The invisible disability
I've suffered from back pain most of my life with a double S curve scoliosis, but it became second nature for me to disassociate from the pain and I never let it slow me down. With the exception of the times I really pushed the limits (like digging my own watergarden!) in fact I'd have to stop and think before realizing the amount of pain I was in...it's hard to describe unless you've done it. Anyway, suddenly in 1999 when I was 43 years old that all changed, and I almost literally woke up one morning and could hardly stand for the pain...my threshold had been broken! I had two spinal fusion surgeries in Feb 2000 which did help for about a year after 6 months of grueling recovery and physical therapy. Then the pain came back slowly but surely.
I have become almost house bound, take narcotic pain killers regularly which only serve to keep the pain at a manageable (don't want to blow my brains out) level. But I have learned so much from this...above all patience, humility and compassion. I have a newfound appreciation of the disabled in general. We are just like you! Most people that meet me on the street (although these days I'm rarely able to go out) have no idea because I'm wearing my 'like everybody else' mask, and usually have a big smile on my face though what I'd really like to do is scream from the pain.
It is my hope to increase awareness...even a tad. The next time you meet someone that seems a bit 'crabby', realize that they may be experiencing incredible pain! For the most part, we look just like you, and you'd never know....You could be the next victim of this invisible disability!
X rays
My back xray (before spinal fusion surgery) Xray
Back xray post spinal fusion surgery
Looks like a tinker toy set no?? Chronic Pain Links
- Back pain and neck pain information for patients; by Spine-health
- In-depth patient information on back pain and neck pain, written and reviewed by spine specialists. Includes hundreds of peer reviewed articles for patients, doctor directory, clinical trial listings, educational newsletter, patient discussion board, and more. By Spine-health.com.
- Chronic Pain
- Current reliable information on chronic pain. Extensive medical resources for patient and physician.
- Back.com - Have questions about back pain? Back.com has answers
- Back pain does not have to be something you live with. Back pain is common and can be caused by a spinal problem. Factors such as pain, weakness, and numbness can point to a more serious condition. Back.com has the answers.
- The Invisible Disabilities Advocate - Chronic Illness
- IDA creates a better understanding of living with chronic illness and pain with articles, a booklet, links, a message board and more!
- My surgeon (he did the surgery when no one else would TOUCH it!) Thanks Dr. Graz!
- Gregory P. Graziano, M.D.
Personal Data
Address:
Phone:
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
2912 TC
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0328(734) 936-7299
Education
University of Wisconsin at Parkside
Medical College of WisconsinPostdoctoral Training
1983-1984
Indiana University Medical Center, - Rest Ministries Chronic Illness / Pain Support
- Serves people who live with chronic illness or pain, caregivers and churches, through Christian HopeKeepers groups, e-friends, chats, devotionals, pen pals, and resources at the Comfort Zone store.
Do yourself a favor and subscribe to their daily devotional! - Revolution Health - Revolution Health
- Revolution Health offers trusted health information, expert advice, drug and treatment information, doctor ratings, and a strong community to help you and your family with health issues. Visit Revolution Health as your one-stop resource for all your health needs.
- WebMD - Better information. Better health.
- The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert commentary, and medical review.
- Back Pain, Neck Pain, Sciatica - Symptoms Exercises Treatments Causes
- Resource for back pain and neck pain information on treatments, conditions, back pain exercises, surgery, prevention and recovery. Reviewed by leading neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, pain specialists and chiropractors.
- Life with my pet back
- Reflections on life with back pain and the journey to recovery.
- InsideSpine.com Blog - Jill Serbousek, VP Global Communications, Medtronic Sofamor Danek Spinal
- Inside Spine.com blog.
- Scoliosis - Have questions about Scoliosis? iScoliosis.com has answers.
- Scoliosis is a condition which affects the spines of many children, teenagers and adults. The human spine features many natural curvatures which help our bodies to move and be flexible.
- SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SECRETS: SSD SSI TIPS ADVICE TO WIN BENEFITS WHEN YOU APPLY & APPEAL FOR SSDI (SSA LAWYERS, ADVOCATES)
- Social Security Disability - Help, Answers, Tips, Advice and Secrets for winning SSD, SSDI, SSI disability cases, claims and appeals, including referrals for lawyers, attorneys, and advocates
- Midwest Pain Treatment Center
- My pain management clinic.
- Is Surgery the Best Scoliosis Treatment Option?
- It's important to seek treatment for scoliosis to prevent the abnormal spine curve from progressing. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis, and it can be treated in many ways, such as observation, bracing, and surgery.
Chronic Pain News from Google
- Chronic pain help a chronic woe: doc
- By SHARON LEM, SUN MEDIA TORONTO -- Michael Jackson's death should highlight the need to address Canada's inadequate treatment of chronic pain, experts say. ...
- Chronic Pain Educational Seminar
- Dr. Jason Rosenberg, MD, of Waccamaw Pain Management Center will conduct a patient education seminar on the topic of chronic pain. ...
- Dr. Dustin Ballard: Jackson not alone in overuse of painkillers
- And this number does not include those people who have been diagnosed with chronic pain, a group who are known to suffer from a high incidence of untreated ...
- Pain Management And Prescription Painkillers
- Michael Jackson, too, may have been taking pain medication. Doctors walk a fine line in treating patients who are seeking relief from chronic pain. ...
Chronic Pain Twitter Search
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- VinaMist
- RT @TriciaFM: Pain meds, treatment of chronic pain assoc w/ #Fibro; Lyrica, Amitriptyline, Codeine, Tramadol http://tiny.cc/NewFibroBlog
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- TriciaFM
- Pain medications, treatment of chronic pain associated w/ Fibromyalgia; Lyrica, Amitriptyline, Codeine, Tramadol http://tiny.cc/NewFibroBlog
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- losgatoschiro
- Low Back and Chronic Pain Relief Blog: Do my leg and butt muscles ... http://bit.ly/12YAV2
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- TheBackPainGuy
- BACK PAIN ALERT: Low Back and Chronic Pain Relief Blog: Do my leg and butt muscles ... http://tr.im/r4U8
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- munyorihw
- is suffering from chronic pain in her back!
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- BackPainGuy
- Low Back and Chronic Pain Relief Blog: Do my leg and butt muscles ... http://tinyurl.com/kqbers
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- ChronicPainFree
- Chronic Pain Research: Cranial (Head) Pathology can Change How the Feet Move http://snipurl.com/i9i6k
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- albin_xvan
- Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain.. http://twit.ac/KxF
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- bestheathtips
- Any body suffuring with chronic back pain due to surgery, accident or joint pain. http://www.fortramadol.com/
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- puravidareiki
- Reiki tip: Unblock your energy flow to help with headaches, stomachaches, chronic pain, autoimmune disordrs, depression...it really helps!
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- physiospot
- Nonpharmacological approaches for the treatment of urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes in men. http://tinyurl.com/rbpz76
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- chronicfatigue9
- One Stop Shop Needed for Physical and Mental Care in KY: "If you're experiencing fatigue, chronic pain,.. http://bit.ly/Ot2g7
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- mymedicalcare
- Find more information on Chronic Pain bit.ly/RVZhw.
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- ChronicFatigue1
- One Stop Shop Needed for Physical and Mental Care in KY: "If you're experiencing fatigue, chronic pain,.. http://bit.ly/IjXNF
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- catcassels
- One Stop Shop Needed for Physical and Mental Care in KY: "If you're experiencing fatigue, chronic pain,.. http://bit.ly/hw7KZ
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- AddictionNews
- is there any drug for chronic back pain stronger that oxycontin ... http://bit.ly/5BIqs
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- misswired
- My back is still cracking after my chiro appt with Scott Fell at City Chiropractic Care: http://is.gd/1oCbf No more chronic back pain!
