Hurting Like Hell, Living with Gusto My Battle with Chronic Pain

171 Pages·2018·1.95 MB·English

by  Victoria Stopp

MCFARLAND HEALTH TOPICS
Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Narratives of Coping. Gail
McCormick. 2001
Graves’ Disease: A Practical Guide. Elaine A. Moore with Lisa Moore. 2001
Autoimmune Diseases and Their Environmental Triggers. Elaine A. Moore.
2002
Hepatitis: Causes, Treatments and Resources. Elaine A. Moore. 2006
Arthritis: A Patient’s Guide. Sharon E. Hohler. 2008
The Promise of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy: Potential Benefits in Cancer,
Autoimmune, Neurological and Infectious Disorders. Elaine A. Moore and
Samantha Wilkinson. 2009
Living with HIV: A Patient’s Guide. Mark Cichocki, RN. 2009
Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Causes, Effects, Personal
Experiences and Resources. Els Valkenburg. 2010
Type 2 Diabetes: Social and Scientific Origins, Medical Complications and
Implications for Patients and Others. Andrew Kagan, M.D. 2010
The Amphetamine Debate: The Use of Adderall, Ritalin and Related Drugs for
Behavior Modification, Neuroenhancement and Anti-Aging Purposes. Elaine A.
Moore. 2011
CCSVI as the Cause of Multiple Sclerosis: The Science Behind the Controversial
Theory. Marie A. Rhodes. 2011
Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for Families, 2d ed.
Cheryl A. Roberts. 2011
Living with Insomnia: A Guide to Causes, Effects and Management, with
Personal Accounts. Phyllis L. Brodsky and Allen Brodsky. 2011
Caregiver’s Guide: Care for Yourself While You Care for Your Loved Ones.
Sharon E. Hohler. 2012
You and Your Doctor: A Guide to a Healing Relationship, with Physicians’
Insights. Tania Heller, M.D. 2012
Autogenic Training: A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain
Syndrome and Stress-Related Disorders, 2d ed. Micah R. Sadigh. 2012
Advances in Graves’ Disease and Other Hyperthyroid Disorders. Elaine A.
Moore with Lisa Marie Moore. 2013
Cancer, Autism and Their Epigenetic Roots. K. John Morrow, Jr. 2014
Living with Bipolar Disorder: A Handbook for Patients and Their Families.
Karen R. Brock, M.D. 2014
Cannabis Extracts in Medicine: The Promise of Benefits in Seizure Disorders,
Cancer and Other Conditions. Jeffrey Dach, M.D., Elaine A. Moore and Justin
Kander. 2015
Managing Hypertension: Tools to Improve Health and Prevent Complications.
Sandra A. Moulton. 2016
Mammography and Early Breast Cancer Detection: How Screening Saves Lives.
Alan B. Hollingsworth, M.D. 2016
Central Sensitization and Sensitivity Syndromes: A Handbook for Coping. Amy
Titani. 2017
Hurting Like Hell, Living with Gusto: My Battle with Chronic Pain. Victoria
Stopp. 2017
Hurting Like Hell, Living with Gusto
My Battle with Chronic Pain
VICTORIA STOPP
MCFARLAND HEALTH TOPICS
Series Editor Elaine A. Moore
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE
BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE
e-ISBN: 978-1-4766-3090-8
© 2017 Victoria Stopp. All rights reserved No part of this book may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Front cover: Victoria Stopp running (courtesy Rhonda Cooper)
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
For Rhonda,
the most authentic person I know.
For my parents, who’ve always
given their all in everything they do.
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide
not to be reduced by them.”—Maya Angelou
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1. Who I Was
2. Becoming Chronic
3. Pills and More Pills
4. Normal Pain Before Chronic Pain
5. Insight and an MRI
6. Pain Management
7. Side Effects
8. Pain and Social Media
9. First Neck, Then Low Back
10. EMDR
11. Traveling, Backpacking and Defiance
12. Dystonia and More Specialists
13. Disability and a New Tattoo
14. The Power of Exercise
15. From Patient to Caregiver
16. The Expense of Chronic Pain
17. Hope, a New Puppy and a Long Hike
18. Memories and Mind Control
19. The Military Question
20. Stronger
21. A Bad Fall
22. Discovering Yoga
23. What I Would Have Done
Epilogue
Suggested Reading and Resources
List of Names and Terms
Acknowledgments
Rhonda C. for love and laughter. Margaret S. and Harry S. for being Mamoo and
Pawis, and for the groceries and dog-sitting and unending generosity. Leslie R.
for everything, especially well-timed Tia pics. Chris A. for turning baby steps
into leaps. Dr. W., a true healer. Terry and Lori for PT and yoga. Diane B.,
DeDe M., and Cena H. for taking time to read my work. Julie B. for invaluable
last-minute help. Vickie, Rachia, and Dawn P. for long talks and camping.
Shawn M. and Tina D. for Lavender Sunset and all that it may one day entail.
Lindsay M. for Twitter lessons and Sarah H. for photography. Blair G., Rachel
M., and Kelly H. for friendship since way back. Susan H. for so much and for so
long. Kim L. for porch talks. Aileen H. for late nights at the paper. Bruce C. and
Jon S. for massage. Tyler W. for finding trigger points and waking glutes. Josh
W. for tech help and general awesomeness. Misha W. for not killing me when I
was in middle school and for telling me to go after what I want. Janine R. for
putting up with long and sporadic texts. Aunt Elaine for a lifetime of love and
humor. Aunt Marian and Uncle Bob for cherished memories. Theresa M. for
teaching English and journalism. Dr. Christine C. for seeing beyond late papers
and bad grades. Patsy S. for New York City. Diana H.G. for worrying. Gloria L.
for being present. Pearlas for PT help. Paula C. and Sarah S. for unconditional
love. In memory of Gran, Granddad, Aunt Marg, Dr. Bona B., Beverly, Amber,
and Jana. Finally, to every friend and family member who ever showed me
kindness and support. This book wouldn’t have happened without all of you.