5 things I learned being 26 and having a chronic pain condition

1. It’s okay to ask for help
2. Forgive yourself
3. Sometimes you just need to stay in bed
4. Say No more often
5. Love yourself

The last thing a 20 something year old wants to hear is that they have a chronic condition. I know it was in my case. I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, otherwise known as suicide disease. A rare nerve condition that causes them to over react. I received this diagnosis after an accident where I fell on the ice and broke my right hand. I went through the typical things that you do with a broken hand. I had a cast and did physical therapy.

Three months later I was still in amounts of pain that most people would never dream of surviving. In August I had a surgery to put a spinal cord stimulator. That has helped with the pain. The doctors say that one day I will most likely lose the fine motor skills in my right hand.

I am lucky. I have a family who is really supportive of me. A fiance, who is so understanding of my condition and how it affects everything we do. There are days when I cannot even get out of bed. When I can't be touched by anything. When the weight of the sheet makes me want to scream. I have good days and bad, just like everyone else.

Everyone is going through something. It’s not our place to judge.