Life with Chronic Pain and Illness
Life with chronic pain and illness is a challenge, especially when unusual things can trigger pain.
Chronic pain and illness invades your life. It just moves on in and really overstays its welcome! It can be noisy or quiet, but it’s always messy in its impact on daily life. Sure, there’s a lot of pain and fatigue, but it hijacks your plans and dreams, even your sense of identity, too. And the littlest things can set it off.
Here are some unusual triggers. These may not cause pain for many people, but that can really wreak havoc on your life if you live with chronic pain and illness. Do any of these ring true for you?
- Weather changes. People with chronic pain and illness may be more accurate than your local meteorologist! You can tell when shifts are on the way … whether you want to or not.
- Sensory overload! Everything seems too loud. Lights are way too bright. Both are painful and overwhelming and make it next to impossible to be in public places.
- Allodynia (a type of neuropathic pain). Gentle touch, clothes, even water in the shower … These are all things that wouldn’t bother someone without chronic pain and illness. But for those of us who do, these can be extremely painful.Â
- Sleep. This is wonderful and refreshing for many people. However, for those who live with chronic pain and illness, it’s often unrefreshing. Every position (while awake and even when trying to sleep) can be very uncomfortable. And even if you’re able to sleep, you can wake up feeling even more exhausted than when you went to bed.
Is there anything else you want to add to the list?
I hope you have a low-pain day.Â
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