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- LeeLamb
- I have a kid with a chronic pain syndrome. The sound waves caused by fireworks cause her pain. Like being stabbed with an ice pick. Not Fun.
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- Gosplgirl
- @invisibleillwk Thanks for the link! Mother and I BOTH deal with chronic pain and other health issues.
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- Russty
- @her_elegy Hang in there. I know how hard chronic pain is and you have every right to complain. I hope you get some relief soon.
YouTube vids about chronic pain
More pain related links
- Another EXCELLENT Squidoo lens about spine fractures
- In April, 2006 on an impromptu snow trip to Tahoe with my family, I fractured my spine in two places while sledding. I sustained a compression fracture of L1 and a burst fracture of L2. A small piece of bone broke off of my L2 fracture and impacted my spinal column by 25%. Thankfully, I did not expe
Spine Universe featured articles
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byLife with my pet back
Reflections on life with back pain and the journey to recovery.
Great blog I just ran into...
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Read about Pain...
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/06/2009) 
Conquering Your Child's Chronic Pain: A Pediatrician's Guide for Reclaiming a Normal Childhood
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 07/06/2009)
Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain
Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 07/06/2009)
Managing Chronic Pain: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach Workbook (Treatments That Work)
Amazon Price: $25.15 (as of 07/06/2009)
Managing Chronic Pain: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach Therapist Guide (Treatments That Work)
Amazon Price: $34.15 (as of 07/06/2009)
Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Step-by-Step Guide
Amazon Price: $34.20 (as of 07/06/2009)
The Chronic Pain Solution: Your Personal Path to Pain Relief
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 07/06/2009)
Chronic Pain Wikipedia
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists longer than the temporal course of natural healing, associated with a particular type of injury or disease process.
The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage." Pain is subjective in nature and is defined by the person experiencing it, and the medical community's understanding of chronic pain now includes the impact that the mind has in processing and interpreting pain signals.
Chronic Pain on Backtype
- heights
- [...] is nothing near breaking your spine. You poor thing. Gar! How did we live? I bet that still bothers you... I have chronic pain but it's literally "chronic" so I ignore it most of the time. Read more comments by mad-tante
- Nashuatelegraph.com
- [...] /dea/ongoing/marinol.html So, it would seem that the medicine is already available to the sufferers of chronic pain and other serious conditions. That of course makes me ask.. what's the point of this bill that [...] Read more comments by AlexF
- Nashuatelegraph.com
- [...] from controversy but I'll bet that many will be please if this bill is signed. People who suffer chronic pain or those in cancer treatment now have extreme choices - for some, it's suffer or be barely conscious. [...] Read more comments by SLRNashuan
- Anybody here with fibromyalgia? I've been ...
- [...] put me on celexa it seemed to make a big difference in the pain area. I have been on it for 6 years now. I think I now need a change of meds. Am to try lyrica. First diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. I have IBS and sleep apnea also. At this time I [...] Read more comments by Fran
- Jennifer Kirk Speaks Out Against Eating Disorders In The World Of Competitive Figure Skating ...
- [...] ..now it's moving on to men and steroids. I have nothing against the use of some steroids for chronic pain; I think a lot of the professional/Olympic rules about steroids are unfair. But if being a winner [...] Read more comments by SarahHeartburn
I'd love to hear from YOU!
jasmineann wrote...
Wonderful lens. Great you are bringing awareness about this often hidden pain to people. Great job!
Posted May 10, 2007
Lisa Copen wrote
Thanks so much for listing Rest Ministries on your Squidoo list. I hope we are an encouragement for you. Also wanted to make sure you know about National Invisble Chronic Illness Awareness Week in Sept http://www.invisibleillness.com
Blessings to you!
Lisa Copen (founder of Rest Ministries)
Posted March 08, 2007
New About Me
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