Comments on: Drip, Drip, Drip http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/02/drip-drip-drip/ Adventures of a superhero on his journey through chronic pain and debilitating inflammation Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:23:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Kerstin D http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/02/drip-drip-drip/#comment-3076 Kerstin D Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:25:40 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9666#comment-3076 I actually found your blog by googling "embracing the pain" and RA. I delivered 3 babies with no pain meds (before RA was even a thought in my head), and on baby #3 I found that when I would allow the pain to happen without fighting it--when I would "embrace" it and accept it for what it was--that it seemed to take some of its power away. During that delivery my body even took over and created its own endorphins. Where I had been feeling intense pain I was suddenly experiencing primarily drowsiness, right up until I actually delivered. The pain hadn't gone away, but it had changed into a completely different experience. I'm new to RA--only "pretty darn sure" diagnosed by my GP, awaiting my first rheumy appt. But I want to try and approach RA the same way I approached delivery. Allow it to have its way, not be afraid of it, and accept it. I may look back on this as totally naive after dealing with this a few more years, but it can't hurt to try! I actually found your blog by googling “embracing the pain” and RA. I delivered 3 babies with no pain meds (before RA was even a thought in my head), and on baby #3 I found that when I would allow the pain to happen without fighting it–when I would “embrace” it and accept it for what it was–that it seemed to take some of its power away. During that delivery my body even took over and created its own endorphins. Where I had been feeling intense pain I was suddenly experiencing primarily drowsiness, right up until I actually delivered. The pain hadn’t gone away, but it had changed into a completely different experience.
I’m new to RA–only “pretty darn sure” diagnosed by my GP, awaiting my first rheumy appt. But I want to try and approach RA the same way I approached delivery. Allow it to have its way, not be afraid of it, and accept it. I may look back on this as totally naive after dealing with this a few more years, but it can’t hurt to try!

]]> By: Lene http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/02/drip-drip-drip/#comment-2447 Lene Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:56:47 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9666#comment-2447 I think we learn to filter the pain, depending on the situation - what I call the fun filter is especially effective, but the minute it's no longer applicable, you crash into a world of blinding pain. You learn to ignore the pain as you go about your daily life and yes, things like work and friends and family can be wonderful distractions. My big problem is that when I get caught up in work, I don't notice my body yelling at me until it's too late, which is why I have as many injuries as I do... And thank you for writing about embracing the pain. It was a good reminder - I think it can help you stop when you need to (see above re: idiocy leading to injuries), thus in the long-term probably helping you have lower pain levels because you're working within your limits. But I also think it's important, because fighting the pain takes so much energy that when you turn around and embrace it instead, stop fighting it so hard, you unexpectedly may find there is more energy available. I seem to have a vague recollection of it working that way, anyway. Perhaps I shough start practicing it again... I think we learn to filter the pain, depending on the situation – what I call the fun filter is especially effective, but the minute it’s no longer applicable, you crash into a world of blinding pain. You learn to ignore the pain as you go about your daily life and yes, things like work and friends and family can be wonderful distractions. My big problem is that when I get caught up in work, I don’t notice my body yelling at me until it’s too late, which is why I have as many injuries as I do…

And thank you for writing about embracing the pain. It was a good reminder – I think it can help you stop when you need to (see above re: idiocy leading to injuries), thus in the long-term probably helping you have lower pain levels because you’re working within your limits. But I also think it’s important, because fighting the pain takes so much energy that when you turn around and embrace it instead, stop fighting it so hard, you unexpectedly may find there is more energy available. I seem to have a vague recollection of it working that way, anyway. Perhaps I shough start practicing it again…

]]> By: Kali http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/02/drip-drip-drip/#comment-2445 Kali Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:35:58 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9666#comment-2445 Sounds like the reason that I tell people law school kept me sane my first year. In a year of exploding, overwhelming pain for no known reason, having to get to and pay attention to law school was an anchor, a solid point in my life that didn't care if I was in pain and that could let me...work around the pain, I guess. ~Kali www.brilliantmindbrokenbody.wordpress.com Sounds like the reason that I tell people law school kept me sane my first year.

In a year of exploding, overwhelming pain for no known reason, having to get to and pay attention to law school was an anchor, a solid point in my life that didn’t care if I was in pain and that could let me…work around the pain, I guess.

~Kali
http://www.brilliantmindbrokenbody.wordpress.com

]]> By: RA Guy http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/02/drip-drip-drip/#comment-2439 RA Guy Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:42:07 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9666#comment-2439 Thanks, Millicent - I know that I can always count on your for support. Lana, I haven't written about it yet, but yes these past few weeks have done wonders for my self-esteem. Lisa, thanks for the compliments! Wren, I agree. Just this afternoon, on my way home, I thought about how we actually have to teach our minds how to cope with chronic pain. If asked how I've figured out how to do so, I would say one thing: keep yourself occupied with something other than the illness (but staying busy does not mean overdoing it.) Valentine, I try not to ignore it anymore, but like I wrote sometimes it doesn't register as easily due to heightened pain thresholds...but I continue to learn how to recognize the signs and modify accordingly as best as I can. Sunita, thanks for the extra serving of support! I'll do my best on the new job...things are already (potentially?) moving forward. More details in the future. Linda, yes I received a similar message from Cari yesterday - glad that you all could connect. Yes, it is a small world! Thanks, Millicent – I know that I can always count on your for support.

Lana, I haven’t written about it yet, but yes these past few weeks have done wonders for my self-esteem.

Lisa, thanks for the compliments!

Wren, I agree. Just this afternoon, on my way home, I thought about how we actually have to teach our minds how to cope with chronic pain. If asked how I’ve figured out how to do so, I would say one thing: keep yourself occupied with something other than the illness (but staying busy does not mean overdoing it.)

Valentine, I try not to ignore it anymore, but like I wrote sometimes it doesn’t register as easily due to heightened pain thresholds…but I continue to learn how to recognize the signs and modify accordingly as best as I can.

Sunita, thanks for the extra serving of support! I’ll do my best on the new job…things are already (potentially?) moving forward. More details in the future.

Linda, yes I received a similar message from Cari yesterday – glad that you all could connect. Yes, it is a small world!

]]> By: Linda Mooney http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/02/drip-drip-drip/#comment-2438 Linda Mooney Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:05:28 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9666#comment-2438 Yesterday was quite a day for me. I come into your blog about once a week, there are a few of your regulars that I like to read and I enjoy your writings as well. I was so blown away with Cari's posting yesterday. It had to go half way around the world before I knew she was in my own playground. She and I both are at HSU, I looked her schedule up and asked a couple of her professors to ask her to come by and see me. And she did and we had a very nice discussion about RA. Thanks to you RA Guy I feel like her RA mentor, and she is my young chickadee whom I feel like I can give her wisdom and strength as she works on her education at HSU. Thanks again half way around this world it is a small world after all. Yesterday was quite a day for me. I come into your blog about once a week, there are a few of your regulars that I like to read and I enjoy your writings as well.

I was so blown away with Cari’s posting yesterday. It had to go half way around the world before I knew she was in my own playground.

She and I both are at HSU, I looked her schedule up and asked a couple of her professors to ask her to come by and see me. And she did and we had a very nice discussion about RA.

Thanks to you RA Guy I feel like her RA mentor, and she is my young chickadee whom I feel like I can give her wisdom and strength as she works on her education at HSU.

Thanks again half way around this world it is a small world after all.

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