Your Muscles: Don't Flex, Let Them Relax!

[Iranianman1]

Your Muscles: Don't Flex, Let Them Relax!

As a man in the community, I am expected to show "manly" in most occasions. But my disease, does not let it, despite of my extreme desire for it. I am sure that relaxing those muscles every now and then is the thing my body needs. But the expectations my family and the society has of me (working at an age of 58, 8-10 hours per day, 6 days per week, having no dependable retirement plan), are at odds with it.

[Ianrussell69]

If you can try a steam room I find it is as good as most pain killers

[Melba1]

I’ve learnt over time that if you don’t rest and pace yourself you will only get worse. My family have also had to learn that and to understand that is part of the disease. Can you show your family some of the leaflets lupus UK has on pacing/fatigue etc to help them understand?

Must be very hard working 6 days a week if you are currently in a lupus flare. I can only work every other day and my job is not at all physically demanding.

[Iranianman in reply to Melba1]

Thank you very much for being concerned about my condition. I am willing strongly to follow those good advices and I will go there to find out. But at the time being, the only thing that I could say is the dire economic conditions for many of us here in Iran. I should work for my two grown up children, both unemployed, with no clear future, in addition to me and my wife. The only thing that I can do is saying prayer and wishing a better condition in the near future. This is the situation of many parents here in Iran. Anyway, I will use them as much as possible.

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Iranianman1,

Welcome to the LUPUS UK HealthUnlocked Community!

We offer a free information pack which you can download or request here: lupusuk.org.uk/request-info...

It is important to not push yourself too hard as this can potentially trigger a flare. We published an article on our blog about stress management and relaxation which I hope you find useful: lupusuk.org.uk/stress-manag...

Around 90% to 95% of people with lupus will experience muscle and/or joint pain. We published an article on our blog about pain management which contains helpful tips and information which you can read here: lupusuk.org.uk/pain-managem...

To read our factsheet on ‘LUPUS: and Men’, click here: lupusuk.org.uk/wp-content/u...

If you need information about lupus and employment, including information about your rights and what support services are available, we have two booklets that you can read and download at lupusuk.org.uk/working-with.... If you need physical copies sent to you, please email me with your name and address at [e-mail].

Please keep us updated, wishing you all the best.

[Iranianman in reply to Chanpreet_Walia]

Thank you very much for being concerned about my condition. I am willing strongly to follow those good advices and I will go there to find out. But at the time being, the only thing that I could say is the dire economic conditions for many of us here in Iran. I should work for my two grown up children, both unemployed, with no clear future, in addition to me and my wife. The only thing that I can do is saying prayer and wishing a better condition in the near future. This is the situation of many parents here in Iran. Anyway, I will use them as much as possible.