Hiding Pain

[Sifox]

Living a life of working in pain requires a mental strength which works harder to cope than the actual immobility caused by the physio nature of the source of pain, the injury or hurt.
Think. Your Soul will reach higher and your body will toughen. Sure, allow people around you to reach out to you, not through pity, but by means of admiration for strong character values you naturally project whilst avoiding out-of-place sympathies.
Retain these quality aspects even while your pain is gone temporarily so you can stay true to yourself and others every moment.
I try to heal the pain and ease the mind. I attempt to stay positive about this but I feel like I'm noticibly discomforted by it. I care what people think because all of us have or know someone with pain or hurt greater than our own, so I believe that I should be the last to grumble.
I also don't want my boss to worry. Am I being positive or am I being something I shouldn't be?

[openeyes]

Hiding pain can be tempting for someone who doesn't want to confront it's source, but usually pain is there for a reason and is best dealt with rather than ignored. If you've sustained an injury and are doing what you can to recover while not caring to take pain meds fine, but your post is so vague it's hard to tell exactly what you're dealing with.

[Buddy]

It's difficult to answer. Are you talking about physical pain? That pain is simply a symptom. Are you talking about emotional pain? That too is a symptom. Is your from an injury or is it structural? Is it chronic or acute? If it's chronic and physical see Egoscue.com. Not a quick fix, but a lasting one.

[Sifox]

The pain I have is from failed surgery to my right hand. I am a chef and it gets harder to deal with as I get older(45). I love my career and fundamentally must keep the wages coming in to the home. I have no other career from which I could earn a living so I keep at it. Im afraid that meds will change me. Im very active and dont want that to be distorted. I think I could use some more help. But what?

[NotesMaeve]

Sifox, first of all, I'm so sorry. My boy's got bum hands from a medical condition and he's a drummer. (And one of the best mod drummers in the world. )

What helps him is regular cardiovascular exercise and the use of medical marijuana.

I have early onset arthritis and my hips often feel like they're tightly pinned between hot rocks. Exercise has helped, as has weight loss and improved diet.

[Sifox]

I hope that your drummer son hangs-in there. I can't play my guitar anymore.
Drummers are very determined musicians
How do you cope with the discomfort you have in your hips and are you a little like me in that I won't reveal my struggle to others? I will definately consider natural meds too, thanks.

[Buddy]

Go here:
The Egoscue Method - Be Pain Free
Click on hand pain.

[Sifox]

Thanks Buddy. You live up to your title. I am enlightened by the possibilities available towards my healing. Will start now. I didn't realize so much. Very helpful, Thankyou.

[klokswife]

Originally Posted by Sifox

Living a life of working in pain requires a mental strength which works harder to cope than the actual immobility caused by the physio nature of the source of pain, the injury or hurt.
Think. Your Soul will reach higher and your body will toughen. Sure, allow people around you to reach out to you, not through pity, but by means of admiration for strong character values you naturally project whilst avoiding out-of-place sympathies.
Retain these quality aspects even while your pain is gone temporarily so you can stay true to yourself and others every moment.
I try to heal the pain and ease the mind. I attempt to stay positive about this but I feel like I'm noticibly discomforted by it. I care what people think because all of us have or know someone with pain or hurt greater than our own, so I believe that I should be the last to grumble.
I also don't want my boss to worry. Am I being positive or am I being something I shouldn't be?

Your entire statement was very well put. I too walk around daily with pain from my scolisis. I have tried almost all the remedy's known and I just live with it. I too try not to make people feel as though I'm a burden or that they have to feel sympathy for me because I'm fine but I have been told that it worries people because I don't complain about it and talk about it. I keep the faith and I pray alot. I know that I have the pain and I try not to let it take over my life I have an 8 year old son that means the world to me and just because mommy's back hurts isn't going to stop him from wanting to play. I commend you for being positive in my opinion and I hope you start feeling better and I hope you don't let people cloud your mind.

[NotesMaeve]

Originally Posted by Sifox

I hope that your drummer son hangs-in there. I can't play my guitar anymore.
Drummers are very determined musicians
How do you cope with the discomfort you have in your hips and are you a little like me in that I won't reveal my struggle to others? I will definately consider natural meds too, thanks.

Ahahahaha @ Slamhot being my SON. He's 16 years older than me. He just ACTS like a teen.

I openly say, "Wow, I hurt." Being open eliminates some of it. Slamhot and I were discussing this the other day: There is no sense in crippling oneself to maintain a facade.

[Lola]

Sifox - unless contraindicated by your physician, regular massage therapy sessions can be highly effective in helping to minimize the physical and psychological effects of living with chronic pain.

Any massage would likely do you some good (for stress relief and relaxation), but even more so if you find a therapist with advanced training who specializes in pain management, trigger point therapy, reflexology, accupressure, and/or myofascial release.

