WELCOME MESSAGE

[Tuckamore]

This community is focused on Chronic Pain, it's management and the many challenges that are associated with the often difficult journey of people affiliated with this condition. The majority of our members experience Chronic Pain. It has several definitions but in general Chronic Pain is defined as any pain that lasts longer than 3 months. We are glad that you found us and hope that you will become an active member of our supportive and informative community.

The following is a list of Acronyms that are frequently used in our community.

PCP   Primary Care Physician
PMP   Pain Management Physician
CP     Chronic Pain
DX      Diagnosis
SX      Symptom
PM     Personal Message
MH     MedHelp

MedHelp has some great features. Each of us have a Personal Profile Page that is viewable to everyone and a Home Page that only you can access. Please take the time to complete your Profile. It's often a helpful tool for reference when responding to your question.

Your Profile Page also contains helpful Trackers. This Page allows you to post a Journal, post your Mood, send and receive PMs, Notes, Friend's List, post Photos and so much more. There's an area called "About Me" that you may provide as much or as little information about yourself as you would like. You may also personalize the page by selecting from multiple themes, You may also control access/confidentiality levels of your journals & photos.

MedHelp offers so many great amenities that we cannot list them all. So please search our site for such features as our Health Pages, Popular Articles, Symptom Checker, Drug Information,  "Ask a Doctor" Forums, Health Forums and again, so much more. Watch for live Health Chats, a question and answer session with the World's Best Physicians and Health Experts. If you have any questions as you navigate our site please feel free to ask us.

Here are a few links within MedHelp that are related to Chronic Pain. They have been developed by your CLs.

Letter to People Without Chronic Pain
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/155544/Letter-To-People-Without-Chronic-Pain?personal_page_id=14686

Informational Sites Associated with Chronic Pain:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/index/356518?personal_page_id=1060

Comparative Pain Scale
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/191268/Comparative-Pain-Scale?personal_page_id=14686

Effects of Long Term Opiate Therapy
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/141662/Long-Term-Opiate-Therapy?personal_page_id=14686

Prescription Assistance Programs:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/162076/Prescription-assistance-programs-and-phone-numbers?personal_page_id=1060

Addiction VS Dependency:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/138942/Addiction-VS-Dependency?personal_page_id=14686

Dealing with People with Chronic Pain
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/155543/Tips-For-Dealing-With-People-In-Chronic-Pain

....And from MedHelp, MedHelp's Pain Tracker
http://www.medhelp.org/user_trackers/gallery/pain  ;;

There are no physicians routinely on our forum. Some of us have medical backgrounds but there are no "experts" other then the expertise which comes from personally experiencing CP and the challenges it bestows upon us.

Don't be afraid to offer helpful opinions or suggestions and never be afraid to ask a question. We learn together. Our goal is to support one another and exchange ideas and experiences. Please review and follow our Terms of Service (TOS) at the bottom of this page. This will guide you as you post, respond and generally utilize this site. Be kind to others at MH and understand that though we share the same common denominator, chronic pain, we are all unique and wonderfully different.

We don't recommend specific drugs or physicians. These two areas are so very individualized. Which medication or physician may be right or effective for one person may not be for another person.

Please don't hijack an old thread (post) that belongs to someone else. Please initiate a new post for your questions and concerns, you'll obtain better responses. Don't tack on a question to someone else's post.... But do feel free to update your own new or older threads. We are here to foster the quest for knowledge, exchange information and ideas, gain a better understanding of conditions, medications and procedures and offer suggestions and support in our often difficult journey through Chronic Pain.

We hope to see you often and request that you join us as frequently as time permits. Please share your questions, concerns, challenges, joys, laughter and tears with people who truly get it....the Pain Management Community.

Welcome,
Tuckamore  "Tuck"
Sandee1818  "Sandee"
Your Community Leaders

[Tuckamore]

I wrote this when we changed our format. I wonder how many views it actually gets - my suspicion is few to none.

Sandee 818 is no longer active - you just get me~ and some very excellent and knowledgeable Pain Management Community Members.

Welcome,
~ Tuck
Tuckamore

[clean_in_ks]

Just stumbled onto this for the first time tonight.  I came to the substance abuse forum in Aug 2012 at almost 55 days clean.  I had not been on any social community or a computer for that matter for 4-5 yrs.  I didn't even know this forum was here, until now.  It's probably just me, but I would have been helped immensely if I had seen a post like this when I came to MH.  You guys rock!!  And I have chronic pain, so will make it a point now to check our THIS forum.  Thanks and Bless you Both for making this effort for all the newbies!

[omhome]

thanks tuck et al. and know that the help you offer is important, informative, compassionate etc. and ripples thru the whole community not just the cp folks who should (well, could--i know-i know) feel good about the contributions they have made and will make here. let's put some energy here and grow this thing beyond just this one "couch"  shanti tuck     OM

[Tuckamore]

This Message can be found in the "Important Information" section at the top of this page.

I hope you'll find it helpful.

~Tuck