Well, I have to wonder if maybe the rain has something to do with it (or maybe by not having taken any pills yet this day, which I've only just remembered), but there is an awful lot of pain right now. Good thing I can still take my pills (including morning pain meds), plus still have both doses of emergency meds I can take today. I also must admit I did not go to the gym. Did in fact get to gym but had forgotten clothes (perhaps a Freudian slip-of-the-mind?).
Anyway, the new PT seems very nice, but I'm starting to wonder if they haven't told her about the whole was in a car accident cause of this pain. She was focusing a lot on posture, which the last PT who didn't read my medical history did. I should probably ask her. Also, need to make sure that my insurance actually pays them. If not, I'm not going any more. Too expensive!
So, I will take my pain meds, and hopefully that will help. And eating. Tricky that.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
busy day, low pain- what can it mean?
Possibly it just means that I have taken a number of pain medications today. Including my emergency pills. I think I'm okay taking up to two a day, which is what I've taken, but I can't take any more. I suppose that's fine, on account of it somehow became tomorrow. Which means, I can take my pre-going-to-bed pills.
There will be a new PT for me tomorrow. Guess I'd better update more often, because things change quickly. I usually go to two different PTs in the same office per week. Well, one of them seems to have been fired. I can't be sure, on account of no one will talk about why she's suddenly gone (I know she hasn't died, but I think people would tell me if that was the case anyway), but I reckon the not talking thing is pretty indicative of a firing. I imagine it might have something to do with her talking about Jesus all the time at work and people in chronic pain being pretty irritated in him even if they happen to have been Christian in the first place. Anyway, it was always a bit awkward.
Me: The pain has been pretty hard to deal with lately.
PT: The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Me: .... o...kay...
So, I hope the new PT is good or at least nice. I've got to suck it up and make sure my insurance is paying tomorrow too. Ew. Plus, my other PT asked me to bring in all the exercise sheets they've given me in the past few months, and I've lost them. So I'm hoping he won't ever remember. Good plan.
I am (more or less) doing the exercises. I know them by now. So none of that.
Anyway, going to have a go at finishing High Fidelity (book not movie), then go to bed. 'Cause the pain seems to be seeping back, little bugger.
There will be a new PT for me tomorrow. Guess I'd better update more often, because things change quickly. I usually go to two different PTs in the same office per week. Well, one of them seems to have been fired. I can't be sure, on account of no one will talk about why she's suddenly gone (I know she hasn't died, but I think people would tell me if that was the case anyway), but I reckon the not talking thing is pretty indicative of a firing. I imagine it might have something to do with her talking about Jesus all the time at work and people in chronic pain being pretty irritated in him even if they happen to have been Christian in the first place. Anyway, it was always a bit awkward.
Me: The pain has been pretty hard to deal with lately.
PT: The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Me: .... o...kay...
So, I hope the new PT is good or at least nice. I've got to suck it up and make sure my insurance is paying tomorrow too. Ew. Plus, my other PT asked me to bring in all the exercise sheets they've given me in the past few months, and I've lost them. So I'm hoping he won't ever remember. Good plan.
I am (more or less) doing the exercises. I know them by now. So none of that.
Anyway, going to have a go at finishing High Fidelity (book not movie), then go to bed. 'Cause the pain seems to be seeping back, little bugger.
Friday, October 29, 2010
r+r= evil!?
So, I told my PT today how it has gotten so busy that I have had to plan ahead to get some mega-rest on Wednesday, and she was not happy. No, she wasn't unhappy because I can't rest 'til then, but basically displeased that sleeping extra is a method for pain relief for me at all.
She basically said that when the pain gets to a ten, I should work out.
Really? Honestly, maybe when she tweaked her back (the example she gave), doing pilates made it magically heal, but I work out all the time when it hurts around a "7-8" and, while it does feel better while doing it, I always ALWAYS hurt worse afterward. Well, maybe not worse, but in contrast to virtual livable pain relief during the work out, the flush of the high level pain back into my system is terrible.
I was just super irritated. Quite frankly, I'm sure my neck is made worse by not getting enough rest, and I think I deserve a day of rest now and again when I've had to put up with a week like this one. It probably won't help the pain, but it will help me psychologically. It wears me out putting up with this stuff (how cleverly I avoided cursing).
Plus, I am stressed out about the cost of pain relieving materials right now. I just spent another $50 at the pharmacy getting Tylenol PMs, hot and cold patches, Head On, and paying my co-pays for prescription pain stuffs. I want to wear hot and cold patches everyday, because they seem to help a little bit, but that would add up so quickly. Plus, the PT people want me to get a foam roller and some "bio freeze" gel (like Bengay- I tried some today, but I will not pass judgment 'til I get a full sample and try it out). Plus the books and ice packs and teas and all this crap.
If only working out was enough and I actually had the time to do it every day. ugh.
She basically said that when the pain gets to a ten, I should work out.
