Distraction

[musesvoni91]

Hi, I've been told that as well as taking my pain medication I should try to find things to distract me from the pain. So I was wondering what everybody else does to distract themselves? I have done everything I can think of so any ideas?

[Foxgal17]

How about call the doctor to complain😊

[musesvoni91 in reply to Foxgal17]

I think they've blocked my number

[healthylass]

I try meditation which has some effect also now try and take my mind off pain doing craft work which does have some help but can only do this before the pain before pain become intolerable. My GP keeps telling me to take my mind off pain but as I said to him if you have chronic pain and can hardly walk how can I take my mind off pain ???

[musesvoni91 in reply to healthylass]

These are currently what I do but your right it's impossible when the pain level is right up there. Sometimes I just look at the doctor and think I'd like to see them try to do it 😒

[Bananas5 in reply to musesvoni91]

Tell us what you have tried?

x

[musesvoni91 in reply to Bananas5]

Takes deep breath... meditation, mindful colouring books, reading, jewellery making, card making, mindful movement, playing with my pets, word searches, listening to music, speaking to friends and family, planning recipes to try etc...

[Mary-intussuception in reply to musesvoni91]

Are you able to get out at all on fine days?

What pets do you have?

Are you interested in photography?

[musesvoni91 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I can get out on good days but I have to have someone with me and can't walk very far most days. I love sitting out on the back garden on the comfy furniture. I find that fresh air is good for my mental health.

Currently I have 2 cats and a Quaker parrot who keep me company. Most days I don't know what I'd do without them as it can get so lonely. However the mess they create! Especially the parrot who is aptly named bedlam 😊

[Mary-intussuception in reply to musesvoni91]

You must have some lovely photos of your cats and Bedlam. He looks handsome and rather cute on your post.

I love taking photos of beautiful creatures and scenery. I've had cats but only one goldfish now.

As I'm sure you can guess I have lots of photos of the cats. Our last cat loved posing for photos, an excellent model!

We have lovley sunshine & blue sky in South Wales today. Good to be outside.

X

[musesvoni91 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Yes I am obsessed with photography, I have lots of photos of the pets as they all like to pose and show off when the camera is out. However I haven't had the camera out in a while as the pain has been getting me down and it's hard to motivate myself. The weather is nice in Stirling too and I've enjoyed laying out in the sun with the cats. Let's hope it keeps up 🌞 x

[Mary-intussuception in reply to musesvoni91]

Could that maybe be one of your targets then? Especially with the nicer weather?

To get the camera out again?

I photographed the neighbour's newest cat last summer. He was sitting on the wall with the perfect backdrop of the blue sky. Emailed it to the neighbour who was thrilled with it.

[musesvoni91 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Already on the list. Just hoping the weather keeps up x

[RibvanRey]

Hi Von, welcome to the Community. Can you knit and sew? Could you get out to go and learn these? My wife does both. She often obtains new unused wool from charity shops for next to nothing. Ann knits dog coats for our nearest Dog Rescue Centre. They use some to help keep the dogs warm in the cold weather and the best ones the sell at fund raisers to get funds for food and vets.

Sewing began as a means of fixing or altering clothes for my odd shaped body. This has led to Ann teaching herself needle-point. Sometimes we buy a kit with pattern and all the coloured threads. Otherwise Ann just dumps a picture from a screen capture into a Shareware program which creates the grid pattern over the picture and prints it out. Ann then uses whatever odds and ends of threads she has around.

Learn a language, learn an instrument. Post on this Community more often. There are usually a lot more folk about. A jolly good bunch of people, you could try hard to find a better caring bunch.

HTH. Regards, Rib

[Honrath]

I love art so I have adult coloring books that are taking the place of reading or crosswords, found they make it worse. Coloring with chalks and pencils trying new improved colored pencils and markers get me lost for hours on the pictures and designs I'm working on. 😊

[Joanne1972]

I spend the euromillions jackpot I've just won (in my head🙄) I go on rightmove, find the house I'm going to buy, that's fun in itself as get to nosey in rich people's houses. Then when I've found it I decide what decorating needs doing, what colour I will paint each room, how I will have the garden, what kind of furniture. So far I've got a house in Torquay n one in Matlock I'm going to buy. I've even emailed the details to myself so if I do actually win I can go and buy them for real! The big houses are fun to buy but you also have to find a smaller house to buy incase you 'only' win the 1 million pound raffle prize 😒😉 it can keep busy has you have to keep looking back in case your house has been sold..grrr the Cornwall house or to see if something better has been put on the market

