Tomorrow ! How many of our days turn into tomorrows ? Case in point , when not feeling quite well enough to take on a task - "I will do it tomorrow when I am feeling better". Or like last night while sitting with wife I asked if she would like to lay out by pool tomorrow since the weather would be nice , and then come this morning I am hurting and ask if we can do it tomorrow . The reason I ask is I do not want my days turning into tomorrows.....I realize some of the times you have no choice when you are in a bad flare , but on even an average day I feel like doing absolutely nothing . So my question would be - Do you try to push through the pain on these days and get the best you can out of it , even though you know you will pay later ? Or do you tend to sit these days out ? I think I have a decent tolerance to this RSD pain and think I probably do more than a lot would , but still in the back of my mind I am wondering if it serves any purpose sitting these things out ? And if you take on an activity how in the world can you enjoy it when you are in horrific pain ? Hope all are doing well . Take care !

Ah, the question of ages for us folks!
Since I have a TBI (brain injury) also, my question often turns into "Next Week"?

Before the tbi, I used to fight and take a small dose of my meds (much smaller than now), I'd start the day with a warm whirlpool and a cup of tea, and off to work. Usually by 3-4, I dragging, time to get prone, and more meds, and I was good in an hour or so, until bedtime.

Now, and maybe because I've had this bear for so long, since 83, I have difficulty making decisions, and can just sit, or lay down, and the day goes by. It seems I've watched my life go by, and I've lost two business's and everything I owned, since my tbi, which also put my RSD, TOS, discs, etc, through the roof. I can't sleep and I can't stay awake. This was caused by a second auto accident.

None of us are lazy, you can tell by the guilt that you acquire when you get nothing done, that you're used to doing. Find the most comfortable way to get it done, because you can quickly offend those close to you. Caffeine helps me get moving, but it raises my pain level too. Two meds I know of, Provigal and Nuvigal, may be worth looking into. Ask your doc if it's appropriate, and ask for a sample. These are expensive.

And, remember to get your exercise! This is a 'Use it, or Lose it' disease! The more you sit around, the more this disease will keep you down, and none of us are getting younger.

And, also, set reasonable goals, but, set them!

Hope I helped, you'll get lots more.

Pete
asb

Hi! I too, have many tomorrows. I seem to be content to just sit and let the day drift past, waiting on nap time or bed time. My theory on activities is that I do as many as I can. I figure that I can sit at home and hurt, and concentrate on that, or get out and do something and still hurt. Sometimes the activity helps me to distract on how much pain I really am having. Sometimes I really pay for the activities, but at least I have something positive to think about. My new life theory is that nobody knows what I planned to get done. Hope you are having a good evening, Lisa

I understand!

I was a very hard worker before this. 80-100 hours a week, all on my feet. I was the "Type A" personality. Totally ADHD, great shape, very athletic. NOW I have mastered the art of "Chillin' like a Villin".

AND, I have to admit that I am a much more relaxed person. I get to spend much more time with my family and friends. I am able to sit outside and enjoy the birds and squirrels. I can not only see the sunsets, but get to enjoy them.

I do feel crappy and incompetent (sp?) when I can't get things done. (Which is every day) But, I have a great Husband who truly understands how I feel (especially when I am on the floor screaming from the pain).

My "new" outlook on life is - "I will try to do my very best each day. I will try to keep moving and stay ahead of the pain. I will also be kind to myself and attemp to be productive; but not try to be the person I used to be..." It sounds good to me on "paper" but it is very hard to enforce. Oh, yeah...I find inspirational notes within my readings and stick them all over my house. Sometimes I just force the happy thoughts down my own throat to re-train my brain to be positive!.

I think that however we can manipulate our brains to seek happiness is always a positive.

Hi RuReady, and everyone..

I completely relate to your tomorrows !! ..mine were turning into 'never'..

I work full time and I'll tell ya, there are days when I don't know how I'm going to make it as the pain and burn can get so bad...financially, I have to work, I'm out of sick leave (this was a WC injury and surgery.. I have to use my sick leave and vacation days for any appointments or any absences) I am a one person department and if I'm not there, my job doesn't get done...and what I do is very time sensitive..

SO, in order to recover from the workweek , I plan nothing for the week-ends because I am so exhausted and the pain level is so unpredictable, plus I've isolated myself from friends...

i couldn't bear another summer going by without some good memories to feed from when I'm in desperation...and to have some time in the sun..

So for the month of July, I have made some week-end plans..I've got to start having a life..

This week-end I'm house-sitting for a friend who lives near the beach...

The week-end of the 10th, I 'plan' to spend the night at a hostel located on a bluff that overlooks the Pacific..(reasonable lodging)

The week-end after that, I 'plan' to spend the week-end at a meditation retreat, again near the ocean, sharing lodging with a friend.

I'm also planning to attend MsAndrea fundraiser in Santa Cruz!!! Is anyone else able and/or planning to go?

I am astounded that I have made these plans...and thank God for my mobility scooter (that WC approved last year....long story)

The plans have given me something to look forward to..
If the pain is too great, I'll have to cancel...but at least I'm finally making a weekend plan...

I'm going to try....Que sera, sera..does anyone have a plan they've been postponing out of fear of pain?

May all our tomorrows turn into today!
Hugs from Hope4thebest

Sometimes I have to plan like if I have an appointment but otherwise I take 1 day at a time. I know many here have more obligations then I so that is not possible. I just try to get through my days in the best possible manner mentally and physically. For my pain it is important to push but not too push too much where I pay for days after. For me it is also important to identify what is the physical pain I can't push through and the mental pain that makes me feel like I don't want to do anything. Especially when I have had a few ruff days pain wise back to back mentally I get down where I don't feel like do anything so that is important to push through. If I take on activity that I know will result in a high pain later it does make me anxious and hard to enjoy but at the same time I sometimes feel like I at least accomplished. It depends on the type of pain it results in.

how we can finish eachothers sentences and esp. relating to our pain... As I remember prior to RSD..never did I have to analysis my day..Lets see..if I go "there" is there a ramp?? Or how can I take as little steps as possible but get the same task accomplished??? Befoe I could fly around..packing so much into my day knowing I'd sleep that night.. I am sorry but we are all in the same boat..I'd much rather say I am alone on this as I need to figure this out with out having anyone else feel the pain.. and only describe it to you all here... But if we have one thing in common it would be our will to look toward tomorrow and never give up.. never but just make provisions from our life prior to our RSD....... Life is still beautiful and so are all of you!!!

Happy hugz, Kathy...KS

Keep smilin I agree that things that I used to never give a second thought or were natural have become something I have to think and stress about. I think that is where a lot of mental stress comes in. Where one has to worry about the little things that should not be a concern. I try to stay in the moment and remind myself some how I get through but still stressful. This condition and the people like all here have taught me hope. I try to hold onto it. Somedays I am better at it then others and in no way am I up to the people here in their outlook. Trying to learn and thankful to have good teachers so to speak on this board.

Hey D....

You are a very important part of our family here...Your experiences and advice here is noteworthy and very helpful...No king pins in this family...weezz.. a great family!! Best noted that we all have our days..days of low, hopeless feelings and other days when we can move mountains..that is why we take each day as it presents itself and try not to encompass too time ahead..Live in the moment and allow your mind and heart to feel the love..its free ..it feels much nicer that the pain and it will take us further...

Hugz....Kathy

RUR.......I hear ya !

For me....and I'm sure most of us, the wish to avaoid added pain is compounded by poor sleep and being exhausted all the time.

I usually feel like a need some external motivator to force me to do something, like going to an event or plans with friends, but I can't tell you how often I've had to cancel those type of things too.