2012 was a great year for me as a health advocate. I was featured nationally in Women’s Day Magazine, My first for Women Magazine, USA Today’s Chronic Pain Supplemental this past September, Dr. Drew’s Life Changers show, and the Newlywed Game Show. I was also given the honor of being the recipient of the Neuropathy Action Foundation’s 2012 “You Are Our Hero” Award, and participated through the Power of Pain Foundation as a volunteer in 73 events throughout the country in the past 12 months. One of my most fun events this year was the POPF’s Nervember campaign, where each day of November I got to send out a task for people to complete to help raise awareness and better personally advocacy for chronic pain patients. Most of all I am grateful for the friendships and connections I have made with thousands of patients throughout the world via social media, videos, phone calls and emails. Knowing I was able to give back to others in meaningful ways has been a great blessing!
Remission
People have been asking a lot lately about my improvements from infusion therapy. Here is a brief overview of what it has and hasn’t done for me.
It has significantly helped with:
Constant burning pain
Abnormal hair growth/loss
Blanching
Concentration/ memory
Fever/ Low grade temperature
Headaches
Hearing disturbances
Hypersensitivity
Insomnia
Migraines
Optical migraines
Skin cold/hot
Sleeping
Stiffness/ Range of Motion
Sweating
Swelling
TMJ/face pain
Vomiting
Walking
Slight Improvement seen in:
Balance
Constipation
Dizziness
Fatigue
Muscle spasms/ Twitching
Nausea
Vertigo
Writing
Showering, Shaving
Daily activities: laundry, Cooking
Typing
Strength
Improvement not seen with:
Still have intermittent pain: bone pain, Electric pain…
Atrophy
Thyroid issues
Vision Disturbances
Weather changes still affect me
When I come out of “remission” all symptoms return to varying degrees.