Overcoming Chronic Pain
Maria Mooney
Hello, Happy Healers! My name is Maria Mooney, and I am a proud, mostly raw, vegan graduate student munching and working my way toward a clinical M.S.W. in mental health therapy. Did I mention I also have a rare, progressive neurological disease, which has no known current cause or cure? It’s true! I have been blessed and cursed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a progressive neurological disease with the main symptom being chronic, burning, stinging, shooting neurological pain. Lucky me, all four limbs happen to be affected, with the most disabling pain in my lower legs and feet, and I daringly fight each day for my mobility.
While many people diagnosed with RSD/CRPS are forced to use wheel chairs, crutches, or other mobility enhancing devices, I have evaded the aforementioned and even obtained a 4.0 GPA in my first year of graduate school with Kris Carr’s raw, vegan diet, strong opiate medications (a.k.a. “leg juice”), a strong support system, and an even stronger desire to live a joyful, fulfilling life.
I picked up Kris’ documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, during my first hospital stay two years ago, and quickly followed suite reaping the benefits of a diet high in anti-inflammatory fruits and veggies and low in inflammation causing animal products and processed foods. This is of infinite importance for an illness where incredible swelling, which I have little to none of, is a major symptom and mobility/spirit stealer. It also provided me with a sense of empowerment that I could make a significant and strategic difference in my health, despite the grim prognosis. I could beat the odds! Not to mention, it has kept my weight low and healthy, which plays a vital role in allowing me to, well, stand at all! Think about it, the more weight a set of painful legs and feet has to bear, the worse the pain will be.
Let’s rewind several years ago to when the first signs and symptoms of RSD/CRPS developed. I was running 40+ miles a week for a division one university and was perpetually in motion. You couldn’t catch me in one place for very long, and if you did, you better have been able to keep up with me as I moved onto the next location.
As the symptoms progressed, the amount of time I could stand lessened until it became a few excruciatingly painful minutes, and not long after, I fell into a deep, reactive depression. A depression I now know is very common and quite normal for those experiencing chronic pain, but the stigma around mental illness affects a suffering individual’s access to care and, ultimately, his/her right to happiness. Chronic pain has the ability to wipe out any sense of self you possessed before and replaces it with a never-ending black hole of self-loathing and a clear disdain for life as you now know it. This is when we must enlist the help of a knowledgeable professional to bring us back to center and point us in the right direction of health and happiness.
Two years of intensive mental health therapy later, I possessed the proper and effective coping tools to deal with my altered existence, but it wasn’t until I freed myself of the notion that life is supposed to be “perfect,” without pain and suffering, that I began to really live. Once I embraced pain in my life, I could sit with it, feel it, be it for some time, ultimately, let it go, but most importantly, LEARN from it. The pain no longer had the power to ruin my days and make my decisions for me, and with that, I closed out fear and opened myself up to the healing powers of love in all of its splendid forms. Most importantly, I opened myself up to a love and acceptance for my unique, empowered self as I am in this moment, and I saw my disease as a vehicle for my personal growth and development. I discovered I have something to offer this world.
A friend once told me I was a special and unique individual, a single unicorn among many horses, and cleverly used what I now call the “unicorn analogy.” The unicorn analogy celebrates our individual uniqueness and our ability to understand that we are special, no matter what illness or burden we carry, no matter what size or color we are, and what infectious power comes with this realization. Each one of us is one of a kind, an alluringly beautiful creature, strong, wild, fierce, and impossible to tame with exceptional endurance, perseverance, and wisdom, might I add? A symbol of hope, love, and faith with an unconquerable nature! Did I mention beauty?! Inside and out. With a sharp wit that only a lucky few possess, my friend once uttered with the best of intentions, “Feel lucky you are a unicorn. They put down horses with bad legs.” And, to that, I say, “AMEN!” Embrace the uniqueness in you and share it with the world as part of your healing journey, your illness evolution, and you will touch the lives of others while self-actualizing, personally developing, and healing yourself, mind, body, and spirit. I can guarantee it. And, isn’t that the purpose of it all?
Happy Healing, Unicorns!
<3 Maria
Maria is a 25 year old, vegan graduate student living with a progressive neurological disease, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Follow along as Maria reflects on lessons learned through her health challenges, shares her experiences with alternative and traditional treatments, and enjoys life to its fullest at her blog!
