Thoughts on Coping

I was talking with a friend today. She is having a nudgy little problem that is driving her crazy. She doesn't like nudgy little problems that drive her crazy. She asked me how I do it and cope with everything.

My reply after that, with some deep thought, is:

• Exercise
• Whining
• Prescriptions
• Bitching
• Ice packs
• Complaining
• Chocolate (preferably dark with cashews or pecans)
• Over eating
• Heating pads
• Under eating
• Substance abuse (just kidding)

I admit I haven't had the best week but I'm still here. Monday I was exhausted and in pain. Tuesday I was in pain. Wednesday I was okay but sore after PT. Thursday, its still morning but I feel okay, so far. 

Pain is no fun and its been way too popular this week. One of my many doctor appointments on Monday changed around some of my pain meds. But its still too early to see if that is helping me. So I will refer to my list of options above on how I will cope. But in the meantime, I might need an ice pack and/or a pain pill. 

The Props In My Life

How do I handle my life with its medical disasters? I have all sorts of little props to help me out.

• I have a high chair in my kitchen. I can sit when I cook so I don't get as tired. Its new. My husband bought it for me when we moved.
• I have a folding shopping cart for when I go to farmer's markets or any place where I need to carry anything. That way I can actually go places and do some shopping by myself.

• I have cushions all over the house so I can get comfy when I sit down and can put my feet up.
• I have a power bed so I can raise the head and feet and get comfy when I lie down.
• We moved to a raised ranch so I don't have to deal with stairs. It makes my life so much easier. The bedroom isn't upstairs, its just down the hall.
• I have Butrans pain patches that allow me to function as a human being and not be in pain. These are the only things that allow me to get through my daily life without collapsing or being in so horrible pain. 

Actually the single most important thing that helps me cope are my marvelous, wonderful Butrans pain patches. If you are in chronic pain, try them. Without them I would not be able to function.

The Non-Opioid Abusers

Those of us who live with chronic pain take pain medication, including opioids. There has been quite a bit in the news about the growing opioid epidemic which is killing thousands of Americans. Most of those who die are abusers who overdose. The resulting laws trying to restrict access to opioids causes difficulties for those of us who actually live in chronic pain and need the opioids to function.

Could you imagine needing to go back to your doctor's office to pick up a paper prescription to bring to your pharmacy to refill it? That is what happens now. Yes really. Can you imagine being in total pain and having to drive or ride a bus just to get that little piece of paper?

The new laws designed to restrict access by drug users have the unintentional effect of making it harder on the people who need them to function. For someone in chronic pain, who has to limit their efforts and make deliberate choices on how to spend their time and efforts, any extra trips are avoided at all costs.

So what do we do? We cope. We look for alternate therapies that make life easier for us. I am on opioids but mine come in patch that I apply weekly that gives me a controlled dose of pain medication that is essential for my daily activities. I hope more manufacturers step up and come up with more alternative delivery methods which allow pain relief for those in need but does not allow easy access by abusers.

Is that pain only in your brain?

I have been pondering this question for a couple of days. Some one posted a comment on my blog the other day and asked about this:

"How do you know when some of these pains are not in your head? I have mistook mental discomfort for physical problems."

I have often pondered this question for myself. Is what I feel real pain or is my brain making it up? How can I tell all my pains are real? Am I over treating my ailments? How can I have so much pain? I sometimes run little experiments with myself (don't tell my doctors!) to see how my medications are working and how my pain levels really are. Sometimes I just forget a medication and I often quickly find out what is real and how much somethings hurt. Other times I will delay taking my next pills and see how I am feeling.

I thought about this, hard. I know if someone has a limb amputated they often may have 'phantom' pains. The missing leg still produces feeling of pain even after it is gone. I know there are treatments for this as well.

But I also feel strongly that doctors should never ignore patient's statements on having pains. For years, male doctors often dismissed women's complaints on menstrual cramps. They were proven wrong. But if a patient complains of pains often and a doctor does nothing, you need a new doctor. 

However if its the other way around and the confusion is as the commenter noted above - mental discomfort being mistaken for physical pains - that is a different problem all together. In quickly asking the all-knowing Dr. Google, you can find that it is a recognized emotional issue that causes significant anguish.

In my non-medical opinion, if there is a question as to whether the pain is real or in your head, you would really need to do some personal and medical research, working with a good medical professional who meets your needs. Because even if the pain isn't real, there is still an issue that needs to be treated.

Physical therapy

This morning I finally will start physical therapy for my knee, nearly four weeks after falling. I have opted to have my PT at the gym instead of through the hospital. There are several reasons for this.

First of all, after my initial appointment, I can do my PT on my own instead of having to juggle three more appointments each week. I just don't have the patience for that. When I have PT, I do my exercises every day. Most physical therapists have told me many patients only do their exercises at their sessions.

Second of all, its free. I won't get three sessions each week for free but I will get a session every week or two, and free advice when I want. Yes I have health insurance but I can save the copays, and save my insurance company their share. This makes it a win-win (I hate that term) situation as far as I am concerned.

Last of all, I have had PT for my knees several times so I am aware of what to expect. I know my biggest problem won't be which exercises to do but which ones I am able to do. Between my back issues and hip bursitis, I physically can't do many of the exercises.

So much fun, more than I deserve.

Blocking out life

Sometimes I feel I need to ignore life and the rest of the world and focus on my ever growing list of ailments. Its not that I want to, its that sometimes my body insists on being the focus. Like the past few days. And probably the next few days.

I have many other things I would like to do but I have to focus on my health. I will fit in other 'stuff' around my health crap. And it really is crap right now.

I have a feeling I did some damage to my knee, how much I will learn more on Wednesday. It hasn't been contributing basic things like flexibility and stability to the rest of my body for the past few days. This means I can't go to the gym. Actually I don't dare go to the gym. But I really want to go. I think exercise will help me deal with stress. And I have blood work this week as well as two other doctor appointments. Right now I am getting blood work done every two weeks.

I also broke down and succumbed to pressure from my new therapist to try the new fibromyalgia support group. I did point out that I do have multiple ailments and fibromyalgia is one of the less challenging ones to me at this point. I mean its there. It causes me pain, fatigue, and, my favorite, insomnia. It isn't progressively causing damage to my body or lurking in the background, threatening to recur like some of the others.

I was told that the fibromyalgia group should help provide 'coping' strategies. I agreed to go once to see if these 'coping' strategies are really covered and potentially show any benefit for me. But my cynical self doubts that.

I am just stressed, anxious, in pain, tired, and a few other things so life isn't as much fun right now. Call me a cranky cynic right now.