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At this time of year you will probably have many things to prepare, buy, cook, organise prescriptions and medications to last you over the times that your chemist and doctors are closed. Don’t feel that you’ve failed if you can’t manage to do something in one go, you are a chronic pain or CRPS sufferer, it is to be expected!
The prospect of writing out all those Christmas cards can be very daunting and worrying. So why not look at alternatives to the traditional Christmas card, such as e-cards that you can now purchase online.
However if you’d prefer to give the traditional Christmas card, why not type up a set insert with what you want to say and then either stick the insert inside the card or just fold it up and slip it into each card.
If you have trouble with CRPS or chronic pain in your hands and arms, you can use speech to text programmes on your computer, programmes such as Dragon Naturally Speaking or there are now speech to text apps on your mobile device that you can use.
You can also ask family or friends if they will write the cards for you if you tell them what to write in each card and who the card goes to.
*TIP* If writing is a problem for you then you can always send e-cards whether it’s at Christmas or at other times of the year. Burning Nights CRPS Support is registered as a charity with the following platforms where you can send ecards and donate the cost of postage to the charity:
**Did you know that Burning Nights CRPS Support sells different styles of Christmas card? 100% of the profits go back into the charity! We have:
We wish ‘Ewe’ a Merry Christmas – Christmas cards
Fireside Winter Wishes – Christmas Cards
Festive Red Bus Christmas cards
Getting to the busy shops during December to get your Christmas gifts for family and friends can not only be daunting to face but can also end up being a painful experience especially walking round the bustling shops with people rushing everywhere, your CRPS limb can easily be knocked.
Why not consider buying your gifts online? That way you don’t have to go to the shops, find a car space and then trudge round the stores. Don’t forget that if you do buy your Christmas gifts online to buy them through Easy Fundraising!
Every order done through Easy Fundraising will result in Burning Nights CRPS Support charity receiving FREE donations from the shops you go to via EF!
If you struggle with the wrapping of your presents you’ve bought, when you’re buying the gifts online, check with the company if they do gift wrapping. This makes it so much easier and quicker if they can gift wrap your presents rather than you struggling to do all the wrapping.
Also don’t forget to ask your friends and family if they can wrap up your Christmas gifts for you. This will help you keep your pain levels down.
There are also a good range of Christmas gift boxes and gift bags that are available from various shops online and in the High Street. This could not only save you time instead of taking the time to gift wrap all your presents but it will also help keep your pain levels lower than having to gift wrap.
If you do your shopping online in the UK, you can help us at Burning Nights CRPS Support by raising FREE donations for us if you shop via EASY FUNDRAISING. You don’t pay a penny extra and it’s the retailer who pays the donation to us and not you! Please click to visit EASY FUNDRAISING
Whenever you buy anything online – from your Christmas groceries to your home insurance, Christmas decorations and Christmas gifts – you could be raising a free donation for Burning Nights CRPS Support charity? There are nearly 4,000 retailers including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, thetrainline, Hobbycraft and Tesco who will donate a percentage of the amount you spend to Burning Nights CRPS Support to say thank you for shopping with them.
It’s really simple, and doesn’t cost you anything! All you have to do is:
1. Go to Easy Fundraising – Burning Nights CRPS Support charity -> https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/burningnight/
2. Sign up for FREE
3. Get shopping – your donations will be collected by easyfundraising and automatically sent to Burning Nights CRPS Support. It couldn’t be easier!
There are no catches or hidden charges and Burning Nights CRPS Support will be really grateful for your donations.
Thank you all for your support!
If you’re on your own or you are the one who has to do all the cooking at Christmas, there are many short cuts that you can take including pre-cut vegetables, prepared meat, frozen potatoes and vegetables. You can even buy tin foil trays so you don’t have to do any washing up afterwards, you can just throw the trays away!
Write yourself a list of all the vegetables and food that needs to be cooked and the cooking times of each. This will help your Christmas Day meals run as smoothly as possible. You can also put the vegetables in pans of water on Christmas Eve again to save you time on the big day itself.
Just by letting others know that you’re having a bad day or your symptoms are flaring up and then hearing them say how they understand what you’re going through can be therapeutic. Also talking with others who are dealing with the same pain can be a great way to learn about how they cope when feeling a bit down as a result of their symptoms. (Burke, S. 2014)
Holiday season means for some – Parties! But for those living with chronic pain or CRPS this can leave you with a sense of dread and fear. Here’s some tips on how to get through parties while living with CRPS, chronic pain or chronic illness:
Being on your own during the holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving can seem very depressing indeed. You watch families, children etc enjoying themselves and you begin to feel vulnerable and desperate. First of all please don’t feel alone, that’s why we are here to help you.
Try and give yourself a little task each day, something that you enjoy doing eg baking, adult art, crocheting, knitting or join a local club that does crafts you enjoy. Be careful if you do go out in case of bad weather.
If you find you are struggling, the UK Samaritans are open 24 hours a day. Please visit our SUPPORT FOR CRPS SUFFERERS page for all the phone numbers and details you need.
This refers to EVERYTHING! No more spending, no more jobs/tasks to do, no more ignoring that nagging extra pain you’ve been feeling and just TRY AND ENJOY THE FESTIVE SEASON!!
Christmas isn’t for everyone and sometimes everything becomes just too much. Here are some phone numbers for organisations around the world who are available 24/7:
UK
Samaritans: 116 123 (UK & ROI)
Childline: 0800 1111
Mind: 0300 123 3393
Age UK: 0800 169 6565
Domestic Violence Hotline: 0808 2000 247
USA
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Suicide.org: 1-800-784-2433 OR 1-800-273-8255
Suicide.org Military Veterans: 1-800-273-TALK (Press 1)
Suicide.org en Español: 1-800-273-TALK (Press 2)
AUSTRALIA
Lifeline: 13 11 14 and if life is in danger call 000
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
CANADA
Suicide Action Montreal: 1-866-APPELLE
FRANCE
15 is the national emergency line 24 hr
Suicide Écoute: 01 45 39 40 00 24hr suicide prevention helpline
La Croixe Rouge Écoute: 0 800 858 858
The final thing to say is overall, try to enjoy the Holidays whether you are on your own or with your family! Keep in minds yourself and your immediate family.
Merry Christmas Everyone from the Burning Nights CRPS Support charity team! Try to remember to enjoy yourselves! Why not try any of our 12 tips on how to cope through the Christmas Season whilst living with chronic pain or CRPS?!