“Why do you want to write a blog?” was my teenage son’s reply when I asked him to set this up.  That’s as good a place to start as any.

On Friday, tomorrow, I am due at Guy’s hospital brightand early for a neuromodulation trial – the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator (a  sophisticated internal TENS!) to help combat the chronic pain that I am suffering. I have read and watched various accounts online of other people’s experiences, but I want to try to put into words how this experience feels for me.  I would like to share my journey (at risk of sounding like I’m on X Factor) with my friends and other fellow chronic pain bods – you know who you are – all to be known as my Pain Pals!

I will try to update you on my progress regularly, as well as adding elements of my history and the often strange and laugh out loud moments of a body disabled by pain.

So back to my son’s question……I think that I am writing as much for me as for the rest of you.  To help to inform my friends and family, to get my own thoughts and feelings out and, if I can, to help anyone else out there who is living with chronic pain.

Nil by mouth shortly, early start tomorrow morning.

Thanks for joining me,

your pain pal,  Claire