About the Author

Hi! My name is Sherrie Sisk. I’m a writer, speaker, and coach. Currently, I’m at work on a nonfiction book called The Tramadol Diaries, which both recounts my experiences as a fibromyalgia survivor and details a step-by-step plan for others living with chronic pain who want to “thrive, not just survive.”

I’m a “recovering lawyer” in more than one sense of the somewhat-overused phrase. My ten-year-career ended early in 2009 as a result of a sudden, dramatic downturn in my health, and I transitioned into a full-time coaching and writing practice. As of January, 2010, my daughter and I live in Salisbury, North Carolina.

The Beginnings of Chronic Pain

In 1999, my pregnancy was marred by a near-constant case of severe, debilitating sciatica — a painful inflammation of the sciatic nerve which runs the length of the back of each leg. After a very difficult 40-hour induced labor, I gave birth to my daughter via Caesarean section.

Unfortunately, the sciatica did not dissipate after Kayleigh’s birth. Eventually, I was diagnosed with severe degenerative disc disease resulting from a childhood case of scoliosis that had never been properly treated;  the material that cushions the space between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, in particular, had been pushed out so extensively that it was impinging on the sciatic nerve.

Months of conservative treatment (physical therapy, massage, ice, TENS treatments) gave no relief, so I was scheduled for surgery in the winter of 1999.

After the microdiscectomy, the sciatica vanished — but a whole new set of symptoms showed up. All-over body pain, extreme fatigue, severe sensitivity to light and noise, and a mortifying vicious cycle of GI symptoms, none of which responded to over-the-counter treatments, brought me back to the doctor in the spring of 2000. Following a string of tests to rule out other problems, I finally received a diagnosis in May 2000.

Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia

My doctor told me what was causing my symptoms — fibromyalgia. Oddly, my reaction was one of exhilarating relief. I finally had a name for what I’d thought of as some weird, never-ending flu.

However, that relief was somewhat short-lived, as the reality of my condition sank in. Fibromyalgia is incurable, though not usually considered degenerative. It’s a life sentence; I had to learn to live with it. My symptoms would get worse, then get better, and just as I started to think I’d turned some corner, I’d collapse in the grocery store.

Finding a Way Through the Pain

I tried a plethora of conservative pain management techniques over a period of four years. Physical therapy, acupuncture, different forms of yoga therapy, chiropractic treatments, nutritional supplements, and massage — in combination and alone, some gave me a little relief, but nothing gave me my life back.

Afraid I was missing out on being a mom, I ultimately decided to add pain medication to my treatment plan. I began taking tramadol in carefully monitored daily doses, together with acetaminophen. As soon as that first dose took effect and the pain immediately receded, I felt hopeful for the first time in a long time.  I was highly reluctant to try it originally, and remain vigilant about my medication regimen, but I definitely credit the tramadol with restoring my quality of life significantly.

In addition, I practice daily gentle, restorative yoga; meditate daily; and try to monitor my diet to avoid foods that exacerbate certain symptoms and embrace those that reduce those symptoms. Basically, the principles are simple: I try to eat as “low on the food chain” as I can; I limit sugar and so-called “white foods” such as white rice, pasta, bread, potatoes; and I use cinnamon and turmeric — two spices known to reduce inflammation and pain — liberally.  In combination with moist heat, trigger point massage therapy, and deep tissue massage, and of course the tramadol/acetaminophen “cocktail,” these treatments keep my fibromyalgia symptoms in check for the most part.

Dealing With Chronic Pain

As a fibromyalgia survivor, I understand that chronic pain conditions affect much more than a patient’s body: they affect every aspect of life. From financial crisis to work disputes to challenges in personal relationships and parenting, I’ve experienced first-hand the sometimes devastating impact of chronic pain. It’s my goal, through this blog and the book I’m writing, as well as through speaking engagements and coaching other chronic pain survivors, to help others learn how to create their own best lives and “thrive, not just survive.”