Annie's "Chronic Pain & Illness" Page (original) (raw)

Annie's "Chronic Pain & Illness" Page

" And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain : for the former things are passed away." ~Revelations 21:4~

Chronic Illness is like Hidden Thorns!

The ROSE is a beautiful and delicate flower. If you just look and don't hold it you would never know that it has thorns. It looks perfectly "Normal". Sort of like people who have Chronic Pain. We LOOK perfectly normal to the eye. BUT we have our own thorns. They tend to keep people away from us. It may also be our protection or defense mechanism. But without thorns a Rose Bush wouldn't have the beautiful flowers.

Sort of reminds me of the "PEARL" . A pearl starts from a grain of sand. The "foreign" object is really an irritation or annoyance. But the oyster takes that otherwise objectionable item and makes something absolutely beautiful from it.

We too can take the "THORNS" and "GRAINS of SAND" in our life and make it something beautiful. But we can ONLY do this if we surrender our whole life, the good and the bad to the Lord. He is the potter and we are the clay. Let Him mold and make you into something unique and beautiful.

For the Lord really does know what is BEST for us. You may lose things or people in your life that you think are important BUT the Lord will take the losses in your life and turn them around to more abundant blessings then you could ever imagine.

God's Grace is Sufficient.... and "His strength is made perfect in weakness".

"It is good for me that I have been **afflicted ; that I might learn thy statutes." ~Psalm 119:71~

Thoughts by Annie: The Lord knows all the "stitches" and "colors" and even the "knots" in our life. But even if we lose a "stitch" or have to "rip" out a few stitches, the Lord loves us and cares about all the details in our life. The Lord should be like the needle that holds the thread. The needle is needed to create the beautiful design, but it takes us using one stitch at a time to create the big picture. So let the Lord be the "needle". He is there with you every "stitch" of the way. Even if you don't see the "needle" when all the necessary supplies have been put away. You know what was needed to create your lovely unique design. For without the "needle" to bring everything together it would just be some colored thread and a piece of fabric.

A Helpful Bible Verse: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~2 Corinthians 12:9~

Thoughts about the Verse from Annie:

This passage is about Paul describing his "thorn in the flesh". No one knows exactly what his severe affliction was.

Our weakness is a perfect opportunity for us to be examples of God's divine power and strength that is manifest through and in us.

Most of the leaders in the Old Testament had some problem, either stuttering or depression just to name a few. But the Lord used them. And it was why the people could see that it had to be ONLY the Lord God who could do this.

This also reminds me of the verse "with man this is impossible, but with God NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE" Matthew 19:26

I know that I am able to have my pages and my Internet Ministry only by the GRACE of God because of all the I have been through. There is no other way that I could do what I do.

The LORD does bless us "exceedingly" more and "beyond" what we can ever imagine.

There are 24 References for the word "PAIN" in the Bible!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ~Philippians 4:13~

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." ~Isaiah 43:1-2~

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." ~Nahum 1:7~

"And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." ~1Kings 19:11-12~

When we have a Chronic Illness or Pain we have to go through the Grief Process. This is so that we can readjust and start to live again. It won't be our old like we will have a different kind of life.

There are four stages of the grief cycle: One: DENIAL (I can't believe) Two: DEPRESSION (I can't handle) Three: ANGER (I don't understand why) Four: ACCEPTANCE (I can now see)

Here is an acronym for when you are STRESSED. Just consider the following words and see if they help: HALT is an acronym for: H - ungry A -ngry L -onely T -ired

Here are some Good Links: Deeper Still - For those who Grieve by IBSGRIEF AND LOSS RESOURCE CENTRECompassion Connection - they "offer comfort and hope to the grieving and brokenhearted" Visit my: How to Cope with Grief & the Holidays Page - Practical tips and ideas for those who have lost loved ones & those who love them.

He's Always There
When there's no one else around He is there. When your sick and all alone He is there. If no one will listen to you as you cry out in dispair, believe me when I tell you He is there.

Give all your burdens to Him that's why He's there. Don't carry that heavy load alone when He's there. When we share our burdens with Him He will ease the hurt within, Because He loves you He is always there.

Let Him hold you in His arms for He is there. Let Him wipe those tears away for He is there. The time is soon to come when we will look upon the Son, Just believe until that time He is there. Yes! believe our Saviour Jesus Christ is there.

~This lovely poem was written and given to me by Frances Armstrong~

RSD is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy I have RSD! RSD or RSDS is a neurological problem and one of the symptoms is constant chronic burning pain. My own personal experience with RSD is a long story and one for another time. Remission is very uncommon but not unheard of. It does spread to other parts of the body and loss of hair and atrophy are very common. People with RSD have good days and bad days. The weather can make us pretty uncomfortable - dampness and cold are the worst. Normally it is degenerative but it never totally goes away. I still have symptoms and problems with both my arms, legs and left shoulder. Flare ups can be triggered by stress or even the weather. Stress does not cause it, it just makes it much worse. Our "fight flight" reactions are intensified and cause alot of problems. The future is pretty much unknown and each patient is different except that it will spread. The Lord knows our future and He has a plan even for those that are sick and can't do much. We can adapt how we use are hands. I use a lot of "copy and paste", I have my keyboard slanted up high to the monitor with a wrist thing. Then I put my mouse on a binder on my lap. I put my arm back so it is back to the back of the chair in a 45 degree angle and I just use my pointer finger to do a lot of work that way. I also have a step stool under my feet. You have to do a lot of "adapting" with RSD. Things that might take someone else a short time to accomplish may take me longer or I may have to do it differently but people with RSD or other illnesses can ask the Lord to use them and He will. OK enough about me. Hope this helped one of you, because if the Lord can use me then He can use you too!! So have a willing heart and ask the Lord how He wants to use you and He will show you in His time and His way!!

