Pain Management - Relaxation

Ah...  the rainbow - there is hope!!!

Does relaxation come naturally for any of us in the hectic and crazy world?  I didn't think so.  There are a wide range of relaxation techniques designed to reduce stress levels. 

I have adrenal insufficiency which causes severe pain.   Your two adrenal glands are small, triangular-shaped endocrine glands located on the top of each kidney. Each adrenal gland is approximately 3 inches wide, and a half inch high.  It's not severe enough to be Cushing's, but I have many of the same symptoms.

Stress is not good for someone who has adrenal insufficiency.  Well, it's not good for anyone - but when the glands that make cortisol and adrenalline are compromised it's worse.  Add a low-functioning thyroid gland to that and life gets interesting.  Relaxation is not just a luxury - it's a necessity.  I have to be
calm and cool.  I need to chillax.

Here are some effective relaxation therapies:

The dawning of a new day!!!

1. BREATHING.  Well, that is certainly helpful, isn't it?  Breathing exercises have taught me how to breathe correctly in order to relieve my stress.  The technique is simple (believe me, if it was complicated, I wouldn't do it).  You place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.  Take a slow, deep breath, taking in as much air as possible.  Your abdomen should press against your hand.  Hold that breath in for a few seconds, then slowly exhale. 
2. VISUAL IMAGING.  I talk a little bit about this in my other blog, but basically this technique uses body awareness to achieve relaxation.  Imagine being in a peaceful, restful place then focus on different physical sensations, but not necessarily just pain.  Sometimes my legs may feel especially heavy or my heart may be beating a little fast.  Everyone has their own image, but I don't recommend the image of a banana split for a person who is trying to lose weight.  Don't choose an image that will be completely counter-productive.  Use some common sense about it.
3. PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION.  I use this in conjunction with another therapy that was just recently developed for people with peripheral diabetic neuropathy (which I've also developed).  Basically you flex the painful area then hold it briefly, then relax it, slowly easing the tension.  I also draw the alphabet in the air with my foot.  The movement sometimes eases the tension as well.  By the time I get to the letter "Z", I do usually feel better.

I've actually been drawing the alphabet with my foot as I'm typing.  Can I multi-task, or what???

Could the sky be a more gorgeous hue???

WOOF...  WOOF!!!  Yes, Charley, you make me
more relaxed too!!!

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Pain Management - Meditation

 

In the next few days I want to discuss pain management.  I've tried several different methods to manage pain, one of them being meditation.

I tend to be ultra conservative when it comes to pain management.  The fewer side-effects I suffer from something, the better.  Meditation seems to take me away from the pain and get my mind focused elsewhere.  

Stress and pain are closely entertwined.  When your body is tense and stressed, the key to getting relaxed and releasing the tension is meditation.  There are two types of meditation that I was advised by my doctor to avoid since I was the victim of domestic abuse.  Hypnosis and transcendental meditation.  Both of these require that you clear your mind, basically giving another person control.  In hypnosis you are trusting another person and in TM you are just clearing your mind completely.  I'm not comfortable with that.  

The Buddist's "mindfulness meditation" requires that you focus as opposed to "emptying" your mind.  Because I am not Buddist, I am a Christian, I choose to focus on God's Word and in particular, the Psalms.  There I find strength and joy and peace.  I also find that quiet time and prayer are beneficial for me.  If I can get in a proper frame of mind, it helps me have a better attitude even when my pain level is quite high.  I also find that a cup of hot green tea and some Green Hill music playing softly in the background during meditation time helps.

Remember, we are talking about chronic pain which means the pain never subsides, but is continuous.  If there is something that can break up or interrupt the pain with even a little bit of relief, that is welcome!  If you can find something to make you feel even a little better, it is worth doing.  Nothing will ever take the pain away completely, but meditation can help.  Choose your meditation wisely.  Make sure you trust the one you give your mind to.

*No copyright protected material used.



 

 

The Mask We Wear

THE WORST KIND OF PAIN IS WHEN YOU'RE SMILING JUST TO STOP THE TEARS FROM FALLING.

Chronic pain is not just pain that is sometimes there, then leaves, then comes back again.  Chronic pain is the first thing you feel when you wake up in the morning and the last thing you feel when you close your eyes and blissfully fall asleep (if you are fortunate enough to be able to sleep).  You can look at me and not know that I have had chronic pain.  To see me walk you would suspect something, but just to look at me - no, there are no visable signs of a problem.  My chronic pain is invisible - completely undetectable to everyone around me.

Yesterday I went to my dentist for a routine cleaning.  The atmosphere in the waiting room was inviting and calm.  The doctor's wife did all of the decorating and she has extremely good taste.  The waiting room exudes simple elegance. 

