Chronic pain management

I was laying here today incapacitated by a rebelling body when I decided, now is a great time to write a poem, go figure.  I originally was going to post it on my poetry blog but seeing as how I’m locked out of it, again, I’m just going to put it here in all it’s long assed glory. I think about pain a lot, I’m in pain more often than not but I only ever hear it discussed clinically unless it’s a throwaway judgey as hell comment about everyone becoming addicts if so much as an Advil passes their lips or how everyone is over dramatic and they need to suck it up and tough it out. My thoughts tend to run more to the personal highs and lows of dealing with daily pain.

                                   Pain

Work through it

Surrender to it

Learn from it

Turn your back on it

We deal with pain

Each on our own

Although we should know

We’re never truly alone

It shouldn’t define me

At least that’s what they say

What however does it buy me

Pretending it goes away

With a head so heavy I can’t explain

Why is it my lot to deal with pain

Did I make wrong choices

Did I take a wrong path

Why does my body 

Insist on such wrath 

Once young and vibrant

Quite feeling myself

I learned early to put pain on a shelf

Back in those days my mind was protective

Now my body hurts

While my mind is introspective 

Can you understand pain

How it messes with your perceptions 

Making you think 

Only a small ache is utter perfection

Trying to embrace

What won’t go away

Reminding myself 

It wont always stay

But the changes it makes

The way it morphs

 Twists and turns

Sometimes a pin prick

At others a burn

Location location location

They say that’s the key

Cold comfort

 Given that it’s all over me

Swollen feet back spasms

Pounding in my head 

And let’s not forget

Stiff joints burning legs

That make me desire

To be abed

Pain can be useful

As you well know

Slows you down

Confirming you don’t run the show

When you see me dolled up

It’s not that I’m great

Just reminding myself 

That it will abate 

Clothes are a shield 

Oft times a weapon

To be yielded with precision 

Against that bodily foe pain

With style and vision

A few secrets below

Not shared aloud

To managing my pain

And not being cowed 

Knee high socks are soothing

They hide compression 

Taking the nerve burn out

There now you have it

My secret confession 

Sweet swing dresses

Won’t bind on 

An unsettled tummy

There’s not much worse than bloat

While wrapped as a mummy

A cute haircut 

Layered or bob 

Brings instant relief

To my neck throb

Adorable glasses 

Aren’t just for show

For goodness sake

Eye strain must go

Fleece pjs

Even those without feet

Provide bodily warmth

An unparalleled treat

Pain meds are great

I take them a lot

Although 

Getting all dressed up 

Reminds me I’m smoking hot