The Problems of Too Much Sitting and Some Other Stuff

[Guest guest]

Butch wrote:

> Hey I also have pain sitting, My butt skin is a non stop burning pain that

gets worse the more I sit. Different types of material in my clothes makes a

difference and no matter what you do you can't get away from your butt.

A person, who has to sit a lot, needs to watch for sores developing on

his/her backside. This type of wound can be very dangerous and requires

special care. For those who are losing the feeling in their bums, or

have lost it already, extra caution is necessary. Make sure that you

don't leave even the smallest sore unattended. Avoid wearing synthetic

clothing too.

Gel cushions can make life easier for those who must do a lot of

sitting. Amazon.com has some good examples. This tinyurl replaces the

really, really long Amazon link:

http://tinyurl.com/97epfap

If a person has any mobility at all, get up and use your legs as much as

you possibly can. If it hurts, that's okay, let it hurt. That is,

providing you are not damaging something by putting up with some extra pain.

Muscles lose mass very quickly and need to be used. After just a few

months with very little mobility (due to a broken leg and mashed foot),

I required a great deal of physical therapy. A person who spends most

of each day sitting can have the same thing happen, it just happens a

little slower.

If you can't walk unaided, then get a walker with a couple of wheels on

it, or a four wheel walker (rollator) with hand brakes. Quad canes are

good for people who just need a little extra so that they don't tip over.

A body in motion is a healthier body. Even though we can't run

marathons, we still need to use our muscles as much as we are physically

able to do so. That goes for arms too. Keep some hand weights near

your favourite sitting spot. Pick them up and use them.

Nursing homes have found that patients who can no longer walk, stay much

healthier, simply by doing upper body exercise. It also burns calories

and helps maintain a normal weight.

I'm in my work day mindset here. At work, I deal with people with many

different types of disabilities. Those who do the best have three

things in common:

1. They eat a healthy diet.

2. They get as much exercise as their bodies will allow.

3. They work at maintaining a positive outlook on life.

Over the years, I have noticed that the people who whine and complain a

great deal, often end up without family or friends to be there for them,

when the going gets tougher. So, mind how much complaining you do

around family and friends. It hurts them to hear it. It also lowers

their ability to cope with you and your problems. Studies show that

listening to complainers day in and day out, actually damages the mind

of the listener.

That's where this group is great. We can bitch and whine all we want

and our friends and family don't have to listen to our litany of complaints.

When our original owner, Dr. Ken, developed serious chronic pain, he

chose setting up this group as his outlet for venting and for sharing

solutions. He knew that he wanted to enjoy life with his family and

friends for the time he had left. The last thing they needed to hear

was his complaining about his fate. It was a smart move on his part, as

he didn't drive a wedge between himself and the people he loved the most.

His hope for this group was that we would help each other " have a life. "

Lyndi

Moderator/Owner