As many chronic pain sufferers can tell you, anything can be a trigger to set off a cascade of body aches, depression and a strong desire to find a small hole and hide away from the world.
For me, it's the weather that adversely affects my daily activities. My body is almost like a barometer, in that when the weather is going to change my body tells me immediately. The pain is unbearable and even my strongest of medications doesn't help. When the sun is shining and the temperature is moderate (65-75 degrees f/14-23 degrees c), the body aches ease a certain amount but that doesn't mean I still don't get flair ups during the summer. Cold, wet, and humid are villians and I don't even want to get started on what happens during snow season.
There is no perfect weather location to live because weather and chronic pain are just so unpredictable. As I stare out at the fall season hitting the west coast, I know my happy days are quickly coming to a close and the long painful winter season is approaching.
Arthritis, fibro, chronic pain syndrome and bad weather are really not good bed fellows.
But life goes on........
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Living Within the Chains of Chronic Pain
It's been a very hard and long road to get me this far. Hundreds of doctor appointments, countless exams, x-rays, medications and blood samples to figure out I suffer from Chronic Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. On top of those, I am already contending with Meniere's Disease, Osteoarthritis, Hypoglycemia, IBS and chronic depression.
Having to stop working full-time in 2007 was a huge set-back and an even harder mental adjustment. I still struggle with the fact that I can't do the things I used to do years ago. I was an avid dancer, a jock who enjoyed tennis, football, baseball, volleyball (you get the idea) and now I'm relegated to the sofa or bed because the pain is so bad.
The constant intake of medications for everything makes for an interesting morning cocktail. 15 pills to give me the ability to get out of bed and be somewhat functional.
Functional these days, is being able to wash my own hair or stand alone in the shower. My constant dizziness and frequent falling makes bathing alone difficult at best. Even the heat of the water can cause me to fall and pass out.
I struggle with mobility the most. Getting around is extremely painful and walking just to my mailbox can be insurmountable task. I use a cane and have a walker for when it's really bad. Lately, I've been looking at scooters and wondering when that is coming.
So many people just look at me weird when I say I have 'Fibro'. Most don't understand how negatively it can impact your life and the lives around you. My husband has been beyond supportive and I'm sure that my inability to do things as easy as being on the back of his motorcycle, concerns him greatly. Never mind the disappointment when we can't go somewhere because I'm bed ridden.
After fighting so long, I'm forgetting what life was like before I fell into the pit of perpetual pain and anguish. I wish there was more tolerance and understanding for those of us who suffer from Fibro and certainly wish there was a cure.
Who knows, maybe the cure will come before my daughter gets afflicted too.
For now, we just keep struggling along and making people aware that a healthy life should be cherished and encouraged.
Having to stop working full-time in 2007 was a huge set-back and an even harder mental adjustment. I still struggle with the fact that I can't do the things I used to do years ago. I was an avid dancer, a jock who enjoyed tennis, football, baseball, volleyball (you get the idea) and now I'm relegated to the sofa or bed because the pain is so bad.
The constant intake of medications for everything makes for an interesting morning cocktail. 15 pills to give me the ability to get out of bed and be somewhat functional.
Functional these days, is being able to wash my own hair or stand alone in the shower. My constant dizziness and frequent falling makes bathing alone difficult at best. Even the heat of the water can cause me to fall and pass out.
I struggle with mobility the most. Getting around is extremely painful and walking just to my mailbox can be insurmountable task. I use a cane and have a walker for when it's really bad. Lately, I've been looking at scooters and wondering when that is coming.
So many people just look at me weird when I say I have 'Fibro'. Most don't understand how negatively it can impact your life and the lives around you. My husband has been beyond supportive and I'm sure that my inability to do things as easy as being on the back of his motorcycle, concerns him greatly. Never mind the disappointment when we can't go somewhere because I'm bed ridden.
After fighting so long, I'm forgetting what life was like before I fell into the pit of perpetual pain and anguish. I wish there was more tolerance and understanding for those of us who suffer from Fibro and certainly wish there was a cure.
Who knows, maybe the cure will come before my daughter gets afflicted too.
For now, we just keep struggling along and making people aware that a healthy life should be cherished and encouraged.
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