Teens in Chronic Pain

• “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” (James 5:16b)
• “Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a)
• “Answer me when I call you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1,3)

• “Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises.” (James 5:13)
• “You have recorded my troubles. You have kept a list of my tears Aren’t they in your records?” (Psalm 56:8)
• “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
• “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1)
• “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
• “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
• “Anyone who meets a testing head on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.” (James 1:12 / The Message)

You know you’ve been on crutches too long when… [as compiled by myself and others on the KneeGeeks forum!] There were more than those listed below, but I chose only those applicable to me.

1) People are surprised to see you without them

2) Your arm muscles are in the best shape ever

3) You use them like chopsticks and don’t have to bend over to pick something up

4) You have developed calluses right below your armpits and on your palms

5) You decorate your crutches for special occassions (ie. green and red ribbons for Christmas)

6) You have friends/co-workers/teachers sign them because you can get more messages/autographs than any cast!

7) You crutch faster than you walk

8) Strangers always marvel at your speed and agility on crutches

9) You dream of “pimping” out your crutches (ie. adding rhimestones and color)

10) You’ve learned to dance on them (or in my case, when you’ve gone to two Homecoming dances on them and with an immobilizer)

11) People call you gimpy because you are never without them (all my high school friends called me Gimpy)

12) You wish you could use the crutches because they help with pain, but your OS (orthopedic surgeon) won’t let you because your quads atrophy too much

13) Your friends get bummed when you don’t have the crutches because they can’t play “crutch and field 2004″ and use the crutches to pole vault over couches, etc.

14) It’s easier to push your way through a crowd because you can just hit people. This was great in crowded high school hallways.

15) It becomes a good luck charm on your high school track team.

16) When, as a senior in high school, friends can’t remember you ever off of them even though your freshman year was the only year you never used them.

17) You look at them and feel at home.

18) You absolutely have no problem opening doors or stopping them from closing much to the amazement of friends and family.

19) You get sad when your PT or OS tells you to wean yourself down to one crutch because it slows you down.