Search results for: “complementary”
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Acupuncture for Pain: Complementary Medicine That Works
Acupuncture for pain is one of the oldest forms of treatment out there: this ? can help chronic pain, neck pain, lower back pain, nerve pain, and a lot of non-pain related issues as well. Read on to learn more about the history and science behind acupuncture, and to find out how it can help…
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Complementary Medicine That Works: Biofeedback –Migraine Update!
Biofeedback for migraines and chronic pain is one of the only complementary medicines that really helped me This post has been updated twice, in 2022 and in February 2025. Biofeedback for my migraines and chronic pain in general was one of the only alternative / complementary treatments I’ve tried over the last 20 years that…
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Complementary Medicine: What Works and What Doesn’t
Over the last 20 years, I’ve tried (and retried) many more options. Some of them helped; most of them didn’t. The majority of complementary treatments I’ve tried have been an expensive way of pissing money away. But there ARE things that can really, truly help. Everyone is different, and everyone’s pain is different. But here’s…
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Chronic Pain Pillows: Your Ultimate Guide to Every Type
Chronic pain pillows that quickly reduce your pain while helping you sleep Chronic pain pillows are a crucial part of life when it comes to managing the pain of an illness, injury, chronic condition or disability. It’s hard to overstate the effect that the right combo of pillows can have: not just on easing your…
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Top 7 Gifts To Make Chronic Pain Easier
Gifts to make life with chronic pain easier, more productive, and less painful Finding the perfect gift for someone with chronic pain requires understanding both their daily challenges and their desire for independence. This curated guide highlights seven categories of gifts that genuinely improve quality of life: pillows, stretching tools, massage tools, heat and cold…
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Beyond the Pain Scale: A Patient’s Guide to How Nurses Can Improve Pain Management & Combat Stigma
Last weekend (October 2024) I had the incredible opportunity to speak at the 2024 American Society of Pain Medicine Nursing conference about the importance of communication between patients and their medical providers. I’m no medical pro, but as a chronic pain patient for over two decades, I’ve experienced firsthand the transformative power of compassionate, patient-centered…
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The Best Type of Heat To Help You Feel Better
Types of heat & how each helps pain differently Living with chronic pain can feel like an endless battle, but sometimes, the simplest solutions can offer the most profound relief. Heat therapy may be a time-honored tradition in pain management, but your options have evolved far beyond the humble hot water bottle. Let’s look at…
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Is your room causing your insomnia? W/ a free printable to find out!
Using your five senses to figure out if your room is causing your sleeplessness If you’re someone who beds down at night only to stare at the wall, have you ever considered whether your room could be contributing to your insomnia? Not being able to sleep sucks, and the combo of chronic pain and insomnia…
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Graphic Novels About Chronic Pain: “Pain Is Really Strange”
Graphic novels about chronic pain are few and far between: “Pain Is Really Strange” is a welcome find I love books, especially graphic novels. I was at the library recently and stumbled on “Pain Is Really Strange,” one of the only graphic novels about chronic pain I’ve ever seen. (Thanks, Austin Public Library!) Explaining “What…
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Top Qs about Invisible Illnesses & Disability Pride Month
Invisible illnesses are tough: you never quite know where you belong. Since July is Disability Pride Month, here are answers to the top questions people with invisible illnesses ask about disability.
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Guilt-Free Self-Care Tips for Introverts
These guilt-free self-care tips for introverts explain options for people with social anxiety, chronic pain, or who just need alone time.
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Gift Guide For Chronic Pain, Part 1 — UPDATED!
This story was most recently updated on 11/1/2024. Christmas is coming, and that’s got me thinking about all the little gadgets I continually recommend to my friends. Some of this stuff took me 20 years to learn about (Theracane, where were you all my life?!) and some are old standbys that can help a surprising…
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Chronic Pain, Weight, & The Challenge of Getting Through The Damn Day
Stuff like anger, stuff like weight gain, stuff like frustration, stuff like anxiety– it’s all tied in together. And none of it lends itself to a 1-10 pain scale.