Since my pain has exponentially increased lately and my disability has kept pace with the pain,I want to talk about some of the hidden aspects of severe disability.I assume almost everyone has disability benefits of some kind. Things like SSI, SSD or private insurance disability.

If not, please let me know, I can help. The first thing that isn't talked about with chronic pain is our altered sense or TIME. When we have pain flare, a second can feel like a minute, a minute can feel like an hour & an hour can feel like a day. I call this Falzone’s Special

Falzone’s Special Relativity of Time. It is agonizing. Conversely if we have adequate pain management, Time compresses and goes by like a snap of the fingers. I remember those days with a sense of satisfaction.

The second hidden aspect of living with chronic pain is SPACE. Our personal space shrinks to the size of a BLACK HOLE. I feel alone as a black hole must ”feel.” All a black hole can do is suck up the energy /matter of the universe. As we suck up the energy and concerns of our

Family and friends. We feel cut off from these people. This includes our neighbors, our community, our city. I have lost interest in these things since I am unable to be involved on a personal level. So my world has disappeared making me feel very, very lonely.

The third aspect of CPPs hidden disability is PLEASURE/FUN. When was the last time you felt the warm embrace of another human being? Forget about cuddling, spooning, or intercourse. For me, it's like a memory from a distant shore. Or from another person.

Finally, the fog of remembrance and memory itself. I don't know about you, but my short term memory has gone to hell since my increased pain level. One day of pain leads to the next, unending torture which is all-consuming blocking incorporation of short term

Incorporation of short term memory (the software or APP) to our permanent memories (the hardware or hard drive.) Disruption of sleep has much to do with this phenomenon. Since sleep is when we lock in our permanent memory. The result, the fog of memory.

I just thought I'd talk about these issues since I've been feeling them so much recently. Perhaps some apply to your situation or none at all. For me, these are important problems not much explored with our CP disability. I hope they encourage further discussion.

You should've gotten benefits CPIA, if you want them. Some don't like the whole process. I can appreciate that sentiment.