- Posted by Guest Blogger on November 24, 2009 at 5:00 am
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Tagged as: Chronic Pain, depression, exercise, nutrition, raw foods
Other posts by this author:
I am so, so, so happy to have read this. I, too have dealt with chronic pain in my life… when I was a teenager I walked with a cane due to a degenerative bone disorder that not a single doctor could understand or label with a disease. I was terribly depressed and thought I was given a life sentence of pain. The pain eventually did go away, however off and on I experience inflammation in different parts of my body… right now, I am healing a herniated cervical disc that seemed to spring out of nowhere. To know that others who are in pain are taking positive and conscious action towards healing and sharing their wisdom with others inspires me to live another day without feeling sorry for myself or feeling “abnormal.” Thank you so much for writing this!
Beautiful post, Maria. You are an inspiration.
Lillian, thank you for sharing your story with me and for your kind, supportive words. I just woke up a few minutes ago and stumbled out of bed. What a nice surprise to see my blog post up!!!! What an honor!!!!!
Thank you, Liz!!!!
Maria,
You are amazing and a true inspiration. We are all lucky to be able to know such an enlightened and genuine individual. I’ve never met a more positive person than Maria!
xoxo
Lindsey
Beautiful post Maria! I am so happy you got to share you journey with us! You are an amazing unicorn!! XOXOXOXO! “Happy Healing” indeed!
What a beautiful, powerful, and inspiring post, Maria! Thank you for it.
Lindsey, thank you for always being there for me!
Lauren, thank you for this opportunity. You are such a beautiful, intelligent, inspiring unicorn. Keep fighting!
Gena, thank you!!!!
Beautiful Maria! You and the most-photographed-pooch ever LOL look great. Thank you for sharing your story and I know that God has given you a great partner in your pup to help you through the down times. Your story is UPLIFTING and full of TRUTH and HOPE!! Yeah Maria!!!
XOXO
Thank you, Isabelle! You have always been such a wonderful and beautiful supporter, and your words are always priceless. Shorter is famous!!!! lol!
Maria! So happy you were able to share your journey with us. I already knew you were amazing, and now the rest of the community will as well. You are truly an inspiration.
xo, Michelle
(((Maria))), you are such an inspiration! Although I do not suffer from chronic pain, I do look up to you – lol I am a 52 year old mom of two (my kids are your age!). You write so beautifully and I hope someday you will write a book, your blog is a good start, I love reading it! Thank you!!!
Michelle, thank you for reading always and being a constant pillar of support xoxo
Lisa, that is such an amazing compliment! Thank you for reading and supporting me from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for all the detailed information about yourself. You have that glow about you that probably comes from the vegan eating. What an inpiration.
Jonathan, it is my pleasure. Thank you for reading!
I second all of these beautiful comments!
Thanks Maria for a great article!! After another sleepless night, caused by pain, it was nice to read your wonderful words!! May we continue to shine on us brave (sometimes hobbly) Unicorns!!
Corinne, you beautiful soul! Thank you!
Clare, I am so sorry you are having a difficult time. I know it all too well, and I wish I could take it away for you. I am saying a prayer for your relief. You are a beautiful unicorn that deserves to be free and happy. Sending so much love and so many pain free wishes xoxo
Chronic pain is very hard to treat especially when most doctors will not prescribe opioids to treat the pain. I have started a website where we find doctors that are willing to treat pain with opioids to find out more info on this go to http://www.AdvanceProServices.com and we maybe able to help.
Very neat! Thank you! I will check it out ASAP.
Maria I am sooooooo VERY proud of you!!
I have always been one of your biggest fans, but now….I think I have just became your BIGGEST fan with a looooooooong line behind me!!
You are such an amazing inspiration and ‘Beautiful Unicorn’!!
~Keep Smiling, Stay Strong, Keep Focused!~
Blessings,
Coach Marla
Great job Maria! One step at a time you change your world & what’s possible & for other’s as well. Self-transformation & living in possibility is potent & contagious. Way to go!
Coach Marla, thank you for ALWAYS giving me your unconditional support and love. I have taken pieces of you with me on my journey.
Michalene, you said it best! Thank you!
