Living with Chronic Pain

Living with chronic pain can make me focus on everything I  can’t do.  I can’t go on the hayride with the kids. Or walk with them. I’ll never take dance lessons. I can’t climb stairs. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. Since having a pity party doesn’t help me or anyone else I need to try to learn to deal with limitations in a positive way.

Accept Your Limitations

I am in a temporary wheelchair or knee scooter. . Temporary as in most of the year,  but hope that  it’s not permanent.  It gets very frustrating trying to get things done. I am over 6 feet tall so my cupboards are arranged for tall people. I’d like to stand for a little bit but I know that would actually set me back. Everyone has limitations in one way or another. I have to focus on what I can do not what I can’t.

Modify What You Can

I have limitations with my hands that prevent me doing a lot of crafts, which I love.  However, I do have a daughter that will cut out material so I can sew. I machine sew instead of hand sew since it is so painful.  Cook sitting down. I use a paper cutter instead of scissors.  And use a grabber to pick things up off the floor.

I’ve asked at my physical therapy for them to find new ways for exercises that I can do sitting.  I wrote about living with charcot.

 Pace Yourself

I find I have to take a lot of breaks.  There are  only do so many seated activities before I need to elevate my foot.  Learning to alternate between activities I use my hands for and seated ones have been trial and error.  Now I know how many breaks I need to take between activiteis such as typing or cooking. Then I need to do something different like read or watch a webinar.

Count the Cost

I know ahead of  time if I do this I won’t have enough that.  Choices I have to make daily, and sometimes hourly. The best way I’ve found to describe it is called the spoon theory.

Look for the Silver Lining

While living with chronic pain is debilitating in  many ways, in all things there is a silver lining if you just look for it. I would never have started this blog if I could go and do more.  Appreciate the small things.  I really have a pretty great family. They take me places, help me around the house. My kids have had to do way more than other kids for years. They’ve taken my place for younger children school activities when I can’t.  They’ve taken me to countless dr appt., tests and visited me in the hospital. And unfortunately, learned to sort pills, use nebulizers, change bandages and give meds in a pic line. I have a great family.

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Christina Renee

Hi, I'm Christina, a wife of 33 years, mom of 10 and grandmother of 3. I love to help other Moms with mothering, organizing their homes and routines. I've had a lot of struggles with illness having fibromyalgia and being an amputee. Talking to other moms with the challenges that bring and succeeding in spite of it.

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