Living with Chronic Pain

by Lynne Greenberg

Approximately one in four Americans suffer from chronic pain. I'm one of them. I live with chronic neck and head pain. I've tried fusion surgery, 41 nerve injections and many kinds of medications, none of which have worked. At my worst, I was bedridden, unable to work and couldn't take care of my children. Now, three years later, I have regained my life. I write about this journey in my memoir, The Body Broken (Random House, 2009). I learned a lot in those three years and hopefully some of what I learned can help you, too. Here are my Top Eight Tips for combating chronic pain:

Tip #1: Take Back Control

Research pain management strategies. Try different techniques—Western and non-Western. Be holistic in your approach. Pick and choose methods. If your doctor isn't helping, research other doctors. If the medication you are on isn't working, try other medication. I have learned that no one procedure, no one pill is adequate, so I fight pain with an arsenal of weapons.

Tip #2: Rethink Work

Unfortunately, 50 percent of chronic pain patients lost their jobs in 2007 because of their pain, but it's important to remember that your skills are transferable. What can you still do? What are you good at doing? Think about what work is still realistic and try to do just that.

For example, I used to write academic criticism. That is no longer a daily possibility. I still love writing—and can do it. So I write on other topics that are still manageable for my concentration levels. A woman I know used to work full-time as a therapist until her pain made that job impossible. She now has an online counseling business. She reads and responds to e-mails on her own time and schedule when her pain permits her to do so.

Tip #3: Be Realistic: Pace Yourself

Chronic pain definitely affects your energy level and concentration. I personally can't do as much as I used to do. Pain makes a full day of work, parenting, socializing and domestic responsibilities impossible.