Pain: Hello, I've never joined a support... - Stand Up 2 OA

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Pain

clothedinstrength7 profile image

Hello, I've never joined a support group before so this is new to me. I experience so much pain in my body that it makes it hard for me to sleep and do daily activities. I find it hard to climb stairs because of the arthritis in my knees. I was told I have Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue as well. I'm so desperate for help. I'm a christian woman, wife, mother of 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren, I would like to enjoy life with them without constantly fighting pain. The pain makes me feel depressed. Any suggestions? Thank you so much! God bless you:)

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clothedinstrength7
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suryakaizen profile image
suryakaizen

Dear clothedinstrength7, I truly am lost as to how to help and I do want to reach out to you. I am not a doctor, but a banker-turned-social worker who works with NGOs. I'm 69 and suffer from arthritis in my knees. 15 years ago I had arthritic inflammation so severe that I did not even have pain-free sleep for 2 years. I then decided that staying at home to rest was not helping, and so I began traveling again on work - I evaluate NGO projects in rural and urban communities. Surprisingly, the inflammation and pain went down gradually, though it did not go away altogether.

In 2019, I adopted the LCHF diet, with some modifications and find I have lost some weight, and the pain in my knees acts up only when I have walked some distances (I rarely do that now). I do not travel out much these days but don't avoid it altogether either, because meeting people and helping them keeps me engaged, and takes my mind off my own condition. In February 2020, I traveled to 6 cities in Uttar Pradesh, India for 3 weeks to document the work of an NGO helping children in slums get proof of identity so they can access welfare schemes. It was strenuous (bus and train travel, 65 meetings over that period) but it was so satisfying.

Somewhere over the years, I discovered Buddhist meditation (I'm not a Buddhist) and began doing a particular meditation to deal with the pain. You close your eyes, let your attention travel to the part of the body in pain, and within yourself say 'paining, paining, paining', repeatedly for say, 10 minutes. I have experienced the pain reducing. I also play my favourite music - Western classical music - when I am troubled or in pain. It helps.

Sitting in the sun for at least half an hour in the mornings gets you Vitamin D which reduces fibromyalgia pain (it did for me 2 years ago). I also read a lot. One such book I read last year 'How to Be Sick' by Toni Bernhard is by a woman who is also suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. I visit my younger daughter's family once a fortnight (except during this Covid crisis) and my 8-year old grandson and his ideas and games and quirks ('Granny, its such fun to eat bread and jam at midnight sitting in the kitchen chatting with you') are such a change from my usual routine.

These are not medical solutions, and truly, I can hardly begin to understand all you are going through, I empathize with you. But you might want to try some of the things I have. God bless you and bring joy and health to you, my dear. Lakshmi

clothedinstrength7 profile image
clothedinstrength7 in reply to suryakaizen

Hi Suryakaizen, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, I greatly appreciate. I hope you're having a pain free day.. Today seems better than the last few days. I've been trying to change my way of eating. It's so hard during this difficult time we're facing. I will be glad to try some meditation and walk a little more. I've got to push myself. Thank you for your testimonies and words of encouragement. I'm grateful. God bless you! We will take it one day at a time!!!

Eviesappleeyes29 profile image
Eviesappleeyes29

Boy can I relate, my pain level overwhelms me daily. The pain has impacted every facet of my life making it hard to do simple chores. 😐

clothedinstrength7 profile image
clothedinstrength7 in reply to Eviesappleeyes29

Hi Eviesappleyes29, I appreciate you sharing with me what you're going through. It's certainly not easy and I pray things truly get better. I want to enjoy life! I'm truly considering going vegan. I believe it will help in decreasing pain and inflammation. I've heard that people are opting for plant based and they like it. I will keep pushing to find what really works. I'm so over taking so much advil and tylenol . I hope the best for both of us and all who are suffering with pain. God bless you!

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