I have become MUCH better about watching my activities so as to avoid causing bad flares if at all possible. Some flares come on for no apparant reason, and as a mom to 2 active girls, some days I just grin and bear it on the dreaded shopping trips which are guaranteed to put me in bed the following day. ALL stores should have chairs for disabled, elderly and pregnant persons to use to rest while accompanying shoppers - it's such a simple thing! Before I know it my oldest will be off to college, I do enjoy our "girl time", but it comes with a price. I really limit my computer time.
Am mostly good about not carrying anything too heavy, pulling or pushing.

Biggest plus for me has been finding a more effective antidepressant, and of course the SCS, which not only has made my pain more manageable but alows me to sleep better most of the time. Best advice from psychologist regarding all my stress over health, legal and financial issues:

Decide what, if anything, is within your power to control. Then plan out how you will address those things, what is it you need to do? Try to achieve something, no matter how small, every day, whether it's calling the insurance co, writing down questions to ask at your next Dr visit, or looking for records you need to send off to someone. Because you have a plan of action, and you are accomplishing SOMETHING each day, which can then be checked off, you will feel less stressed.

Decide what things are out of your control, that you have no power over. Accept that those things are out of your hands, and worrying about them will change nothing, except to make you miserable: waiting for legal decisions, owing huge amounts you can't repay, treatments being denied, etc. Each day, deal with only the troubles and worries of that day. Refuse to let tomorrow's, or next week's, or next month's worries take away one bit of today's happiness. It's hard. It takes practice. But this more than anything has lowered my stress GREATLY!!

When the Beast is bad, some things that help me most:

massage the trap tps, c-spine, behind jaw and ear. better, find someone else to do it for you!

Lidocaine patches on traps, over pec minor; Sombra pain cream on elbows, wrists

rice pack warmed in microwave around neck, over traps

Valium - to help sleep

dark, QUIET room - not too hot or cold

Warm shower, spray jets on traps and neck

Hot tub, jets directly on traps for brief periods

Triggerpoint injections to traps, c-spine tp's (8-9)

my good friends here, always!

Good thread! beth

Mmm
Laughter by e mail humour and I can always see the funny side in something.
I am a terrile ad libber. Humour keeps me sane or insane depending on your point of view.

Making people laugh

When meeting someone and they ask how are you, changing tack quick so as to a.avoid lying or b. keeping them too long is one of my favourites

Relaxing...huge pillow mountain great music or Gibbrns Hypno mp3 (the card will come one day honestly)

The cat purring by my side at night to keep me company...she is 15 and a baby.

Crafting - distraction and being able to create something for someone else that is individual. Trying out new techniques. Downside is the huge array of papers, stamps etc that I have amassed. FInding uses for things like coffee stirrers!!
Downside is can only spend limited time on it and takes ages to make a card.

Humouring (sort of ) myself with the game of"stepping on Mum". Family members who forget about oxygen tubing step on it so when walking your ears pull forward =5 points, 10 points for complete pull off, extra points for mum shouting in pain as her ears are yanked. 20 points for Mum getting stuck halfway up stairs when tubing is snagged round feet or furniture.

Having you all to chat too and discuss things with. This forum is a real blessing.


Hx

What gets me through

My kid’s endeavours
A couple of years ago when I was out in the back garden, my youngest son who was 11 years old came up to me and asked me what Vice was. I told him it could be many things, I told him that I had a woodworking vice in the shed that held pieces of wood whilst working on them. I also told him that vice related to some of the more unsavoury activities in the world such as gambling, drugs and prostitution. He knew what I meant by this because his uncle who is in the police force had been in the vice squad and had told some remarkable stories. My son looked concerned and didn’t wander too far away so I knew something was worrying him. I asked him what was on his mind. He told me that he just been made vice-captain of his association under twelve soccer team and he was just finding out what his role would be. He was relieved when I told him the other meaning of vice.


Chi ball—between shoulders
Hot wheat bags---between shoulders
Breathing medication
Shoulder brace
Venting here
Light at the end of the tunnel
Collecting old wood planes

We're Learning The Positive Sides Of What Maskes Us Happy

continuing on, I have also been known to reach for drugs When you are in a flare, bumping all your meds up for a few days (taking everything by the clock) can really help calm it...i was advised to do this for 5 or so days, then if I was feeling better to taper back down. It really works...it is amazing.

been on the ice paks lately, too...especially with the not weather-they do double duty.

also just stopped all and went to the beach yesterday with my hubby and kids....boy i need to do that more often. i get so caught up in all the day to day crap that has to get done (even when recovering from surgery). Just dropping it and deciding to relax for a few hours is priceless. somehow even when i stop for PT, massage, or whatever else it isn't nearly as relaxing. i think having tos..the tratments and therapies are all very helpful but there are so many that they feel like a chore. And the beach, well...soaking in the salt water is like taking a hundred epsom salt baths in 15 minutes. (ok didn't go in water yesterday because i still have stitches healing...but a few weeks ago we went and it was heaven)

lastly- love yourself and respect your limitations....it will go hundreds of miles to help you.