Creating Kris ~ a young mom blogs…

Chronic Pain Info Page

As you’re able to see in the right menu bar, I’ve created a new blog “page” (different from an entry in that it will be a permanently-linked-to page that will be regularly added to and updated)… it is dedicated to my journey through chronic pain and my hope is that it will help others who are going through the same thing. Although the focus on my blog has shifted away from that area over the past 2 years, it is headed back towards being able to be more open in that area.

The new page will include some of the many many resources I’ve consulted over the past few years… books, articles, and treatment info. Many of them also have links to other sites and articles as well, so they can be a resource in and of themselves or merely a jump-off point.

Check out the page here: Chronic Page, read the “article” (non-changing part) of the page which has been copied below, or click the new link in the right-hand colmun ——–>

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As someone coping with spinal injuries, early disc degeneration, disc bulging in the cervical and lumbar spine, and other body damage from multiple car accidents as well as post-traumatic Fibromyalgia, chronic pain is something I cope with on a daily basis. It is a constant presence in my life, something I have to factor into every planned event, every life decision (big or small).

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I’d rather be knitting…

So I think I’m getting addicted to knitting (I was warned!)… how do I know this? Well, I’m starting to think “I’d rather be knitting” at certain times when other things are offered. And these other things are very nice enjoyable things! So really, you can tell it’s getting serious.

Since starting to learn to knit last summer, I have just jumped right in and have been loving it!

I started off with that first two-toned scarf, and it turned out really well…

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Creatively coping with chronic pain

This a post I have been working on for a very long time (almost a year actually!), so it seemed fitting to post it after a long “hiatus” of being unable to post (has it really been 4 months?). Let’s just say it’s been a stressful and painful holiday season and aftermath… I’ve had a difficult time coping with the pain lately, which means sitting up at the keys and having enough brain-power to be verbal is a much more rare occasion (this while already having to pick from my few waking hours of the day when not involved in eating, stretching, family care, driving, resting, icing, heating, and moving very slowly around my small little paths in the world!).

My creative methods of coping with pain have always there in the background so I really wanted to write about it… every time I create a card or bake something or work on a home decor project, it is very heavily impacted by my pain. But the message I want to send is that you can still be creative despite of your limitations. And not only that but it can help turn you around and distract you from your pain and take you away from your pain…

A compromise: using a cake mix, but still making my own icing. Taking the time to ice the cupcakes, but only a few at once, and doing it seated.

Work within your comfort zone, go at it very slowly and cautiously, and you can still create… The projects you see here in my blog were not each created all at one time. I have a very different schedule and routine, but I’m slowly able to still piece things together. And I have found that to be very worthwhile! The life of a chronic pain patient is very much like a scarf or quilt – you may only be able to make very small rows or blocks at a time, but they eventually add up into a larger whole that is noticeable… and beautiful.

I have always been creative, so it’s no wonder it has been something I’ve clung to, even through this difficult time of coping with new spinal injuries, chronic pain, and relentless headaches.

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