Shutting out some of the pain

PollySid

My daughter suggested the other day that probably I was that used to always having discomfort and pain that I automatically shut some of it out.
I think she could be right as if I sit and think about what hurts a lot of different parts of me do and I just cope with them as a whole, unless of course something flares up worse.

I have tried this as an experiment. I think round my body focussing on different areas in turn.
This is me atm (after medication):-

Head - slight headache
Neck - aches at back and across shoulders
Arms - top of arms ache, fingers feel stiff and skin feels tight
Mid spine - stiff and uncomfortable, radiating to rib area at front
Lower spine - ditto
Legs - discomfort from hips to knees. Pain in toes on right foot.

Walking causes muscle spasms, I cannot straighten for a while and all the problems above go up a notch in severity.

A lot of the time, as you see, I class it as discomfort. I think after having a disc prolapse years ago, I know what extreme pain is like so I use that as a guide. Anything other than that strength of pain to me is managable, although I know even lower strengths of pain and discomfort can be very stressful and disabling.

Try the excercise above, you may be surprised at what your brain is automatically covering up that you didn't realise.

valval

we use lots of distraction techniques playing games reading listening to music if you have the ability to distract your self from the pain it does help but yes you do get used to the every day pain a flaire is a different beast glad you have this coping mechanism val

dreamdaisy

My pain levels have steadily increased since 1997 but as there is not a great deal I can do about it ('tis the nature of the beasts after all) I try to ignore it. I keep myself mentally occupied with puzzles, reading, coming on here, watching telly as keeping physically occupied tends to cause further troubles but I have adjusted how I do things to help me as much as I can.

When I went on a two-week pain management course run by AC we did a very interesting exercise where we had to sit for 30 seconds and concentrate on what was hurting - and yes, things felt worse by the end of the time (which also passed very slowly). Next we had to sit for 30 seconds and think about how we would spend a few thousand pounds. The time flew, the pain was lessened - and it was revealed that we had sat for longer than 30 seconds! You are right, Pollysid, acknowledge it then divert your attention away and yes, some of it fades. It's a useful technique. I hope the cold weather isn't affecting your joints too much. DD

flossy47

I've got to agree with DD as that is what we were doing today at the arthritis education session. I've also found that listening to a relaxation cd has helped me.
I try not to think about my arther at all now. If something flares up then I try to find things to distract me such as listening to the radio or reading a good book.

elianne42

Hi new to the forums, i saw a mention of arthritis education session- how do you access these? i was invitied to a long term management course but by the time i okayed it with work couldnt get on it and have to wait for the next one!! I tried to access an occupational therapist but she refuses to see me- 'only see people from rheumy with regards to hands not hips or backs!! go back to physio!' rang them can't fit me in until 7th march!! anyone else get this kind of response?
distraction techniques are amazing but it does take some mental training!!!

frogmorton

Elaine

go to the main arthritis care pages.....

then search your area geographically and see what's happening your way.

I went on one which finished in November called 'challenge your condition' for 6 weeks....fabulous!

Had my name down on the list for a good while though.

Good luck

Toni xx

flossy47

The one I went on was organised by my hospital in derby. The OT dept ran it. It was only for people with RA, IAN and PsA.

hileena111

Hi
Yes get your name down for a course.......you will have to wait a while but its worth it.
As for the OT....never heard anything like it
My main problems are back and hips. I can self refer to the OT.
I've got to admit she would be more help to people with hands /dexterity problems but she sees me and has privided some things for me and sent me on courses.
Good luck
Hileena