Think sometimes my weekly euromillions ticket n the hope of an easier financial secure life is the only thing that keeps me going week to week....a little bit of hope. Oh n of course I can afford all the best Drs and open an animal sanctuary and a spiritual shop, oh and new clothes

Of course there is the downside when you come back to reality and you haven't won the lotto.....but then there's always next week 🤗

Happy daydreaming

Jo

[musesvoni91 in reply to Joanne1972]

It is good to be prepared. I thought I was the only one that did this 😝

[Rosepetal60 in reply to Joanne1972]

What a lovely idea, I may just have go at this.

[Joanne1972 in reply to Rosepetal60]

It's 68 million on Tuesday 😃 So enjoy ....... and remember you will be able to afford a cleaner so there's no need to worry about that

Jo

[Rosepetal60 in reply to Joanne1972]

Very tempting. Will make a note in the diary. Thinking Norfolk/ Suffolk for starters, but Cornwall also very appealing with some lovely houses around the River Fal area.

[Rosepetal60 in reply to Joanne1972]

And a gardener

[Joanne1972 in reply to Rosepetal60]

Alan Titmarsh maybe 🤗

I'm wanting Carol Klien from gardeners world to do my Torquay house garden 🌱🌸🌱

[Rosepetal60 in reply to Joanne1972]

Carol Klien would be my first choice too, I like her friendliness and knowledge. My imagination hadn't stretched as far as professional celebrity gardeners. 💐🌳🌸I've been looking at Southwold, can't find the ideal property yet but there is quite a nice beach hut for £55,000. Taking a trip to Thorpeness sometime today hopefully for some inspiration and sea views.

[cyberbarn]

Do you know about Dr. Francomono’s 75% Plan for Pain Relief. "Take, for instance that your medications take care of 20% of your pain relief. Then you use your TENS unit for another 10% reduction. Some Tiger Balm on your painful joints brings another 5% of pain relief. Maybe you could pull out your heating pad too for another 5% of pain relief. Then you decide upon a warm soak with Epsom Salts for another 10% pain relief. Deep breathing and some PT exercises combine for another 10% of relief. And then you watch a great movie for another 15% of pain relief. So now you have 75% of your pain managed effectively. How would your days be different if 75% of your pain was gone? Dr. Francomono’s plan demonstrates the importance of using multiple strategies…even if each one only makes a tiny difference, the difference made when they all are added together is significant.”

Dr Francomono is an American doctor that specialises in Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which often comes with a lot of chronic pain.

Does your GP surgery have a Wellbeing worker or a Social Prescriber? If they do ask for an appointment as they might be able to refer you to some helpful groups. Some areas have things like Art Lift which are art classes for people who have any number of medical or social needs, so it is about getting together and talking about other things than what is wrong with you, rather than what happens at support groups for specific conditions where people get together and dwell on their issues.

For me it is watching comedy with my son. Laughter actually releases hormones that can help with pain. And if you give your brain something else to concentrate on it can't also process the pain. Because pain really is in the brain, and the parts that process it are the same ones that process emotions. Flood the brain with laughter and it can't process pain.

[Bananas5 in reply to cyberbarn]

This is why it is called 'pain management'

x

[Newman1987]

Try and find a hobby if u can do them

[deejames]

Meditation is excellent for teaching how to face pain and not react to it with tension which makes it worse. It does take time and effort to learn but it's worth it.

I read , knit, cook but the best for me is learning. I am doing an Open University course. Using the brain is the best distraction from pain and the fear and depression that goes with it. I opted for a health science module as it made sense to understand the science behind the health topics that are in the news so much and that affect me on a daily basis. I particularly enjoyed the topic on pain and understand so much more on the topic now. It's harder as the medication can make me fuzzy and effects my memory but there have been lots of time es when I have not taken extra pills because it will stop me writing an essay or tackling something I am finding challenging.

The OU do free courses. Worth a try

Dee

[Hidden]

Six pints and a bottle of red....... only joking but I feel the only thing we can do is find distractions. It's so hard to keep your head above water when the pain is constantly dragging you under. At the moment I am trying physio Pilates mindfulness dog walks etc etc however the moment will come when the pain wins again. Do as many distractions as you can, great post👍👍

[Hughes-Comrade]

I play the guitar, get on youtube and learn a new song... so distraction. Play internet games, soak in hot bath with epson salts....