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What A Pain:
My Arthritis Is Keeping Me Down
By Cyndi Masters
QuestionI have arthritis, and the pain that comes with
changes in the weather makes it hard to get out of bed in
the morning. On gloomy, rainy days or mornings when it
has suddenly turned cold, I don’t even want to get up. It
never seems to get any better.
— Hurting HannahDear Hurting Hannah,
I do understand. There are many winter and spring mornings when getting out of bed
feels like an insurmountable task. Each movement seems to create additional pain.
In my early 30s, I was diagnosed with both arthritis and a degenerative spine disease.
Since that time much of my body has been broken, and on very cold or rainy days it
almost seems I can feel the metal that patches me together. Some mornings, my
attempts to move send me reeling in pain.
I really want to live my life, and not let my pain control me. To make this possible, I have
learned to move beyond the fear of my next physical movement by developing a plan.
• I start with a brief “getting still” and meditation of sorts to STOP focusing on the pain
(easier said than done). This usually includes ridding my mind of all thoughts about the
pain (again, this is something that takes practice) and thinking about the day ahead.
• Often, I allow my thoughts to drift to someone I know who is going through a hard time
or is in worse shape than I am, and I try to think of some way to be helpful to them, even
if it is just making a commitment to call them later in the day to let them know they are
being thought about. I also pray during this time and ask for direction about how God
would like my day to look and how I can be useful. Often, thoughts of others will get me
away from myself enough that it allows the pain to subside to a manageable level. My
experience has been that it only gets worse if I can’t find a positive distraction for my
thoughts.
• I think about what gives me relief — a hot shower. If I can muster enough courage to
push through the pain and get to the shower, there is always some relief under the hot
water. So I allow my thoughts to drift to the sensation I get when the tenseness that my
muscles have adopted in their response to the arthritic pain give way to the warmth.
When that feeling is centered in my mind I push myself off the bed and hobble, crawl or
limp to the bathroom, keeping the thought of hot water relief in the center of my mind.
Once in the shower I try to enjoy the relief and then think about the day ahead.
• I give myself permission to take the day a little slower. I have a superwoman complex
and tend to think I need to do it all. To have any hope of staying in the middle of life, I
have to accept that I do have some limitations and not push too hard.
• I prioritize my day with a list, keeping the most important things at the top. I have
learned that my best hours are the few that happen right out of the shower. When the
pain revisits me throughout the day, I take 5 and 10 minute breaks to get still and revisit
my morning meditation thoughts of relief and others. Often just a few minutes will get my
thoughts away from my pain long enough to render some relief. As the day moves on I
begin to think about my next trip to the shower (often I take three or four hot showers a
day).
Other things that I have found helpful:
No sugar — I am completely convinced that sugar contributes to arthritic pain, and I
have experienced a notable difference between the periods I eat sugar and those when
I don’t.
Maintain dreams — One of the things I tend to associate with my arthritis is aging (even
though it was diagnosed in my early 30s) and a propensity to begin shutting my life
down which becomes depressing and hopeless. So I stay in the day but always have a
next thing that I am working toward doing or being.
Cod Liver Oil — I began taking a couple of tablespoons in the morning a few years ago
and have noticed a remarkable difference.
Focus on positive things — My mantra is “the dog that wins is the one you feed.” If I
focus on the pain, that is all that I will be. My life will be one that represents pain. By
focusing on what is right in my life and in the world around me, and by focusing on
affirming those around me, my life represents one of joy and giving. Somehow by doing
this the pain feels less.
Move — Although the thought of moving seems overwhelming, staying in bed or
remaining sedentary only makes my pain worst. Daily walking or swimming gives me
more flexibility and helps me get quality sleep and rest that keep the pain from
exacerbating.
Watch my weight — From 1998 to 2006, I gained 80 pounds. There were many
legitimate factors that contributed to this. My ability to move was compromised, and food
became my main source of comfort, and my thyroid stopped normal functioning.
Regardless of the reasons for the weight gain, the additional weight was increasing my
pain. Since that time, I have lost 30 pounds, and the difference is dramatic. There has
been a noticeable difference in my pain level with every five pounds that I lose, and I
plan to rid myself of another 30 pounds this year. Incapacitated from
the accident, Cyndi Masters couldn’t work for many months and eventually had to sign
up for food stamps and disability. Cyndi says she had to condition herself to recognize
that her self-esteem didn’t come from material things. Instead of focusing on herself,
she used her experience to help others in need. You can read her personal story online.
If you would like to send Cyndi a question about dealing with your chronic pain, send it
to cyndimasters@iamtodayswoman.com.
Also read Cyndi's personal story about how she is dealing with the long-term effects of
pain.
