Are you experiencing unexplained pain?
Are you suffering pain that other thinks you may be imagining?
Has an injury healed but the pain is so great you think you are going mad?
Would you like to be able to share with others this unexplained feeling ?
READ more then;
A Northland woman is warning people who are experiencing extreme pain for no apparent reason to seek advice because they may be suffering from complex regional pain syndrome.
In July Jill Ansell-Douglas fell in the hallway of her Whangarei home fracturing her wrist. She was taken to hospital by ambulance, her wrist was plastered and she was sent home. as was normal for this type of accident.
However for Ansell-Douglas the pain from what was essentially a simple facture became so intense she thought she was losing her mind.
"I was doing bizarre things like putting the milk in the oven and mixing my words. I thought I must have hit my head when I fell - even though I knew I hadn't.
"The pain kept ramping up rather than subsiding and while having my plaster changed I nearly passed out from just the vibration of the cutting tool.
"Friends and family kept telling me the pain was in my head. I started doubting my own sanity, and felt isolated."
"Normally I have a reasonably high pain tolerance - but I was confused, nauseous, sweating, had swelling, burning, shooting pains and an extreme sensitivity to touch, none of which were diminishing as time went on. I even tried ripping my plaster off in my sleep."
Once out of plaster, Ansell-Douglas found she couldn't move her hand or arm.
While x-rays revealed "nothing", painkillers and anti nausea pills were still having no effect.
She asked her doctor for a referral to a physiotherapist.
Hand therapist Julie Taylor believed her patient was suffering from complex regional pain syndrome and started treatment including craniosacral, mirror box and hand therapy which is starting to help.
CRPS is a long-term disorder of the nervous system and not easily diagnosed. was first recorded in the 19th century during the American Civil War.
The exact cause is unknown, but among other triggers, even relatively minor trauma to a body part may lead to CRPS.
As a result of her experience Ansell-Douglas is keen to help others gain support, and share resources and service providers' details. While there is a Kiwi CRPS website Ansel Douglas would like to set up a Northland support group.
"I'd like to set up a group, but am unsure on the format. It could be formal meet sessions or an online chat group. I'm keen to hear from others to discuss options. Please call me on 021 117 6622."
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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32.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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67.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Something we all seem to have forgotten
An Obituary to Common Sense printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated valuable lessons like:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge)
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death;
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason
He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights,
- I Want It Now,
- Someone Else Is To Blame,
- I'm A Victim,
- Pay me for Doing Nothing
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing…
This is a modified version of a text that is originally attributed to Lori Borgman. However, it is more true today than it was when first written. It is not the version I remember, but it still gets the point across. Enjoy and remember.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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