Tag: how to
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…
Exactly what to say to your doctor to get refills on the meds you need
Urgent med refill? Learn how to effectively communicate with your doctor and pharmacy, track prescriptions, and get quick refills. Includes printable script!
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…
Navigating Relationships with Chronic Pain with Unity & Partnership
Despite whatever conditions are in play, there are ways to find and build a healthy romantic partnership where you thrive as a team. Here’s how! Building a healthy relationship despite chronic pain is a complex dance, one that requires grace, patience, and of course love. Whether it’s you or your partner who’s in this continuous…
New Generations, Old Genes: A Guide to Family Planning with Genetic Disorders
Before starting a family, make sure you understand your genetic situation and how it can affect pregnancy and your prospective child. Family planning can be an exciting and emotional time for any couple. However, if you have a genetic disorder, finding your soulmate isn’t enough: there are other questions to consider. From talking to your…
Chronic pain & trouble sleeping: sleep routines may cure your insomnia
A sleep routine (aka “sleep hygiene): if you have chronic pain, anxiety, ADHD and insomnia (or any combo thereof), like I do, this simple process might just be the “cure” for insomnia you’ve been seeking. “Sleep hygiene” is the process of creating an environment that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Here are…
How To: Dating With Chronic Pain or Dating With Invisible Disabilities
Dating with chronic pain is tough, especially if there’s nothing visible about your condition. Finding someone using dating dating apps like Hinge or Tinder is hard to begin with, but dating with a disability, especially invisible illnesses, adds a whole other level of difficulty. In some ways using those apps would be easier if I…
Keeping a medical log-with free printable & spreadsheet!
This free printable medical log tracking calls to doctors is the quickest and easiest way of staying on top of contact with your medical team, especially for patients with chronic pain or complex health conditions. Read on to learn why you should use one, download a free printable medical log, and learn how to customize…
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.
Pain Scales (1-10): How To Explain Your Pain
1-10 Pain scales have real limitations: keep the bigger picture in mind when using a 1-10 scale to measure your pain.