For an injury like yours that is continuously stressed by your work, bi-weekly massages would be greatly beneficial. If the cost of ongoing treatment is a concern, check to see if your health insurance covers it - some do now. Or massage schools generally charge lower fees. At a school, request a more advanced student or the lead in-house therapist to get more advanced treatment. In my case the cost of regular massage was offest by fewer visits to the doc and not having to buy meds.

Good luck - chronic pain can really wear you down physically and mentally. Massage therapy is not a cure but can make a HUGE difference in how you feel.

[Sifox]

Getting through some research as I read your posts on this subject. Coming to the conclusion that I want to try something to directly target the source of the pain in the hand and then relieve it somehow for as long as possible. I had steroid injections. They hurt and were not worth it because when it detached from the tissue later, things became worse.
Well they did for this patient. So, your posts have totally got me me up and going. Thanks all.Sifox.

[DrMartinRussell]

Originally Posted by Sifox

I had steroid injections. They hurt and were not worth it because when it detached from the tissue later, things became worse.
Well they did for this patient.

Steroid injections are at best bandaids, not cures. As a medical doctor I get too many people thinking they are miracles.

Perhaps it's because they confuse anabolic steroids (ie body-building ones) with corticosteroids (immune-reaction dampeners).

I had a friend say to me he thought his steroid injection was to boost up the muscles around his pained area to help it heal. I had to let him in on the fact that the effect would if anything be the opposite. I'm still not sure he got it.

Glad you're getting it SiFox.

[Sifox]

I'm glad you're glad that I get it. Thanks. I seem to get about happily when I am in good physical condition. But I'm not. This problem hand is stopping me from going back to strengthening workouts which I what I should be doing. Been bearing the pain and awkwardness for 17 years. Tired for now. Tired or complacent?, probably both but I do feel guilty about letting it affect me to the point of self doubt and pity. I feel young now but the knowledge that I will have this weight holding me down for more years to come is ageing me through the acceptance of it. No question that I will pickup sooner or later just wish I could mark the date on the calender.
Love it that you hear me, Sifox.

[DrMartinRussell]

Originally Posted by Sifox

Thanks Buddy. You live up to your title. I am enlightened by the possibilities available towards my healing. Will start now. I didn't realize so much. Very helpful, Thankyou.

Well it's been 4 days since Buddy's suggestion. How are you going with the Egoscue exercises? Finding them hard to do exactly as instructed? Notice any difference when you do them?

[DrMartinRussell]

Originally Posted by Sifox

This problem hand is stopping me from going back to strengthening workouts which I what I should be doing.

I disagree with the 'should' part. I think you are on track in realizing you need to get a hand that can bear the workouts first.

Originally Posted by Sifox

No question that I will pickup sooner or later just wish I could mark the date on the calender.

Personally I don't like this type of positive thinking, unless it is tied to some action.

If you haven't started already, Buddy has given you a plan, at no cost, and it takes under 10 minutes to do once a day, preferably in the morning.

17 years deserves at least that beginning.

Let us know how you go. We're cheering for ya :-)

[Sifox]

quite right. Improving my posture and related exercises are going to work for me. they are simple and don't need much time, in fact I never realized that other parts of my body can affect my hands. Thank you for everything Doc and Buddy. Yep! I'm not giving up, I'm actually making a new start towards overcoming all of it. Its great to feel positive again. YOU HAVE HELPED ME.

[DrMartinRussell]

Originally Posted by Sifox

I never realized that other parts of my body can affect my hands.

I need to start a crusade on that one. Many have tried before me though. The problem is that medicine and medical companies have no interest in this possibility. Ah well.

Keep us posted SiFox...

[Buddy]

Spot on, Doc. Manipulation therapies are great but generally don't address the underlying structural issues and their compensations. So pain returns. Hanna and Feldenkrais have great stuff about the mind/body connection. Hanna thinks that a lot of this stuff is less structural and more functional.

[Ponce]

I ignored my pain up to the point where I cannot walk or raise my arm..... to me taking any kind of medecine is worse than the pain itself.

[DrMartinRussell]

Originally Posted by Ponce

I ignored my pain up to the point where I cannot walk or raise my arm..... to me taking any kind of medecine is worse than the pain itself.

www.Egoscue.com as per Buddy's link - daily in the morning.

For a life re-change do his whole body sets, starting with Condition II.

Take medicine if you need to do the exercises, but do not push through pain. Or get 1-on-1 help to tailor it better.

Medicine is a tool. Bandaids are useful. Use medicine for what it is good for, and it is not good for long-term cure.

[hydra888]

Have you read about art of war? It's about suppressing your feelings.

Visit me if you want to learn about emotions and feelings.

[Ponce]

Yes Hydra "The Art Of War" and "The Richest Man In Babylon" are my two favorites books.

I learned a lot about life and the tricks of the trade with "The Art Of War" (military and life) and made a lot of money by following (and improving) "The Richest Man In Babylon"......the last one you should buy it and study it.