Before I could develop pain management methods, I first had to try and recognise what was triggering my pain.  This wasn’t an easy process, particularly as my pain is so variable, but for me slowly identifying what was triggering or aggravating my pain was a process well worth going through.   Once I understood these factors then I could  pro-actively work out how to avoid them, or at least minimise them. 

Although I can’t get rid of my chronic pain, through careful thought I have been able to learn to understand what affects my pain from both external factors (eg cold and lifting) and internal factors (eg stress).  Armed with that understanding I have been able to adapt my life and environment in order to minimise the pain and facilitate me coping with my situation and leading a fulfilling life, including being able to work part time.

I hope the descriptions below about how I worked out my pain triggers, and then went onto manage my pain better may prove helpful.