Re: Discovery /pain - Trying to think positive

[Guest guest]

I know that everyone deals with pain differently, and that is not even a

question.

My way of dealing with pain is by using suppression. I tend to do things that

take a lot of focus, and then I can't think about the pain because I'm too busy

focusing on what needs to be done. I notice if I become distracted even a

moment from what I am doing, or if I stop to take a break I will be very sorry

and I will not get my momentum back.

Just like others here, I am compliant with what every doctor wants to do and

try, and I am diligent at doing my stretches and exercises, even when they hurt.

I feel like I am doing my part, and so I feel like the doctor now needs to make

better what is out of my physical, mental, emotional reach.

In return for my hard work, I get robotic questions like, " Are you doing your

exercises? " " Are you eating properly? " " Are you getting rest? " " Are you

stretching? " " Do you meditate? " " Do you have hobbies? "

I have to wonder who these pain management doctors deal with that they have to

ask primitive questions like that. Must be a universal pain management question

checklist. But, I don't dare say anything to them about it. I don't want an

angry pain management doctor. That's a no-no for sure.

When they ask their questions, I think, " Um, yeah, why wouldn't I? " After all,

I do want to at least

try to get better, and it helps for me to deal with the pain to know

that I have done all I can.

With that said, I know for a fact that I can tend to overdo things. When I get

focused, or when I am really busy doing my things, I think, " I am already out of

the house, I don't' want to have to go out again, let me just go to that last

store. " And, then I push myself.

Or, " I already took out all the items I need to do the project, and if I don't

finish, I will just have to clean up today and then bring the items all back out

again. " And, that helps me to finish the project same day, because at that

moment of being tired, I just cannot think about bringing everything out again

only to be put away, again.

I also have realized over time, that when I push myself and the pain is higher,

I don't notice the usual pain as much. I also notice that when I stay more

active, I stay more flexible, or less stiff.

I'm not sure if it makes sense, but when I am less stiff, the pain is less, even

though it is the same pain as always. It just doesn't feel as overwhelming.

Before I do any out of the ordinary exercises or any type of lifting at all, I

take a half dose of my muscle relaxant, I cut the 4mg Tizanadine in half, and I

take an aspirin. And, I go do my thing. I think having the muscle relaxant in

my system before the strenuous activity really saves me a lot of after-pain.

But, maybe it's all just in my mind.

I finally do have a pain management doctor that I would say is the best one I

have had so far, but to get to him I had to go through 27 doctors in many

different specialty areas. Each one, of course said they didn't know what was

wrong with me.

Even my pain doctors that I have had do not agree on any diagnosis for me, at

all. But, this last one at least is treating the basic pain, which is all I can

really ask, I guess. I've had it worse, so that must mean that I now have it

better.

" Having it better "

Jade, thinking positive, or at least trying to.