How a Chronic Pain Condition Positively Changed My Life (and the 5 Easy Adjustments I Made, Which You Can Make Too

Hayley Hunt
Sep 5
7 min read

Chronic pain: read on for my story about one of my chronic pain conditions and how it actually changed my life for the better.

In 2014 I was diagnosed with 2 chronic pain conditions: hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and fibromyalgia. It's been a physical struggle managing these to say the least! In November 2021, I was working as an office manager in a GP surgery when I started experiencing eye pain. This wasn't pain I had experienced before, and I tried to push through it.

Little did I know, this chronic pain would impact my entire life.

I ended up at the emergency eye hospital, where the only problem they could find was "dry eyes". Due to the pain, I had to take two weeks off work and lie in a dark room with my eyes closed. I couldn’t even pass the time watching TV because the brightness was too painful. I went back to the emergency eye hospital (after seeing the optician), and they referred me to outpatient ophthalmology.

A few painkillers later, I returned to work on amended duties. Reading emails was out of the question, and I spent a lot of time wearing sunglasses!

After more uncomfortable tests, there was still nothing to explain the chronic pain behind my eyes, and I was referred to Rheumatology. Their thinking was that it might be related to the hEDS or fibromyalgia. (Anyone who has an invisible disability, rare disease, or chronic pain will understand how often you get brushed off with comments like “Oh, we don’t really know what it is, so we think it’s just part and parcel of your syndrome.”)

I won’t bore you with the frustrating details of the appointments that followed, let’s just skip ahead to March 2023.

The chronic pain had flared up again (as it often did) but this time there was no respite. I was adamant that I wasn’t going to go off sick again. I delegated some of my duties and did ‘useful’ things that we never had time for in a busy GP surgery. I cleared out every cupboard and drawer in the building, got a skip (and filled it), cleaned, reorganised the stationary room, and threw out stuff from 1992 (no exaggeration). Eventually, though, I had to accept defeat and go off sick again.

At home, I tried to find things to do that didn’t involve using my eyes and worsen the chronic pain. There was a lot of “pottering” — gardening, cleaning, redecorating, clearing out the garage, cleaning the cars, walking, tidying the shed... basically anything I could get my hands on that didn't use my eyes too much!

I knew deep down that this area of chronic pain was likely long-term, if not permanent.

What if I could never return to my job? I realised I needed a career backup plan that didn’t rely so heavily on computers.

I’d always been interested in wellbeing and holistic therapies. Some of these practices had been the only things that eased my chronic pain. I don’t usually take prescription painkillers; I’ve found heat, meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques to be far more effective. That’s when I discovered Reiki.</p>

<p>I decided to embark on Reiki training (all face-to-face, so no eye pain exacerbation!) and, once I’d completed it, I started volunteering as a Reiki therapist at a local hospice. I also moved on to other holistic therapy training. It felt good to be learning again.

Because of the daily practices I have implemented, I’ve had a significant improvement in the chronic pain behind my eyes (yet still no diagnosis or treatment plan from the NHS).

Full disclosure: I am not 100% better. But I’d easily say there’s been an 80% improvement. I still can’t stare at the computer for hours, but I can do a lot more than I could before. I still can’t read small text in books or too many emails, but I can zoom in, and I can read e-books. I don’t have to constantly wear sunglasses anymore. I can read the back of packaging, check messages from my son’s school app, fill out forms, and even enjoy looking at festive lights! (I still avoid jewellery shops, though. Seriously, do they need that level of lighting?!)

So, how did I go from sitting in a dark room in agony to writing this blog? How did I improve the chronic pain in my eyes? The easy answer is: “I took control and changed my lifestyle.” The long bullet-point answer is:

1. Chronic Pain Tip 1: Remove Your Biggest Stress

I removed my biggest stress: my job.

Wow. I didn’t realise how ill that job was making me. The stress of working as a manager in the NHS was too much, and it wasn’t until I left that I realised how much it was exacerbating my chronic pain and affecting my mental health.

