Holidays
December 2025 Chronic Pain Project updates, writings and tidbits
Hello from the New Secretary
Hello, Substack. I’m Jennifer Roop, the Chronic Pain Project’s new secretary. As a part of the board and someone with chronic pain, I’m excited to be writing for this platform and bringing you news, stories, and resources each month. This is our last issue before the winter holidays, and we’re wishing everyone a festive season and a happy start to 2026!
More About Me
Let me introduce myself. I’m more than just a chronic pain patient. I’m a mother and wife; a writer and editor; a college football fan; a gluten-free foodie. At the same time, I can’t leave out “chronic pain sufferer” because it’s such a big part of my reality.
I grew up in Western Colorado and realized my love of writing and editing early on. I came to Chicagoland for a journalism degree that launched me into a varied career in nonprofit communications. Lately I’d been seeking new ways to give back to my community, including joining my local library’s volunteer Friend organization. That’s why joining the CPP board was a perfect fit for my background and my personal experience with pain.
Past Pain, Present Problems
I was a ballet dancer from ages 6 to 15, spending 6 years in pointe shoes. That likely caused later misalignment and pain, and in 2014 and 2015 I had osteotomies on both big toes.
The surgeries kicked off whole foot swelling, pain, redness, and extreme reactions to heat and cold. The new pain arrived after showering, standing, wearing shoes, and sometimes for no reason at all. Through a trip to the Mayo Clinic and misdiagnoses, I finally found a practitioner who clarified that I had Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
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Chronic Memories
CRPS clouds some of the most important moments of my life. I have a photo from my wedding day where one foot is significantly redder than the other. In the delivery room, my husband had to find buckets (well, clean bedpans) so I could ice my feet while awaiting the birth of my daughter. We have videos of her as a baby trying to play with my ice packs.
A doctor once said to tell my daughter that “mama has ‘magic feet,’” which felt infantilizing. But seeing me deal with chronic pain has its upsides. Now my daughter is 8, and she’s a thoughtful kid who proactively brings me ice when she notices I’m in pain.
Finding Community
One of the worst parts of chronic pain is how it can isolate us. No one else in my life experiences chronic pain, and I wanted to find others who understood my daily struggles and triumphs. That’s what led me to the Chronic Pain Project. The mission is so personal to me, and when applying to be secretary, CPP’s commitment to having more than 50% of the board living with chronic pain resonated with me on a deep level.
I’ve already connected with so many people who have their own chronic pain journeys, and it makes my story seem more “normal” just by being in their company.
I also appreciate that my board commitment happens remotely, as remote work allows me to participate in roles without being limited by my pain.
Stepping into the Future
Shoes and heat still exacerbate my pain, so I’ve had to adapt. I currently wear sandals all the time, even in winter. My new pain management doctor saw that and set a goal of getting me into boots for 2026. Having goals, however small, is what keeps me going amid my chronic pain. I can chart how far I’ve come and still be excited about where the future will take me.
That’s another reason why I’m excited to be part of CPP. Our organization is growing, and we have ambitious goals for the coming year. With your help, we can finish 2025 strong and be ready to hit the ground running in 2026 (or, in my case, walking slowly in sandals—but every step forward counts).
Notes & Resources
AI as a research assistant: Want to find news and information around chronic pain without searching the web yourself? Try asking AI! I asked Claude, “Tell me about resources for people with chronic pain,” and it brought back details on medical resources, educational ones, support communities, apps and digital tools, even financial assistance. Obviously we know the Chronic Pain Project is a nonprofit supporting those with chronic pain, but for fun I asked Claude to tell me other foundations and nonprofits in the space. In just seconds, it returned organizations I hadn’t heard of but will definitely check out. What are your favorite AI prompts? Let us know in the comments.
Audiobooks as a distraction: When my feet flare, I need to take my mind off pain. Audiobooks are one of my favorite choices, as I can let the story envelop me and have my hands free for everything from folding laundry to crocheting Christmas ornaments. There are paid options (Audible, Spotify), but many public libraries let you borrow through apps including Libby and Hoopla, making the process seamless and free. What do you use for distraction? Comment your favorites below.
Art as a balm: I don’t think of myself as an artist, but I love artistic “grandma hobbies” like knitting, crocheting, diamond art and scrapbooking. Getting into a flow state from that type of art always helps me feel calm and distances me from my pain. How do you use art as you navigate chronic pain? Leave us a note in the comments.
Artful Gifting
Need a last-minute gift for the holidays? You can find many of the pieces that were created for the Chronic Pain Project for sale in our digital gallery.
Visit our digital gallery to find a one-of-a-kind piece for that special someone in your life AND show your support to the Chronic Pain Project and all of our amazing artists (75% of each sale goes directly to the artist).
New Exhibit Coming
Portland area friends: Be sure to save the date for our new exhibit coming January 8 through February 19, 2026, at the Southwest Community Center (6820 SW 45th Ave, Portland, OR 97219). Stay tuned for more details!
Hear from Our Artists
Not only do our artists create moving pieces, they also have fascinating life stories. In a 3-4 minute video, each artist shares more about their chronic pain story and talks in depth about the piece(s) they’ve created for our exhibits.
This month, Andrea Vincent shares about her piece “The Pain Behind the Smile.” As she explains, “You have no idea what is going on on the inside …. It’s awful today but I’m putting on a smile, you know.”
Andrea Vincent shares her story.
Want to find out about all of our upcoming exhibits, workshops, events? We’ve moved to a separate weekly(ish) newsletter format.
These articles are not meant to replace medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation.
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That’s all for this month. Comment below with any ideas, questions or just to say “hi”!
Jennifer Roop, Board Secretary
We are a 501(c)(3) organization