Thank you Lord! I am amazed and humbled that the Lord can use me to encourage others with my pages despite all my circumstances. The GRACE of God is Sufficient!!!!!!!!

Just a few RSD pages to check out: Pain.Com - has a section onRSDNINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Home Page- They have a page about Chronic Pain & RSD PageMedifocus: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy HandbookComplex Regional Pain Syndrome Fact SheetReflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome

Here are my two favorite links for RSD: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome - (RSD)RSD Puzzle List - I has questions & answers

Medication Information: Lyrica is really helping a lot of people with Fibromyalgia!! So make sure you check with your doctor and see if you might be a candidate to start this medication therapy to help improve your quality of life dealing with the constant pain!! WebMD has a page about the pros and cons of taking Lyrica
About.com has a page: Lyrica shows promise for Fibromyalgia
RSD and Clonidin/Catapres: Blood pressure medications that affect the sympathetic nervous systemMedications for Pain Series 2009- Blood Pressure Medication | How ...pain medication used by persons suffering from reflex sympathetic ...
Pristiq is a newer antidepressant that is helping people with Panic Attacks and Flashbacks and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some people that have used Effexor XR in the past have found great help with Pristiq so ask your Physician or Psychaitrist about this medication. People that deal with constant chronic pain and illness do often have to deal with depression. Pristiq User Reviews for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at Drugs.comPanic Disorders | Suite101.com & Pristiq versus Effexor XR | World of PsychologyIs Pristiq a More Effective Antidepressant?
NOTE: I am not a doctor and am not giving advice. ALWAYS ask your own doctor about information you gather on the internet. Never replace other peoples advice for that of a doctor!!

Don't have Dental Coverage? Don't Worry!! Do you have old cavities and broken or lost teeth? Are your teeth deteriorating from loss of calcium or other health problems? The state of your mouth can cause your health to deteriorate. You really shouldn't just let your oral health go. So even if you can't afford to go to the dentist then don't worry!! I found a site to hopefully help you deal with it from now on. Check out this link to get help with your teeth: Free Dental Guide

Support from Others Can Makes ALL the Difference!!!!!!!!!!!!
Support and understanding for people with chronic pain/illness is so important. So often when we lose our health we lose our friends too. We don't look sick and people just forget we have challenges.

If you have never had to go through your day having only one arm to use it is hard to describe. You need help from others but it is hard to ask. We want to be able to do it ourselves but even with adaptive devices we still may need assistance.

Our independence is one of the first things and the hardest things we have to give up or adjust to. Today in the world and society people are measured by "WHAT WE DO". But I have had to learn that it is not "WHAT WE DO" that is important but "WHO WE ARE". And more important it is not "WHO WE ARE" but "WHO WE TRUST IN AND BELIEVE IN".

Another site to visit: "Life with a Chronically Ill Parent" by April

Other Related Pages by Annie:
Annie's Barnabas was an Encourager Pageto be encouraged or learn how to encourage others. Annie's Bee an Internet Missionary Pagewhat a wonderful opportunity to share our faith with others Annie's Comfort Page find comfort from the Word of God. Annie's "Prayer and the Email Encourager's" Page This is a page where you can submit a prayer request and the EE's will be glad to prayer for you. We send out a prayer mailing each weekday to the EE's. Annie's Testimony Page - Are you dealing with the loss of a loved one? For my personal story of the Loss of my brother "Billy". A Message for You from Heaven - This page will help you during the holidays, when it seems the hardest time to cope with our loss. How to Cope with Grief & the Holidays Page - Practical tips and ideas for those who have lost loved ones & those who love them.

If you need some encouragement PLEASE visit my: Annie's Email Encourager Page
Don't be afraid to reach out to others. God has often used Email Encouragers who I have never met to BLESS me in many ways and comfort me too. Sometimes I think "Who but the Lord?" could have known that I needed to read a scripture or word of encouragement right at that moment.

For more health links: Annie's Chronic Pain & Illness Links PageAnnie's "Chronic Pain & Illness Tips" PageAnnie's "Help with RX's" Page

Copyright 1998 - 2010 Annie's Home Page. All Rights Reserved. I thank the Lord for graphics artists without them these pages would not be the same. Please visit Annie's List of Great Graphics Spots for a list of their links. Background from Cute Countryside Graphics. Some graphics on this page from Heart to Hand Graphics & Devotional Doodles. This site hosted by: Christian Web Host. Script for Silent No Right Click Script is from Dynamic Drive. For Instructions on how to add the no right click script visit: Annie's "How to Add Silent No Right Click Script" Page.

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