Pain Episodes

If you live with a chronic condition, you know that pain isn't a static entity. It isn’t a flat line on a monitor; it’s a wave. Some days, the water is calm. Other days, you are drowning in a "pain episode."

What have you noticed (e.g., stress, physical activity)? pain episodes

Vaso-occlusive crises are a hallmark of SCD, where sickled cells block blood flow, causing intense pain [CVS Specialty]. These episodes are the most common reason for hospitalization in both children and adults with the condition [10.1002/pbc.21735]. If you live with a chronic condition, you

: How long the episode lasted and if it was predictable. Top Tools for Tracking Pain Other days, you are drowning in a "pain episode

: One of the few scientifically validated apps available in app stores that includes multiple validated pain scales.

You may be familiar with "Spoon Theory"—the idea that you have a limited amount of energy (spoons) per day. During a pain episode, your spoon count has drastically dropped. Be ruthless with your energy budget. If you have three spoons, don’t spend two of them worrying about the laundry. Spend them on breathing, hydrating, and resting. The dishes can wait.