THE INVISIBLE KEY—Unlocking the Mystery of My Chronic Pain

“Suffering can be silent, and pain invisible.” ~Maria Socolof

An acute injury. Chronic pain. A shocking discovery. Maria Socolof, a former collegiate athlete, at age forty, ruptured a disc in her neck when she rolled over in bed. Time and conventional medicine failed to heal her. Years of debilitating pain followed. She sincerely questioned whether life in such pain was worth living. Then, through mindbody approaches and bewildering revelations, true healing finally began. Her raw chronicle attests to the impact emotional trauma can have on the body and how we can set ourselves free from the limitations of our subconscious. She went from being unable to stand for more than fifteen minutes to hiking in Alaska five years later. She shows us that one can heal, even when hope is lost.

To be published by Fringe Tree Press in 2020.

If you're in chronic pain and your doctor has ruled out underlying diseases or acute injuries, and maybe you've tried everything your doctor has prescribed and are still suffering, I encourage you to review the information on this website. If you’re in the early stages of chronic pain, take advantage of this information before trying expensive and invasive treatments. Wherever you are in your healing journey, my hope is that my words here (and in my upcoming memoir) will provide you with useful information and give you hope.  

On this site you’ll find:

• my story of healing from years of chronic pain, plus links to stories of others who have healed or are healing in similar ways; 
• what chronic myofascial pain is;
• how trauma can be linked to this and other chronic pain conditions; and 
• the many treatments I've tried or considered trying, and which ones have worked best for me.   

Some people who experience chronic pain may gain immediate relief from just one treatment approach. But everyone is different. What works for some doesn't work for others. And for those of us who fall into the category of “difficult to heal,” relief rarely, if ever, comes from one magic pill or therapy. It usually requires a combination of therapeutic approaches.  

When my doctors couldn't “fix” me, I set out to learn everything I could about my condition and every possible way to get better. The most important things I discovered were that healing involves our inextricably linked body and mind and that we have an amazing ability to heal ourselves. This knowledge led me to the healing approaches that, over time, brought me miraculous relief from pain. I sincerely wish the same for you.  

For full disclosure, I still live with daily pain. But it is far less intense and more manageable than it once was. I am still working on healing and have undying hope that I can eventually attain full freedom from pain.