peace, comfort and deep relaxation
- allowing any tension and stress to float free.
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Listen before you
buy.
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You can now listen to a sample of Jan Sadler's relaxing voice
before you buy. Voice sample is on the ‘Tapes’ page of the PainSupport
website.
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Michael, from England,
loves the ‘Perfect Relaxation’ CD, he says,
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“Thank you for the wonderful CD. I am so pleased with it! I've been listening to it a lot and it
really helps me relax. It's very
full and varied, with short breathing exercises, a body scan and some
beautiful visualisations. I love
the old tree by the stream and the valley with the patchwork fields. The ‘Secret Hideaway' track is
gorgeously relaxing with or without the music. Lovely places to take
myself to when I'm feeling anxious.
I look forward to listening to it often - thank you, Jan, for
'Perfect Relaxation' - I think it's my favourite of them all!
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Just follow the ‘Shop Online’ links on
the PainSupport website, for all our books, the voice sample, CDs and
downloads.
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www.painsupport.co.uk
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Stress Reducing Tip
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Deep Breath Therapy
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Worries drain you physically and emotionally. You start
thinking worry thoughts, close your eyes or rest them on something
calming in nature and breathe out very slowly, make sure in-breath come
naturally. Do this about three times and you will feel much calmer.
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It worked for me!
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CM, a UK PainSupport member, highly recommends the Acticare TSE device.
CM writes,
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“Hi Jan, I just wanted to say thank you for your and others’
comments about Acticare TSE. As a consequence I
bought one. I cannot give it great enough praise. I have tried so many
different things to help with my pain but this is by far the best drug
free alternative. I actually experienced a pain-free part of a day
recently. What was most important about this was that it was drug free
and I cannot remember a time when I was pain free and fully awake (drug
free) it was fantastic! Thank you!”
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http://www.acticare.com
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Please tell us!!
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If you
try any product or therapy that helps you in some way, do let us
know. Even if it only reduces
symptoms a little it may help others too.
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ItWorkedForMe@PainSupport.co.uk
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PainSupport Website
Recommendation
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Straighten up!
Poor posture is responsible for a huge increase in back pain.
In 2004 one in three people were suffering and that figure has now risen
even higher. An exciting new programme from the British Chiropractic
Association is designed to improve posture and help prevent backpain by promoting balance, strength and
flexibility in the spine. They want to encourage all of us to use these
simple exercises on a daily basis as part of your morning routine, just
like cleaning your teeth. Many of the exercises could also be done
sitting down. See the exercises and watch how to do them on a free
downloadable vodcast at:
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www.straightenupuk.org
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Take extra care
when starting new exercises:
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DO pick out one or
two of the exercises to start with.
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DO gradually add
more as you go along.
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DO move very
gently and carefully through the exercises at first.
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DON'T continue if you
get a sharp pain anywhere.
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DO check with your
healthcare professional that these exercises are suitable for you, some
will be, some may not be.
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TIP
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Even if you think a movement is too extreme for you, don't
dismiss the exercise, you will still benefit by moving even a minuscule
amount, eg, instead of a big bend sideways try
a tiny bend to start with, just an inch or so and build from there.
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The PainSupport Newsletter – Sign up and pass it on!
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If you’re reading this newsletter and aren’t already signed
up for your own copy, just write to us and we’ll add you to our mailing
list, and you’ll have the latest news, offers and information sent
directly to your Inbox - AND receive a FREE COPY of the PainSupport Tool
Kit, a beginner’s guide to pain relief methods!
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signmeup@painsupport.co.uk
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If you have a friend who you think would like our newsletter
(and the free Tool Kit when they sign up) please pass it on. You can use
the Forward button on your toolbar to send this newsletter or click here
and we’ll do the rest:
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Send to my friend
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Tool Kit
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If you liked any of the above
ideas why not keep them in your Tool Kit notebook or folder of self-help
pain relief methods. Your Tool Kit is especially useful when pain flares
up. It will give you constructive ideas to focus upon so you can move
forwards.
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NB Don’t forget your FREE Pain Logs –
find them near the end of the newsletter.
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The
PainSupport Contact Club
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An Invitation…
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If you’re not already a member,
why not join our highly successful and popular Confidential Contact Club?
It is, of course, free! There are lots of lovely people out there who
just happen to have pain in their lives but who are determined to make
the most of things despite it all. YOU have much to offer them, and they
have much to offer YOU. Ease the pain by sharing life's ups and downs
with those who understand. Here is a wonderful message recently received
from Emma, a UK
member of the PainSupport Contact Club,:
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Emma, a UK member
says,
“I felt very isolated with my pain and I'm pleased to say
I've now made some lovely new friends on the contact club.”
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How to access the Contact Club...
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Go to www.painsupport.co.uk
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Click Making Contact
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Click Main Menu on the left
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Click Contact Club
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You will then see "Wish to
Join the Contact Club?"
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Click where it says 'Please click
here to Register' and complete the brief registration form.
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Words of
wisdom
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‘The difference between a smart person and a wise person is
that a smart person knows what to say and a wise person knows whether or
not to say it.’
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-- Quote found on the wall an office in Berkeley, California.
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Keep Smiling…
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More notes left
for the milkman
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‘From now on please leave two
pints every other day and one pint on
the days in between, except Wednesdays and Saturdays when I don't want
any milk.’
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‘My back door is open. Please put
milk in 'fridge, get money out of cup
in drawer and leave change on kitchen table, because we want to play
bingo tonight.’
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‘Please leave no milk today. When
I say today, I mean tomorrow, for I
wrote this note yesterday...or is it today?’
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- - Author Unknown
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Editor’s Note
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I hope you find the above ideas
useful. If you would like more information on any of the items above plus
more ideas for pain relief, please go to the PainSUPPORT website, address below.
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On the site you will also find
details of my Downloads, CDs and books which contain many more methods
for relaxation, pain and stress relief, confidence building, sitting
comfortably, and peaceful sleep. To view/buy, visit www.painsupport.co.uk
then follow the shopping links to the Useful Products/Books or ‘Tapes’
pages and use the simple and secure payment facilities. If you're in the UK
and prefer to pay by cheque, please contact us further details.
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All best wishes – and keep
smiling!
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Jan at PainSupport
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www.painsupport.co.uk
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Don’t forget your FREE ‘pain logs’!
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Print off as many copies as you
need. They will help you keep track of your pain, find out what affects
it, and can be use for medical consultations, if necessary, to show your
doctor how your pain affects you.
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a) www.painsupport.co.uk/enewsletter/painlevelslog.pdf
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This log will be a record of
your actual pain level.
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b) www.painsupport.co.uk/enewsletter/painfeelingsandactivitylog.pdf
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This log will help you to
discover how your activities and feelings may affect your pain.
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You may print the above
Newsletter for your own personal and private use but if you wish to use
all or part of it for any other reason, please ask first. Copyright belongs to Jan Sadler.
Many of the tips in this
Newsletter are not from medical sources, so please use your own
discretion or, preferably, check it out with your doctor, before trying
any of the suggestions. Please also have any undiagnosed pain checked out
by a doctor.
Products, sites and
organisations mentioned in the Newsletter are merely being brought to
your attention. Check everything yourself before purchasing or acting on
any of the information. PainSupport is not responsible for the content of
any other website mentioned.
Unsubscribe: If you no longer
wish to receive the PainSupport Newsletter, please let us know. unsubscribe@painsupport.co.uk
PainSupport NEVER passes on your email address to anyone else without
your prior permission.
Copyright © Jan Sadler 2008
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