Thanks for sharing about your friend's aunt's survival. I hope this gives her further opportunity to find a new path, with additional tools and support.

As you point out, the best approach is a preventative approach, trying to minimize limitations, etc.

The Pain Toolkit outlined by Dr. Harkavy-Friedman is basic, yet important. A part of it's purpose to is to keep us ahead of further dysfunction and further despair. I hope people will take a look at the Pain Toolkit.

If anyone just wants to see the Pain Toolkit, the booklet is available as a free download at: www.paintoolkit.org . There is also a phone app available at this same site. Both are authored by Peter Moore.


More recently, we understand to keep moving through the pain. Fortunately. Thank you, megsmountain for highlighting the importance of maintaining as much mobility as possible.


Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, M.D., Ph.D., of Florida, has a saying he often says to his young CRPS patients, as he encourages them to continue moving through the pain. He sometimes asks his young patients to repeat the phrase back to him, as it's an important one:

"To cause pain is not to cause harm." (Dr. A. Kirkpatrick)

I have started to teach this statement to my DH. He is so sweet and so very supportive. He is constantly warning me to not do more, to get my legs elevated now, etc, etc. I so appreciate his support. I have to gently let him know that I have to push a bit further, as I am trying to keep as much function as possible.

Learning to manage our pain levels is a part of what is taught in the first half of this video, via discussion of the Pain Toolkit.

Learning the warning signs of depression in ourselves and/or in others is on the second half of the video.

Love, Hope and Healing,
DejaVu