My Arthritis Is Keeping Me Down
By Cyndi Masters
QuestionI have arthritis, and the pain that comes with
changes in the weather makes it hard to get out of bed in
the morning. On gloomy, rainy days or mornings when it
has suddenly turned cold, I don’t even want to get up. It
never seems to get any better.
— Hurting HannahDear Hurting Hannah,
I do understand. There are many winter and spring mornings when getting out of bed
feels like an insurmountable task. Each movement seems to create additional pain.
In my early 30s, I was diagnosed with both arthritis and a degenerative spine disease.
Since that time much of my body has been broken, and on very cold or rainy days it
almost seems I can feel the metal that patches me together. Some mornings, my
attempts to move send me reeling in pain.
I really want to live my life, and not let my pain control me. To make this possible, I have
learned to move beyond the fear of my next physical movement by developing a plan.
• I start with a brief “getting still” and meditation of sorts to STOP focusing on the pain
(easier said than done). This usually includes ridding my mind of all thoughts about the
pain (again, this is something that takes practice) and thinking about the day ahead.
• Often, I allow my thoughts to drift to someone I know who is going through a hard time
or is in worse shape than I am, and I try to think of some way to be helpful to them, even
if it is just making a commitment to call them later in the day to let them know they are
being thought about. I also pray during this time and ask for direction about how God
would like my day to look and how I can be useful. Often, thoughts of others will get me
away from myself enough that it allows the pain to subside to a manageable level. My
experience has been that it only gets worse if I can’t find a positive distraction for my
thoughts.
• I think about what gives me relief — a hot shower. If I can muster enough courage to
push through the pain and get to the shower, there is always some relief under the hot
water. So I allow my thoughts to drift to the sensation I get when the tenseness that my
muscles have adopted in their response to the arthritic pain give way to the warmth.
When that feeling is centered in my mind I push myself off the bed and hobble, crawl or
limp to the bathroom, keeping the thought of hot water relief in the center of my mind.
Once in the shower I try to enjoy the relief and then think about the day ahead.
• I give myself permission to take the day a little slower. I have a superwoman complex
and tend to think I need to do it all. To have any hope of staying in the middle of life, I
have to accept that I do have some limitations and not push too hard.
• I prioritize my day with a list, keeping the most important things at the top. I have
learned that my best hours are the few that happen right out of the shower. When the
pain revisits me throughout the day, I take 5 and 10 minute breaks to get still and revisit
my morning meditation thoughts of relief and others. Often just a few minutes will get my
thoughts away from my pain long enough to render some relief. As the day moves on I
begin to think about my next trip to the shower (often I take three or four hot showers a
day).
Other things that I have found helpful:
No sugar — I am completely convinced that sugar contributes to arthritic pain, and I
have experienced a notable difference between the periods I eat sugar and those when
I don’t.
Maintain dreams — One of the things I tend to associate with my arthritis is aging (even
though it was diagnosed in my early 30s) and a propensity to begin shutting my life
down which becomes depressing and hopeless. So I stay in the day but always have a
next thing that I am working toward doing or being.
Cod Liver Oil — I began taking a couple of tablespoons in the morning a few years ago
and have noticed a remarkable difference.
Focus on positive things — My mantra is “the dog that wins is the one you feed.” If I
focus on the pain, that is all that I will be. My life will be one that represents pain. By
focusing on what is right in my life and in the world around me, and by focusing on
affirming those around me, my life represents one of joy and giving. Somehow by doing
this the pain feels less.
Move — Although the thought of moving seems overwhelming, staying in bed or
remaining sedentary only makes my pain worst. Daily walking or swimming gives me
more flexibility and helps me get quality sleep and rest that keep the pain from
exacerbating.
Watch my weight — From 1998 to 2006, I gained 80 pounds. There were many
legitimate factors that contributed to this. My ability to move was compromised, and food
became my main source of comfort, and my thyroid stopped normal functioning.
Regardless of the reasons for the weight gain, the additional weight was increasing my
pain. Since that time, I have lost 30 pounds, and the difference is dramatic. There has
been a noticeable difference in my pain level with every five pounds that I lose, and I
plan to rid myself of another 30 pounds this year. Incapacitated from
the accident, Cyndi Masters couldn’t work for many months and eventually had to sign
up for food stamps and disability. Cyndi says she had to condition herself to recognize
that her self-esteem didn’t come from material things. Instead of focusing on herself,
she used her experience to help others in need. You can read her personal story online.
If you would like to send Cyndi a question about dealing with your chronic pain, send it
to cyndimasters@iamtodayswoman.com.
Also read Cyndi's personal story about how she is dealing with the long-term effects of
pain.
