chronic pain tips

[sasha_feather]

A friend asked me about dealing with chronic illness and fatigue, which I manage largely though scaling way way back on my commitments and resting a lot. I have some other practical tips though, which I thought I'd share. Some of these things I learned from jesse_the_k and other people in my life. Not all of these will be possible or relevant for everyone.

1. For light sensitivity, wear a hat with a brim. (I go almost nowhere without one.) I also sometimes wear sunglasses indoors and I use lamps rather than overhead lights in my apartment.
2. Carry chewing gum. Not great if you have TMJ, but if you have migraines/headaches, chewing gum can loosen up your stiff jaw muscles.
3. Carry food and water. When I was working I often carried granola bars, cheese sticks, apples, and chips. I also would try to have some change for the vending machine.
4. If you have trouble remembering to eat (or take meds, etc), set a timer on your phone to remind you.
5. Leave work, literally, and take breaks. Go for a walk, find a quiet room away from your desk. Find a sofa and take an actual nap (again, use the timer on your phone).
6. Stock up on ice packs and hot packs. Invest in a good electric heating pad.
7. Ask for, and accept help. (this is one of the hardest ones on here.)
8. Get grocery delivery if you can.
9. Wear comfortable shoes, and rotate them. Wear comfortable clothes in general.
10. Give yourself permission to rest. (this is also hard).

Comments

[lilysea]

Thank you. The chewing gum one hadn't occurred to me.

[sasha_feather]

It can also help with dry mouth, which is a side effect from a lot of different meds. Just watch out for any artificial sweeteners that you might be sensitive to. :)

[the_rck]

I have an awful time finding him without aspartame. Bubble Yum didn't the last time I checked, but I hardly ever see it in stores. Fortunately, I can have xylitol. Those gums are more expensive and aren't in the stores we usually visit, so we have to go to places like Whole Foods.

[davidgillon]

A couple more:

Pacing. Work out what you can do without escalating issues. Try not to exceed it. If you need to exceed it, plan on recovery time in the following days. But also try to keep active up to your limits so you don't lose them.

Look up the Spoon Theory, it'll help, If for no other reason than understanding what other people in the same situation are talking about with all these spoons. See http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/category/the-spoon-theory/

[sasha_feather]

Yes, those are good tips! It's hard when the limits change. Whooosh.