Hi all, if you're in BC, Canada, here's a chance for you to do something active for yourself, and raise awareness about chronic pain and the support Pain BC provides.

The Pain BC MOVEment fundraiser is a chance to pledge to MOVE on June 12, 2016 and encourage more daily activity that's beneficial for your pain and wellness. Everyone can participate, all across BC. You can even use Live Plan Be's Personal Action Plan to create your MOVEment pledge.

Read more here
Become a Pain BC MOVEment fundraiser here

Hi @SCIpain. It's so true that finding the right treatment team is really important. Your advice to keep trying, and move on when it's not a good fit is such a good reminder. It's important to find professionals that can listen, and help advocate for us. Maybe even listening is enough, some days.

When you do change health providers or treatment professionals, do you have any tips to ease the process? Do you ask for a copy of your own file, or ask them to email you their notes?

Does anyone else have other tips to share for searching for "the right fit" in a treatment team?

Hello everyone. I was on Twitter today and I came across this lovely tweet: https://twitter.com/blotie75/status/730169644754083840

"I think having a dog helps slow the spread of my #CRPS without Max I would spend more time isolated & fearful. pic.twitter.com/s3I6UsbWim"

Do any of you have pets, and do you find they help you live better with pain? I know that I feel so much better myself when my cat is purring next to me, even on the worst days.

Thanks for sharing, @SCIpain. It does seem to be a balance of many things: dosage, type of medication, mitigating the side effects, and trying not to rely on pain medication too heavily. Glad you see this site as helping you find a balanced approach to your pain self-management. That's a great attitude.
Does anyone else have that funny or foggy feeling? What do you do to deal with the side effects of pain medications? Any tips?

I've been trying Sativex to see what happens to my pain. Luckily I have some coverage because it's crazy expensive. I can't tell if it helps much yet or not. But I'm taking less gabapentin.
It's annoying because even when something works a bit, you feel funny or foggy. I traded some gaba side effects for sativex side effects and I think pain is same.
when will we have something that just zaps the pain down without feeling drugged?
i guess that's why we are here on this site - so we can figure out what else to do besides pop pills!?

@msm How's it going?

@msm So glad you can share here on the forum. You're right, everyone needs happy and positive moments in their life. You do too. It sounds like you need help--have you reached out to any professionals, friends or family? Can they help you care for your husband and give you a needed break once in a while? Have you tried sharing your feelings with your husband? @SCIpain's suggestion to try doing so in a caring way "When you..., I feel..." is a a good one. It's important to share your perspective too, and work together to reach understanding. Easier said than done, of course, but know that we are supporting you. Hang in there.

Can other forum members share some words of encouragement for @msm?

Today was a tough day he is very emotional and cries all the time. I know it sounds mean but sometimes you need happy and positive things. It feels negative all the time in the house and makes me hate coming home sometimes. I feel like a child who is helpless and has no say, he kinda tries to control everything whether i go out for dinner or to ee.....friends he was never like this before I don't know how much more I can take.

"Chronic pain and PTSD frequently co-occur. What you need to know."

Listen now: http://tobtr.com/s/8737841

What do you think, Live Plan Be users? Do you have any experiences or thoughts to share about chronic pain and PTSD symptoms? How do you deal with pain and trauma?

We’re so glad you’re connecting here with others, @Adri. Do you have support from your community, beyond your medical providers, who are assisting you? If you're in BC, Canada, you might want to call Connect for Health. They can help you with caregiving and other things that aren't necessarily within the realm of the health care system. https://www.painbc.ca/chronic-pain/connect-for-health

Are there other parents out there in a similar situation who can connect with Adri and offer some support?