Chronic Pain and how to live with it

Have you heard of the Alexander Technique? It's primarily studied by performers (actors, musicians) but all sorts of people with various aches and pains can benefit from it.

It might sound a bit airy-fairy at first but it isn't and it can be really helpful.

In the meantime, do you swim? Does that help or hurt? If you can, you'd at least be getting some exercise which it sounds like you miss.

 

Alexander Technique or pilates, but make sure the pilates is at a decent studio with small groups, or even 1:1 to start with. Swimming can be good as it's low impact BUT avoid breaststroke as the knee kick might make your knee pain worse.

Chronic pain is horrible horrible horrible. I'd advise seeing a physio rather than a general doctor, as they tend to be better with joints (in the UK at least). You need good pain relief too - by holding out until it gets really bad you can end up with longer lasting pain. Think of it as your brain setting up a hotline to the injured part of your body, checking frequently if it hurts. Even when the originally injury has gone, that hot line still exists, with urgent messages being sent to your brain because it's all on high alert. With decent pain relief and a technique called 'pacing' you can get your pain under control.

Pacing - you'd need to read more about it, but it means not pushing yourself too far, which is tricky when you're sporty, believe me, I know. On a 'good day' don't decide to run or do a long hike because you feel better. Instead stop before things hurt. And record what you were doing, how long it took. Then a few days later try again (if it hurt, try a lower % of what you did), then very gradually you can build up. It takes a lot of patience.

I'm not a doctor, but it does seem strange you have pain in your hands, knees, neck... Do you know you have arthritis (in which case you should be under a specialist doctor, at least at the start). What about your joints - are they particularly flexible (double jointed)? There's something called Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, where your joints are too flexible, and you end up with lots of random injuries in your joints and chronic pain. Maybe google it and see if it sounds familiar.

 

I have some to, on low back and legs, mostly due to neurological issues. I can't do anything about it, fortunately it's usually bearable. Sometimes I have to lay down, even if I'm somewhere out of the house, because that's the only way it goes away. Today I spent half an hour on a bench near the university, I couldn't get home right away. And I take too many over-the-counter painkillers. When it's not too bad, I'm just used to it and don't pay much attention. It's my "normal" now. Sometimes I find it funny when other people complain about their back or legs hurting after work, while mine are already like that and I don't say a thing, because if I did I'd be complaining all the time.

As for your issues, I don't know what to say, because I don't know what's your health condition. It sounds like arthritis. It can get better, of course, if you get medical help... Usually those conditions have ups and downs, but generally if you follow your doctor's advice, you'll feel better. I have a friend who has arthritis and she's a dancer. Also, try to find enjoyable things in your "bad" days. Activities that don't require so much physical activity. And take care of yourself.

 

My brother has been in terrible pain throughout his body for about 3 years now. I won't go into all the details, but he has neuropathy too, which I guess there's no cure for. I don't know how he does it. That's a terrible thing in itself, dealing with constant pain. Gradually he too has lost the ability to do certain things. He and I talked with a surgeon last month, and it sounds like they're going to try surgery, though it's basically just to stop damage being done to a nerve and probably won't end the pain. He's tried a variety of things, including acupuncture and bodywork, etc., but he hasn't stopped working, which certainly doesn't help. He's 65 now and could definitely go on disability, but he owns a small company and continues to be a slave to it.

You haven't mentioned your age, but it sounds like you must be considerably younger? Regardless, I wish you the best in this struggle because I've witnessed how constant pain affects a person. Take care of yourself!

 

I've had chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and arthritis for 15 years. I found that some hobbies such as making soap or crafts help to distract me from the pain. I'm unable to take NSAIDs like ibuprofen because they cause stomach problems. I only take Tramadol now. I feel like my body has betrayed me also. It makes me sad to think of what I used to be. I know it will never get better but I still have bad days where I'm just frustrated and crying because it's so unfair. Yoga can help, and meditation. If you are able. I find it hard to get the time to without any distractions.
(*hug*)