I know not everyone can just leave their job. I thought I never could — I was trained for nothing else, had been there since I was 20, and it was paying my mortgage! But after a long time off sick, it became clear that returning wasn’t an option. Now I see that leaving was meant to be. The Universe gave me a huge shove when I’d previously kept ignoring all the signs.

What's the one thing that causes you the most stress? How can you ease this? Can you remove it? Can you change it? Remember, nothing is going to improve if you don't take action.

2. Chronic Pain Tip 2: Reiki (Of Course!)

I did my Level 1 Reiki training, which included treating myself for 21 consecutive days. Ultimately, I was receiving Reiki, meditation, mindfulness, and physical/mental relaxation every single day. It was a game-changer and a mindset shift. It brought me clarity and made me realise I don’t have to let this chronic pain control me.

Seeing a Reiki practitioner will ensure you actually give yourself some respite, relaxation, and natural healing. Don't keep saying you'll take time out for yourself, you need to actually do it!

Why not go one step further and learn Reiki level 1 so you can treat yourself any time? Find out about my Redditch, Worcestershire Reiki training school here.

3. Chronic Pain Tip 3: Gratitude Practice

This is SO important. According to the law of attraction, like attracts like. Gratitude attracts abundance. Be grateful for what you have and can do, despite what’s been thrown at you. Every night before I sleep, I sit with my eyes closed, reflect on my day, and go through a list of things I’m grateful for. I do this religiously to keep my positivity high and my mind healthy.

4. Chronic Pain Tip 4: Affirmations

I have a few affirmations on rotation, depending on what I need at the time. I repeat them while getting ready in the morning, walking to pick up my son from school, or when I'm cooking; I don’t set specific time aside for them, which makes them easier to stick to. Flooding your brain with positivity will reset your subconscious mind and eradicate the negative thought patterns.

5. Chronic Pain Tip 5: Medicine

More specifically for me, eye ointment!

Western medicine and natural remedies can work together. I need this eye ointment (even if it IS the consistency of Vaseline) to help with my dry eyes. The dryness contributes to the chronic pain, and I know using the ointment helps.

Take your meds, kids! Always listen to your healthcare professional, and take a holistic approach alongside it.

You can get advice, more info, and support from the NHS by visiting the NHS pain page.

I have worked hard at these top 5 tips. You're not going to make big improvements with a couple of days of changes and then giving up. It's a lifestyle and mindset reset.

Consistency is key!

I've listed below a few people who have helped/encouraged/supported this change in my life, and they don't even know it. Isn't that nice, to be able to positively affect peoples lives and not even know you're doing it?

Podcasts (not related to chronic pain)

I listen to a mix of comedy and holistic/spiritual podcasts. Some of my favorites are Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdecombe, Frank Skinner Off The Radio, The Law of Attraction Changed My Life, Aligned Abundance, and Happy Place. I’m constantly flooding my brain with humor or self-development, which is an uplifting win-win.

Fearne Cotton

Fearne Cotton’s book "Bigger Than Us: The Power of Finding Meaning in a Messy World" changed my life. I listened to it on Audible, and it opened up a whole new world of possibilities. There were answers in there that I didn’t even know I was searching for. So much clicked, and I knew I was meant to be in this industry.

My Nan, RIP

My Nan used to say she had healing hands. She loved natural remedies like lavender and the healing water at Chalice Well. She was a light-worker without even knowing it. Her words were deeply embedded in my mind, and without them, I might not have pushed myself to train in holistic therapies.

Blind Melon

If you’re feeling lost or stuck, listen to their song "Changes". Yes, they are a 90's rock-grunge band but this song is completely apart from that and is just beautiful. Trust me.

My life is very different today. I’ve completely changed my mindset, my way of life, and how I manage my chronic pain.

chronic pain reiki positive Redditch Worcestershire UK

My chronic pain is reduced. And that's on me.

I have taken ownership of it, not the other way around.

2023 me was pretty miserable, in pain, and scared.

2025 me is in control. Mostly.

Can I support you? Perhaps you need to make changes to manage your chronic pain or other ailments? Wellbeing coaching is having a cheerleader to change your mindset and move forward positively.