My Fibromyalgia pain has been fairly well controlled for quite some time. I have days or times that are worse than others, but for the most part, it isn’t too bad. I have had neck and back pain with daily headaches; however, for many, many years. That pain has become increasingly worse. It is now time to get serious about managing it.
Sunday I go for an MRI. I already know that I have degeneration in my spine, the questions are why is the pain becoming so much worse, why are the headaches becoming more migrainous and why are my fingertips feeling numb?
In the meantime, I was not managing my pain medications appropriately and was in a position of constantly chasing the pain and never really getting much relief. I felt I was holding onto life by my fingernails. I was constantly on edge, everything overwhelmed me and the days became focused around pain and not much else since thinking or concentration was not a possibility.
After talking to my naturopath about taking my pain medication first thing in the morning and at regular intervals thereafter, that is what I did today. What an amazing difference! I always wake in pain, but I rolled out of bed and took my medication and by the time I finished my cup of coffee, it was kicking in. Previously, I had been waiting as late into the morning as I could stand to before I took my first dose. Then I spent the remainder of the day trying to catch the pain yet never could.
Today, life felt completely different. I was not on edge or overwhelmed. I felt calm and at peace. Things that would have been panicking me the day before were of no consequence emotionally today. It was like a cooling balm to my body and my psyche. In fact, I was so amazed and pleased at how much better I felt that I phoned my husband to share the good news. That is when the pain ratcheted back up because…
Right after I told my husband my good news, he told me what he was doing. I will not go into the vivid details, but he had been watching an extremely negative and upsetting news story. As he relayed this story to me, I could feel my pain beginning to build…and build…and build. By the time I hung up the phone, I was in a near panic to control the pain.
I tried to breathe deeply and calm myself. I attempted to meditate. I lay flat on my back, on the heating pad, and closed my eyes. Nothing was even starting to relieve the pain. In the end, I had to take pain medication and a muscle relaxer over an hour earlier than I should have needed to. I was able to finally manage my pain again, but the day was never as peaceful and calm as it was pre-news story.
What I learned from this was what a powerful effect our emotions have on our bodies. For me, my early warning sign that something is not a good vibration for me is pain and illness. Turns out that my husband realized his anxiety level after getting involved in the news story went up which was his early warning sign that he should have changed the channel because what followed was rumination and upset that interrupted his day.
It seems that in this age of twenty-four hour news, internet and constant bombardment by the negatives in the world, that we have to take responsibility for ourselves and not allow ourselves to be exposed to the things that only serve to upset us and make us feel bad. Especially if it is a news story that we can do absolutely nothing to change. Why watch it and allow it to negatively effect our emotions and our health?
So, my new pain management protocol is to stay ahead of the pain with my medications, but also to be aware of my environment and to protect myself, if need be, from events that will only serve to exacerbate my pain. I have to be able and willing to stop someone in the midst of their negativity and kindly, but firmly, let them know that I am not interested in going down that path. I must be vigilant about what I read and watch on TV or the internet and lean towards the positives that feed me and not the negatives that harm me. This will not only help me manage my pain, but my mood. It is a win-win.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This is so true! As we talked about today, I’d been doing fantastic… until I had to put my Bear kitty down at the beginning of July. Now it’s been four months of recovering physically with stuff that I thought I was done with. What has surprised me is that it’s been harder on my physically than it has been emotionally! (And it’s been emotionally difficult!)
Tamara, your little spam proofer cracks me up – you expect us to do math with fibro brain? LOL! Good thing I was always good at math….
Isn’t it so true! I went through the same thing when I lost my little Wyatt. Just knocked me emotionally, but totally took me down physically, too. There is just no way around it…emotions and the physical body feed into each other!
LOL! I had forgotten about my spam preventer. I tell you, it was either that or turn off comments because all I was getting was tons of spam. Besides, I know that your fibro brain is still pretty “with it”!
In terms of fibro brain, BOTH of you are amazingly “with it.” To accomplish everything you both do – wow.
Tamara, I loved the piece! I don’t think people realize the extent of the mind-body connection: there’s so much pushback against the “it’s all in your heads” line of attack that we forget that our heads are still part of our bodies…. I’m glad your new pain-management regime is working well for you.
Yes, much as everyone tries to separate the poor head from the body, it just isn’t going to happen. They are always going to talk to one another!