I'm not a person who typically gets uptight at the dentist's office, unless it's an appointment for a filling or a root canal.  A cleaning is not a big deal.  I was beginning to get comfortable in the chair when I heard:

"Wow - it sure is windy out there today!"  I heard the comment come from behind the counter.  I could not see a person and did not know that she was addressing the comment to me.  She peeked around the computer and smiled.  I knew she was talking to me.

"Oh - yes!  I nearly blew away coming in here from the parking lot", I quickly replied. 

The conversation could have easily ended there, but didn't.

"I felt as if I was running against the wind this morning and had to walk some of the way."  Angie is probably 30-something, has a very nice figure and beautiful red hair and lovely pearly white teeth.  She is bubbly and outgoing and someone that everyone loves to be around.

When I heard her make that comment, a twinge of jealousy surged through me like electricity.  I want to cry when that happens because that is not the type of person I want to turn into.  I don't want to be the bitter old woman who envies the young woman who can do handstands from one end of Main street to the other!

"I'll bet that was quite a challenge - you probably burned more calories that way", I said as I chuckled.  I wanted to sound just as upbeat and happy as she did.

Then the phone rang and she answered it.  I was relieved and the jealousy and envy left me.  I sat there and prayed, "Oh God, please don't let me turn into a bitter old woman!"

Those who suffer with chronic pain wear a mask.  It was not Angie's job to know my pain or be sensitive to it.  It was not my job to tell her about my pain and burden her.  It was a moment when I had to put on the "I'm just fine" mask - put my big girl panties on - and socialize.  It was small talk to her, but it was breaking my heart.

When I see a young person who is pain-free, it makes me remember the days before my accident.  What accident?  Well, it was plain dumb and stupid, but most accidents are!  I was doing laundry and had a basket of clothes in my hands - it took both hands to hang on to the basket, so when I was going down the stairs, I was not hanging on to the rail.  Hey, I was a young gal - only 22 years old.  Rail???  I don't need no stinking rail!!!!!!!!  Yeah - right!

I was wearing fuzzy socks and the stairs were carpeted.  This is not a good combination, ladies!  You know those cartoons where the character's feet slide out from under them, and there's just a few seconds when they're in mid-air, then gravity kicks in???  It was sort of like that - my feet slipped, the basket of laundry tumbled down the stairs, and gravity did its thing - and BOOM!  I landed smack dab on my butt!  I landed so hard, I passed out!

My husband apparently carried me to the couch because that's where I woke up.  I think at that point I was so embarrassed about what I'd done I wasn't really thinking about whether I was injured or not.  You know, when you're 22 years old, you're still resilient and bounce back from anything!  I got up, picked up the clothes and went on with my chores.  I had pain, but I was not going to admit it!

I used to run and walk with no pain.  Since the day of my accident in mid-July, 1983, I have not had one single day without pain.  Not one.  Years later my chiropractor took x-rays.  By then it was a 30 year old injury.  When I fell down stairs, my pelvic bone on the right side rotated and now presses up against the sciatic nerve.  I've asked every doctor I've gone to if it can be repaired and the answer is always a resounding "no".  That's not the answer I wanted to hear! 

So, I have a mask and through the years I've gotten used to putting it on and giving the impression that everything is just fine, even when my pain level is at a 15 on a scale from 1-10.  For the most part things are fine.  Life is good, even with the pain.

*No copyright protected material used.

Welcome to My Weird World

Hi!  My name is Linda Palmer and I welcome you to my weird world!  I decided to begin a new blog to discuss a subject that is usually either shoved under a rug or considered taboo by everyone because it's such a "downer".  I want to talk about chronic pain.

Pain has many sources including physical or emotional.  Literally hundreds of people deal with chronic pain every day on some level.  I've been involved with several closed groups on facebook.  But I believe it's time we open the doors and shout to the world:  We are in pain and we want you to understand why!

There's nothing quite as frustrating as being in pain and having to hide it.  No one wants to talk about pain for fear they won't be liked anymore.  People with chronic pain are usually fairly isolated and alone, but thanks to the internet, facebook and these special groups for chronic pain sufferers, that is beginning to change.  The tide is shifting and we are finding support in our situation.  May I just add, "It's about time" - !!!

No one should have to suffer in silence - or alone. 

If you think this blog is going to be a mood smasher, think again!  Just because I suffer chronic pain does not mean I've lost my sense of humor or my wit or my will to live life with gusto!  Occasionally my get up and go gets up and leaves, but that does not mean I have forgotten how to laugh.

So, I hope you will follow this blog and leave a comment.  Just let me know you are reading and what you think.

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