You may want to try cranio-sacral therapy. Contact the Upledger Insitute on the web for information about where a therapist is in your area. My husband is a therapist and he has worked wonders with people with all kinds of disorders. Good Luck
Thanks, Rachel! I’ll look into it. I loved chelation therapy. I wish I could do it for much much longer. It would be amazing if insurance covered those treatments.
You are my all-time favourite unicorn. Fantastic article!
Thanks, Elle! Sending you so much love xoxo
Wow! You sure have are being pro active in creating your life!! (Is that a gorgeous labradoodle in the pic with you?)
Maria,
Just wanted you to know that you are an amazing, inspiring woman – I am in awe of all you have been through. You go girl!
Jeanné
Maria you are a super special gal and I love being a witness to your beautiful life as you reach out way beyond the mundane and into profound and purposeful wisdom. You are the salt of the earth Maria, keeping it spicy for the rest of us. I always love reading your blogs and get pumped up and inspired by the way you live your life. xo Shelley
Lou, thank you! He is a goldendoodle, and my healing buddy! I post tons of pictures of him on my homepage here at CSL and my blog.
Jeanne, thank you so much for your support!
Shelley, my dear angel. You have been such a wonderful supporter and friend from day one. A staple in my daily inspiration. Thank you for all you do. I love you xoxo
Maria, you are so FABULOUS! Thank you for this post. You are such an inspiration and positive, beautiful, bright light in this world.
Maria,
Your writing is as beautiful as you are. The subject of my families dinner conversation centered around this very topic. I too am blessed and cursed by a rare neuro disease known as NMO/NeuroOpticNeuritis that causes similiar symptoms that you have.
I am just writing to confirm your beliefs. I do not feel it is coincidence that I read your post after dinner this evening. It is purely fate.
Thank you with many blessings…
Elizabeth, thank you for your sweet words!
Jenny, comments like yours make me know that there is a reason behind why I was given this illness and that there is a greater purpose for me than what I can truly understand. Thank you xoxo
Beautiful Maria.. we have talked about this often.. Lord knows it seems that pain has no end but then neither does the power of good docs, and open minds.. we are blessed that we can share. My beloved suffers every day and each day he swears his sword is being sharpened for his mission on this planet and he uses the pain in a powerful and unique way I suppose if you dont find your own way you are lost. I have been blessed to find a doctor who is a living Miracle.. and he has made me as whole as I can be and life goes on. May all of you delight in the salad of her words and heal from your pain. And God willing one day the world be pain free. Much love and you wrote a fabulous blog I cannot wait to read the next and the next. love you Callie
Callie, your words are always like a beautiful poem of support and encouragement. Thank you for always being someone I can turn to and learn from. Sending so much love to you and yours xoxo
Wonderful post; this is exactly what I needed to read today.
Metta, I am so glad it was helpful. Thank you for reading!
You rock! Love ya, xoxo
Thanks, Erin!!! xoxo
Well done,Maria I think with RSd no matter how many times we get knocked down, some how we find the strenght to get back up again. I have to admit it can be very hard and easier not to fight back sometimes,but you only get one life. Even if the lifes not the same one you had be for RSD struck. Keep up the good work love Gill.
Beautifully said! Thank you, Gill!
Thanks for this – words applicable to everyone, but particularly helpful for those with chronic illness.
Thanks for sharing your story. It was very inspiring. Best of luck to you and keep up that GPA! : )
Maria-
Thank you for sharing such an inspirational story of your life. You are a blessing ..
Marina
Galah, Marina, and Lisa, thank you so much for reading and commenting. Sending love xoxo
I am so glad you shared your story here…you will find a short story of my life with RSD after having 6 kids. It is, to say the least, challenging….but rewarding at the same time. I am so glad you ahve joined the IDA…as there are few of us on the site compared to the rest of the members. Thank goodness you are here,there…I feel us RSDrs can learn a lot from you!
Chronic pain opiate narcotics are effective but very dangerous, should be taken in moderation and prescribed by a physician, medications such as Darvocet, hydrocodone, Lortab, Vicodin, Norco, Percocet, OxyContin, are even more commercial and very useful for people with diseases like fibromyalgia, chronic pain, Parkinson’s, arthritis, arthrosis, should be restricted and controlled, as in findrxonline said the FDA does not allow them the freedom to market.
Pain killers never deal with the pain. Pain like anything else is an imbalance. Target the imbalance and the pain goes away!