Got Pain? Now What? Navigating Through a Journey of Pain

By Vita Oyler

Do you suffer from a chronic painful condition? Are you confused about what to do? Do you want to take your life back in spite of pain? There are about 1.5 billion people worldwide living with chronic pain. Pain is not picky. There are no boundaries. Pain affects men, women, and children, and is not necessarily age-related. One can develop pain

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vita Oyler
• Release date: Jan 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798989046218

Vita Oyler

Vita Oyler is a Rehabilitation Counselor who specializes in Chronic Pain. She has had chronic pain for over 35 years after developing a chronic painful condition known as RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) also known as Chronic Reflex Pain Syndrome or CRPS 1 or 2. As a rehabilitation counselor she has helped many individuals suffering chronic pain return to gainful full or part-time employment as well as acquiring a better quality of life in spite of pain. She is an expert in navigating through her own pain and living a full and successful life. She has helped others to do the same. She has a MS Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, is a fellow of AAPM and continues studies towards a PhD. You can contact Vita at [e-mail]

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Got Pain? Now What?

GOT PAIN? NOW WHAT?

NAVIGATING THROUGH A JOURNEY OF PAIN

VITA TYLER

Copyright © 2024 by Vita Oyler

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN (paperback): 979-8-9890462-0-1

ISBN (ebook): 979-8-9890462-1-8

Book design and production by www.AuthorSuccess.com

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my best friend and loving husband, Tom, who supported me with love, encouragement, and acceptance. He never gave up on me. We took this journey together, side by side, and with his reassurance that he would never leave me.

I also dedicate this book to those suffering pain, to my loving family and friends, and to God, who loves us all and is always there walking beside us and helping us, if we believe and have faith in Him.

CONTENTS

Foreword

By Christine Carson

Introduction

Chronic vs Acute pain

The Prelude of My Pain Journey

Activities Along the Way

Amputation

All is Not Lost

Got Pain? Now What?

So How Do I Move On?

Different Paths

Being Positive

Returning to Work

Moving on

Creativity

Support

Alternatives

Laughter

Music

Pets

Restorative Sleep

Conclusion

Epilogue

Sources

For Your Enjoyment

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Notes

FOREWORD

BY CHRISTINE CARSON

They say, ‘Joy is in the journey.’ For Vita, Heaven on Earth was doing the journey with Tom and their beloved cats. Vita comes from a position of strength, having learned from her own life experiences how to live with chronic pain and injury and still find ways to love life. Add to that the value of unconditional love, the fun of pets, the silliness of their antics, and emotional comfort that comes from taking care of them and feeling their gratitude. Indeed, the very act of service to another takes our minds off our own sorrows and discomfort, giving our hearts a safe place to be.

During the work toward her PHD and at the time of the offer to teach at Notre Dame, both of which she had to step away from due to the progression of the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), Vita managed a rehabilitation center helping others get back on their feet and back to work after injuries. Ironically, her own disease was the very thing that gave her the depth and breadth that led to her understanding about how to successfully live and function in life despite having to stop in her tracks, regroup, and go a different direction herself. For instance, before the accident that started the series of events leading to the RSD, Vita and Tom did a lot of hiking in the mountains, sleeping under the stars, surfing, boating, and traveling. After, she continued some acting, learned to ski and took part in Pro-Am events, as well as devoting herself to provide care needed for her aging mother.

It didn’t take long for her to ultimately become an authority on the subject of pain. Her degree in psychology helped her understand the importance of the social emotional changes that take place in our lives when physical aspects of pain and disease move into the front of our consciousness and experience, ravaging our bodies and demanding our attention. The fine arts part of her Bachelor’s degree reminds her that through varied mediums, be it visual or musical, we can move out of our pain for a time. As an actor in small theater productions and advertising taught her that if we act like we’re feeling better and allow ourselves to smile and laugh again, we’re more likely to want to keep smiling and less likely to cry over the obvious ‘elephant in the room.’ Vita’s early, albeit short, experience as a teacher clarified the benefit of focused effort and the importance of setting goals to support plans for desired outcomes.

Through Tom, her pillar of love, hope and strength, she found ways to look at alternative and holistic approaches to pain relief, healing what could be healed, and accepting the realities and finalities of what is and what was. Their family business offered support and healthy alternatives that provided possibilities for improved quality of life for people whose health issues are chronic and maybe even progressive with pervasive pain and discomfort. During her ten years managing the Rehab Counseling Center, she learned how to help people regroup and find ways to get back to work, choose different paths, or accept the realities of their situations. And even though it didn’t end as well as she had hoped, her work at a local church helped her see that there will always be those who don’t ‘get’ what others may be going through, understand or fully appreciate the limits of people with physical, mental, or emotional needs beyond their experience, or see the value in providing and/or accepting the value of what those people bring to the rest of us.

Throughout the years of our friendship, our shared steadfast belief in ourselves and each other, and acknowledging our truths, doing what is and was right for our bodies has empowered us to be there for others in meaningful ways, being of good cheer even when all hope seemed lost or in the face of grief, sorrows and disappointments. In our own ways, Vita and I, over these many years of friendship, have bravely and courageously and intentionally found ways to be that word, act, thought and prayer of encouragement, support, and guidance.

I am, and will always, be eternally grateful to be on that path with Vita and Tom.

INTRODUCTION

No one said that living with chronic pain would be easy because it is not. I know. My journey with chronic pain started over thirty-five years ago. I suffer from a chronic pain disorder known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) or what is now known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS 1 or 2). I also have Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome, neck and lower back pain and Osteoarthritis. These are all chronic pain syndromes that have no cure. What does one do to fight pain and live life happily? In the following chapters, I will take you on a journey of living with chronic pain and finding ways to do the best you can do and live life contentedly.

Pain is different for everyone. I had read that there were about 1.5 billion people worldwide who live with chronic pain. Pain affects children, women, men, and the elderly. Pain has no barrier. Pain is a subjective experience. No two pains are alike. Pain often fluctuates. It can be bearable one day and not another day. Sometimes pain can feel like it has gone away only to find that it was just in remission. After a brief pause in pain, the