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Monday, November 14, 2016

Making Further Adjustments to Manage Pain

On top of my usual chronic migraines, fibromyalgia  and endometriosis, I've been dealing with bad foot pain since August and even more recently with pain in both hands. My usually low level of activity and function has been forced to go even lower. I struggle to cook and clean. I struggle to shower. Well everything has become a struggle because everything involves using my hands and/or feet.

I don't yet know if this is going to be an ongoing problem that I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life, but I DO know that I will need to make some changes to how I do things either to manage these terrible symptoms or, if I'm lucky enough find a "cure" for whatever is happening, to prevent them from becoming a problem again. 

To that end I've been thinking a lot about how I can cut down on some of the work my hands and feet currently do. I'm going to get an automatic can opener. I'm going to stop making my own laundry detergent because it is hard on my hands and my feet. I'm going to have my husband help me put up and take down our holiday decorations. My mom sent me a pair of gloves with cushions to help pad my naturally bony hand. I'm going to type out labels instead of hand addressing my Christmas cards. You get the idea.

Additionally, I've been seriously considering giving up dairy. I tried going vegan about 7 years ago but after 3 months without dairy I started losing weight, which was a very bad thing. Normally, I wouldn't think of doing this again but I'm in a better place now with my weight and I think I might be able to do it without losing this time around. The benefit I seek is to reduce inflammation in my body. I don't know yet know what is wrong with my hands, but the problem with my foot is inflammation and this is not the only example of inflammatory problems in my body. 

I'm open to ideas if you have any.


1 comment:

  1. Hi, Ive had them in one of my feet which had bad arthritis in it but resorted to surgery in the end and am completely pain free in my foot now. Also had a number of them in my back which give me pain relief for a short time. I hope yours work well for you.

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