Question:
It hit me again on Sat. nite & a/o 7:40 a.m. EST MON. it is still w/ me.
I had no idea how painful this DD could be. I did have some underlying
factors that may have triggered it. In ole' Indiana where the weather
changes every minute, no wait, every second, (well, it seems like it!)
It wasn't even that cold, abt low 40's, but got down to 26 degrees that
nite, when I got home , the pain started in my neck (as always) & then
my hands & feet & everywhere else. I went to bed be/ midnight & 1:00,
after taking 1/2 Flexeril & 1/2 of a 600 mg. Ibuprofen. Why I woke up
after sleeping only abt 4 hrs. is beyond me, especially after taking
Flexeril! I woke up in pain & I could not stop from crying, which woke
up my boyfriend & he did pamper me by massaging my right leg (the SIATIC
NERVE, SP?) & I took another 1/2 Flexeril.
Besides the cold weather, I did have another underlying factor, the S
word, STRESS!! My boyfriend & I had an argument before we went to bed,
& perhaps that's why I woke up in excruciating pain @ 4:30.
Sorry this is so long, but I have some questions re: weather & stress.
This morning it is 28 degrees, 78% humidity w/ a barometric pressure of
30.07 (the weather channel had an up arrow beside the 30.07, I guess
that means upward movement, I don't know). A few of you mentioned abt
having more pain when the barometric pressure is high.
How abt stress? I don't think that I can get around the stress issue.
There's always going to be stress wherever I go, work, homelife, etc. I
know that I'm the only one that can help myself, but any advice on how
any of you cope w/ this DD would be appreciated!
Answer:
Stress, to my mind, is one of the biggest triggers for FM. You get stressed,
you get tense, you get pain. Of course, we are all going to have stress, but
it's all in how you handle it. I'm going to a therapist right now who
specializes in pain management. One of the main things we are concentrating on
is stress management.
Stress management is all in your perspective. We all have buttons and people
push them. You have to learn to respond differently to those buttons --
calmly, rationally. Another important factor is physical relaxation
techniques, including deep breathing, visualization, and progressive muscle
relaxation. I am not into a lot of alternative medicines or "new age
thinking." I am really the practical, go-to-the-doctor-get-a-pill kinda gal.
But this REALLY helps.
I don't think it is accurate or responsible to over-sell the stress
management and relaxation treatments. I have repeatedly tried these
things for 20 years, only to find out through a recent, formal
cognitive-behavioral program and biofeedback that I am actually very
good at being relaxed and handling stress well every day. I realize
that cognitive-behavioral therapies have lowered pain and other symptoms
for many people, but they simply don't make a significant difference for
some of us. People need accurate info to make responsible decisions
about various treatments.
Right, stress will always be there for all of us. We have to work on
our reaction to it, I'm working on a "Mr. Spock" attitude.
I am doing that too, but sometimes before I can even raise my shields, I start
to lose power--do I need more dylithium crystals?
I watched Star trek for a long time but at this moment I can't
remember anything about Spock other than his pointy ears, (darn fog)
What is a Mr. Spock attitude?
I think that Kasey was just trying to show that the treatment has helped her
and might help others.
I am pleased that she posted it as I have been helped when I remember some of
the relaxation tech. It is not a cure but it helps.
