Hi Joel, and welcome to Healing Well. If you go to the main page there should be a help topic, and if not, there is a help button up at the top. I'm sure one of the Moderator's can give you way better then I.
As for the "signature" at the bottom, at the top, next to LogOff, is My Profile, through there you can add/change info, like adding an email address if you want folks to be able to contact you that way, as well as create a signature for yourself.
The best way to get to know people is to tell us what's brought you here. For alot of us this is the best place to be; with others who can relate to what we're going through, share our fears and our tears with, as well as laughter and good tidings.
You say you live out in the country, the truth is that for anyone suffering from chronic pain you can feel alone and misunderstood even in the middle of a big city. The people that cast you odd looks, the doctors that don't believe your pain... we've all been there.
For instance I suffer from a rare nerve disease known as CRPS -- or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. An evil thing that affects my nerves, and has them convinced to send debilitating pain signals to one specific part of my body (in this case my right arm, but it can affect any part). It's turned my life upside down and taken alot of things from me that I used to enjoy. I too live in a little rural town out in the high desert, where the majority of the population are senior citizens and vets, so when they see a youngish looking woman asking for help with her groceries I tend to get nasty looks like I'm lazy or something. But through Healing Well I've gained some insight into how to combat my depression, learned I'm not alone, and even met other wonderful people who suffer with the same issue I have. It's allowed me to ask questions about things my pain doctor wants to do to me, and given me shoulders to cry on when I felt like no one else cared or understood.
So welcome again, make yourself at home, and feel free to introduce yourself by sharing your story.