Thanks for checking what’s new here at How to Cope with Pain.  I’m on vacation and taking a break from posting this week, soaking up that warm end-of-August sun.

 But here’s a preview of what’s coming up in September…

A great blog carnival hosted here on the topic of Pain and Work for Labor Day, September 3
I’ll […]

Many companies treat their workers like paperclips and rubber bands… as soon as they don’t function so well, they go into the trash.  And because the thinking is “if one goes, we’ll just get another,” there’s no effort to prevent problems.

But employees are more like cars… a little care and they keep functioning.  And when […]

How do you handle life’s small obstacles…

only 1 egg left in the frig, when your recipe calls for 2?
your child leaves her dish and glass by the tv… again?
a flat tire?

 
And how about life’s big problems, like your pain disorder?
A new study shows that self-compassion is needed when things go badly for us.
Mark Leary, a Psychology Professor […]

Our contest winner Rebecca’s relaxation idea was a family fun night, with meditation, yoga and laughter with her family.  And now… the top 10 countdown of runner-up suggestions.  Thanks to everyone who entered!
10.  Julie and Amber suggest a mini get-away.  Julie says hers is “having a hand massage with a manicure, or foot massage with a pedicure.  […]

Drumroll, please…   And the winner is…

Rebecca, who suggested a family fun night.  Congratulations!!
Her winning entry:
One of my favorite ways to relax entails our family fun night.  My 4 children and I, (yes, it IS possible to relax with four kids), light candles around the room, put on mud masks, and cut up cucumbers and put them on […]

Before the door closes…   before the rocket takes off…   before the train departs…

Today’s your last day to enter our What’s Your Most Creative Way To Relax contest.  Lots of great entries - make sure yours gets counted.  Remember, you can enter up to once a day.
Our happy winner will be announced on Friday, and will receive a […]

To enter…  What’s Your Most Creative Way To Relax?
And if you’re looking for some good medical blog reading, check out “Grand Rounds” at Med Journal Watch.  Today’s theme is sudden change.

Today we’re talking with Matthias Weinberger, a German physical therapist who has a great understanding of newer treatments for pain - and is able to explain them with flair.  I’ve asked him to comment about his work and help us understand newer theories of pain.
How To Cope With Pain:  How did you choose physical therapy?
Matthais Weinberger:  […]

Usually airplane travel includes bad food, cramped quarters and delays.  I recently flew on American Airlines to Chicago – no delays - but an interesting quirk of not a speck of food either.  No peanuts, no cookie.  Wow… cost-cutting gone haywire.  And airport security was nice enough to confiscate my yogurt – I hadn’t realized that […]

Yep, still a bit more time to submit your ideas to our contest, What’s Your Most Creative Way To Relax.  Hurry… well, in a relaxed way