By Maureen DeGarmo
One of the more difficult side effects of a traumatic illness can be alienating your friends. When you are in pain, it’s easy to become isolated and inactive. When you do have a visitor, you may be tempted to unburden all of your accumulated pain and frustration upon your visitor. Here are some tips for sharing your pain without losing the support of your friends.
1) State the facts, clearly and simply. Your family likely already knows the basics, so be brief. Some examples:
- “My pain back has extended down my leg, and now my leg is tingling.”
- “The doctor has recommended physical therapy.”
- “I had an MRI last week, which revealed some nerve damage.”