Massage Results.......Drum Roll Please!

How about this for an answer, I'm glad it was a gift certificate. Overall I enjoyed the experience when it was happening. However today I didn't wake up and feel like my pain had been relieved. In fact I'm going to go as far as to say it increased my pain and made today a challenge, not unbearable, but I could have done without it. Maybe it's something you have to do consistently or maybe I'll feel the effects in a few days? I received an email today from a friend who is living with chronic pain. She said she never had any long term results, from massage, but she has used it for short term relief.
The experiment continues..

Is Massage Helpful in Relieving Chronic Pain?

I have been very hesitant to try massage for my chronic pain. The sensation of touch can be very painful at times. Today I took a chance. I researched, to make sure I was visiting a massage therapist experienced in dealing with patients who are suffering from chronic pain. I made sure to drink plenty of water before and after and so far I feel pretty good. For my body, the real test will be how I feel in the morning. I'm thinking positively. I'll let you know tomorrow.

P.S.- My fiance' and I did this together at a beach resort as a special Christmas Treat!

Cooking with Chronic Pain

This summer at the Mayo clinic a learn a lot of tips to help keep my chronic pain to a minimum. After putting these into practice I've found ways to improve them, or make them work better for me.
For example cooking and other kitchen task require me to stand for long periods of time. Which is extremely exhausting and causes increased pain. They suggested opening one of the lower cabinets and resting one of my feet there. This takes some of the tension of your back. That did help some what. Until it came time to cook Thanksgiving! Looking around my house I found the stool I use to sit on to cut hair when I was a hairdresser. The seat is a large bicycle seat that rotates, adjust up and down, and it's on wheels! Now if I'm cutting and peeling potatoes or washing dishes I open one of the lower cabinets and rest my feet there and sit on my stool. I can adjust the stool to the right height and comfortably do my task. It's like having a desk in your kitchen. I do the same thing in the bathroom to put on my make-up.
You can order these stools in all different styles from almost any beauty supply store.

"Balancing" Chronic Pain

I tried for a few years to wake up naturally in the morning. Then one day it was chilly outside and my throat was a little soar, so I had a cup of coffee. It really gave me some pep in my step! So now I wake up earlier if I need be somewhere and have a cup of coffee.
It's the small things like this that start to add up. I think of my life like a bank account. Before I had a chronic pain disorder I could get away with minimal deposits, and a lot of withdrawals. Now I have to make as many deposits as possible and be careful, with my withdrawals.
For example, I try to take showers at night so I won't be wasting that energy in the morning before work. The smallest changes really add up. If I wear heals to work instead of flats, I might as well call in sick the next day.
What kind of things do you do to deposit into your body's bank account?

Nobody Believes Me!

I meet new people with chronic pain all the time. One of the first things they say to me is "Nobody believes me!" In many situations, mine is one of those, there is no hard evidence to show other people your pain.
I'm only 26 years old and I told doctors for years that I was having terrible chest pains. Every doctor told me it was anxiety and put me on antidepressiants. None of these treatments helped my chest pains. I'm very lucky and my family and fiance are very supportive. I have met coutless others who are not so lucky. Even after being diagnosed with a chronic pain condition the people in their lives still don't understand. I've tried over the past few months to see it from their point of view. If I had never been in pain everyday I wouldn't nessisarily understand either. Over the next couple of week I'm going to share some of the things that I've tried and have work for me managing my chronic pain and helping those around me understand.

Bad Days and Good Days

When I started having pain the doctors and nurses always ask me rate your pain on a scale of one to ten. I think that brain washed me. I rate my pain a lot, usually not aloud, just in my head. I guess maybe now on my blog. I was taught at the Mayo Clinic not to talk about my pain. They call it a pain behavior. I don't completely agree. I think there are healthy and unhealthy ways to talk about your pain. Complaining excessively is unhealthy. Talking about it in a matter of fact for, trying to be positive can be healthy. It's impossible to deny that it's there. I try to face that fact deal with it. Do the best I can. The hardest lesson is forgiving myself when I can't do the things I used to do.