Monday, September 15, 2008

What is Chronic Pain and What Does Your Chronic Pain Look Like?

The American Pain Foundation (APF) is a non profit educational, research and advocacy organization working to eliminate the epidemic of under treatment of pain in America. In celebration of September being Pain Awareness Month, it recently asked its members and others suffering with chronic pain, to submit entries for the 2ND Annual "Pain and Creativity Exhibit".

Submissions could include photographs, photographs of still art, videos, music, and/or writings that reflect your experience in pain.

The APF will show selected submissions at the awards dinner in Baltimore, Maryland on October 23, 2008.

The question I answered is "What Does Chronic Pain Look Like and How Has It Influenced Your Life?"

When I am in unbearable pain and close my eyes, this picture is what I visualize my pain to be. The words explain how the pain has influenced my life. This is my submission.




After viewing this video, pleas click on the title of this article to view an additional video explaning what chronic pain is.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your courage is incredible and the video is a great piece of work. People who suffers should have a fraction of your strenght and understanding of ilness.
Another amazing post.
Love,
Elio

Mckay K said...

Thank you for those encouraging words Elio. I was pleased with the outcome.

I am glad that you see me as being strong. I want to be. Last week I did not feel too strong.

You give me courage. Thanks again.

Carol King said...

Amazing piece of work Mckay, I hope yours is one selected to be shown at the dinner as it is most deserving. Your video really captures the enormity of chronic illness and shows the depths that it can take a person too.

You have great courage, understanding, creativity and passion despite your pain and I salute you always.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to you! This video really made me understand you and your struggles on an everyday basis. How did it make you feel once you completed the video? I know after I finished my vision board I felt really good inside. Very proud of my work. Anyways, I want to congradulate u on a work well done. Good Luck.

Unknown said...

this was a great video. Thanks for an amazing post

Mckay K said...

Carole, I want it to be shown so that when those who are not suffering with chronic pain are in the presence of those of us who are, they allow us to just be.

We don't want sympathy, we want people to know that we are giving all that we have to give in that particular moment.

Thank you for you wonderful ability to understand.

Mckay K said...

Valerie I felt great. It was just as it is supposed to be. It came easy and when I finished I was happily surprised with the results.

If you like the vision board, you are going to love the visualization movie.

I was introduced to them by Carole at Inspired Journey
http://inspired-journey.blogspot.com/

I received six free movies in about 24 hours. I know you will benefit from seeing or making one.

Mckay K said...

Blog Queen I really appreciate your comments.

I hope that the video inspires other to get their feeling about their pain out of their head and channeled into other avenues. This video certainly did it for me.

Maybe someone visiting this blog will choose to work with the American Pain Foundation. Now wouldn't that be nice.

Shauna said...

My Kindred Spirit,

All I can and need to say to you are two words that we hear more often than we'd like, b/c many times, those that say it do NOT know what we are feeling; therefore:

I UNDERSTAND.

And am in tears. I do adore you my KS.

Love,
Shauna

Mckay K said...

My Dear Kindred Spirit, you certainly know what I am talking about. My pain is not worse than yours, it is just MY pain.

Many times I have read your letters and cried with you. Then I would read one of your post and understand. I could understand because you had put into words what I could not.

My intent with this post was to give a visual of what we live with each day. Judging by the comments left here, it has been a success.

Shauna every since I wrote this post, my pain has lessened. I can only imagine that it is the warm love that each reader is sending my way. And, for that I am so grateful.

Thank you for your loving empathy.

Speedcat Hollydale said...

Fine work on the blogger video ... it makes sense.

Also, thanks for stopping by today when I was not feeling so well myself.

Your friend in minnesota.
Eric

Mckay K said...

I Hope you are better soon Eric. I was still on your blog LAUGHING when I received your notice.

Thanks for the compliment and thanks for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

it is not easy to manage life with chronic pain and some people do not understand the meaning of chronic pain. This post is really helpful for them. Your contribution regarding this area is excellent. Keep it up.

Thanks
Christina Crease
onlinedepressionhelp@yahoo.com

Mckay K said...

Christina thank you for you comment. You are so right. I think all of the stress associated with chronic pain would be alleviated if people simply understood what they are going through and why.