Health work around chronic pain
Jan. 24th, 2018 02:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sasha_feather(Re-posted from twitter- thanks to alice wong and heather ure for starting the discussion)
Some of the health work I do around my chronic pain:
1) making and keeping doctor appointments. Not trivial, as I have a lot of them.
2) Calling to refill prescriptions. I have about 8 that need monthly refills.
3) getting scripts from 2 different pharamacies
4) dealing with insurance
5) Dealing with dentists/hygienists who don't understand that i have chronic pain in my mouth nor how to deal with it
6) buying OTC meds like Icy Hot cream, vitamins; devices like a heating pad and wrist brace.
7) Scheduling time for rest and naps
8) balancing exercise, stretching, and rest; my energy varies from day to day
9) checking accessibility of events. For me an accessible event has: a place to park; comfortable seating; low lights; low noise; a bathroom; a place to refill my water bottle.
10) Keeping certain foods and beverages on hand.
11) Keeping my ice packs stocked up in the freezer.
12) Buying expensive shoes, rotating them, and keeping track of if they are worn out
13) remembering to take all my meds and packing extras when i travel
14) teaching myself to mouse left-handed. Adjusting computer games to left handed mode (due to pain in R shoulder and hand)
15) Buying the lightest weight glasses available and getting them adjusted many, many times, due to facial pain. This is what keeps me away from buying inexpensive glasses online.
16) keeping track of my fingerless gloves (which help my hand pain), my hats (for light sensitivity), and buying loose clothes
17) going to many therapy sessions and a chronic pain group
18) trying every fucking alternative therapy and having each one fail
19) reading articles, blogs, and books about disability
20) doing emotional work around grieving and acceptance of pain
21) dealing with insomnia from pain
22) dealing with depression/anxiety exacerbated by pain
23) managing other people's emotions and expectations; educating others
Some of the health work I do around my chronic pain:
1) making and keeping doctor appointments. Not trivial, as I have a lot of them.
2) Calling to refill prescriptions. I have about 8 that need monthly refills.
3) getting scripts from 2 different pharamacies
4) dealing with insurance
5) Dealing with dentists/hygienists who don't understand that i have chronic pain in my mouth nor how to deal with it
6) buying OTC meds like Icy Hot cream, vitamins; devices like a heating pad and wrist brace.
7) Scheduling time for rest and naps
8) balancing exercise, stretching, and rest; my energy varies from day to day
9) checking accessibility of events. For me an accessible event has: a place to park; comfortable seating; low lights; low noise; a bathroom; a place to refill my water bottle.
10) Keeping certain foods and beverages on hand.
11) Keeping my ice packs stocked up in the freezer.
12) Buying expensive shoes, rotating them, and keeping track of if they are worn out
13) remembering to take all my meds and packing extras when i travel
14) teaching myself to mouse left-handed. Adjusting computer games to left handed mode (due to pain in R shoulder and hand)
15) Buying the lightest weight glasses available and getting them adjusted many, many times, due to facial pain. This is what keeps me away from buying inexpensive glasses online.
16) keeping track of my fingerless gloves (which help my hand pain), my hats (for light sensitivity), and buying loose clothes
17) going to many therapy sessions and a chronic pain group
18) trying every fucking alternative therapy and having each one fail
19) reading articles, blogs, and books about disability
20) doing emotional work around grieving and acceptance of pain
21) dealing with insomnia from pain
22) dealing with depression/anxiety exacerbated by pain
23) managing other people's emotions and expectations; educating others