Really? Honestly, maybe when she tweaked her back (the example she gave), doing pilates made it magically heal, but I work out all the time when it hurts around a "7-8" and, while it does feel better while doing it, I always ALWAYS hurt worse afterward. Well, maybe not worse, but in contrast to virtual livable pain relief during the work out, the flush of the high level pain back into my system is terrible.
I was just super irritated. Quite frankly, I'm sure my neck is made worse by not getting enough rest, and I think I deserve a day of rest now and again when I've had to put up with a week like this one. It probably won't help the pain, but it will help me psychologically. It wears me out putting up with this stuff (how cleverly I avoided cursing).
Plus, I am stressed out about the cost of pain relieving materials right now. I just spent another $50 at the pharmacy getting Tylenol PMs, hot and cold patches, Head On, and paying my co-pays for prescription pain stuffs. I want to wear hot and cold patches everyday, because they seem to help a little bit, but that would add up so quickly. Plus, the PT people want me to get a foam roller and some "bio freeze" gel (like Bengay- I tried some today, but I will not pass judgment 'til I get a full sample and try it out). Plus the books and ice packs and teas and all this crap.
If only working out was enough and I actually had the time to do it every day. ugh.
pain sprawl
This current pain crisis has been going on forever. What I mean is, it has hurt something awful consistently all week. I pretty much feel like I'm going to throw up all the time.
I have PT tomorrow (joy <-- sarcasm). Maybe they will actually just let me sleep on their ice bed thing for an hour. I don't want to do the damn exercises when it hurts this badly. It has been at a consistent "8" (you know how I feel about quantifying pain, but they are going to ask, so I'd better prepare) since Monday. I had to leave work early on Monday. I'm seriously thinking about cancelling my meetings tomorrow.
You see, the second one is actually with the disability counselor, so she is pretty much more aware of this condition than anybody. But then, there are three others, and it was hard to coordinate, so I'd better show up. Plus, the first meeting is a big group too, and I'm trying to get our meeting the day after Veteran's Day cancelled (it should be anyway, right?).
If I cancel PT the day of, I am fined $50. So I'd better make it.
So I have to tough it out from basically 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then, I can go work out and come home and crash. That is literally the plan. Of course, then there are two birthday parties this weekend and a homework meeting thing.
Then we hit Monday, which will be crazy:
7a.m. PT appointment
9a.m.-3:30 work
3:30-4:30 post human migration group readings
4:30-5:30 human migration research group
5:45-6:45 work out
7:30-9:00 Japanese
The good news is that I'll actually have time to work out, plus the gap between PT and work means I can get a coffee. But still, I just want to find some time to sleep all day long. Tuesday will be even worse too:
9-3:30- work
3:30-5:30 colloquium
5:45-10 class
Notice how there is one fifteen minute break all day? Well, I guess I do have a lunch break- hurrah. Unless I have to go to the class I'm grading for. Fingers crossed! Plus, I can't miss class, because we are facilitating a session with the first years.
So, the big plan will be to go to my 7a.m. PT appointment on Wednesday, work out, and go home and sleep all day. So, just have to make it through the next five days.
Oh, and did I mention the pharmacy forgot to refill my anti-depressants? Awesome timing, guys.
I have PT tomorrow (joy <-- sarcasm). Maybe they will actually just let me sleep on their ice bed thing for an hour. I don't want to do the damn exercises when it hurts this badly. It has been at a consistent "8" (you know how I feel about quantifying pain, but they are going to ask, so I'd better prepare) since Monday. I had to leave work early on Monday. I'm seriously thinking about cancelling my meetings tomorrow.
You see, the second one is actually with the disability counselor, so she is pretty much more aware of this condition than anybody. But then, there are three others, and it was hard to coordinate, so I'd better show up. Plus, the first meeting is a big group too, and I'm trying to get our meeting the day after Veteran's Day cancelled (it should be anyway, right?).
If I cancel PT the day of, I am fined $50. So I'd better make it.
So I have to tough it out from basically 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then, I can go work out and come home and crash. That is literally the plan. Of course, then there are two birthday parties this weekend and a homework meeting thing.
Then we hit Monday, which will be crazy:
7a.m. PT appointment
9a.m.-3:30 work
3:30-4:30 post human migration group readings
4:30-5:30 human migration research group
5:45-6:45 work out
7:30-9:00 Japanese
The good news is that I'll actually have time to work out, plus the gap between PT and work means I can get a coffee. But still, I just want to find some time to sleep all day long. Tuesday will be even worse too:
9-3:30- work
3:30-5:30 colloquium
5:45-10 class
Notice how there is one fifteen minute break all day? Well, I guess I do have a lunch break- hurrah. Unless I have to go to the class I'm grading for. Fingers crossed! Plus, I can't miss class, because we are facilitating a session with the first years.
So, the big plan will be to go to my 7a.m. PT appointment on Wednesday, work out, and go home and sleep all day. So, just have to make it through the next five days.
Oh, and did I mention the pharmacy forgot to refill my anti-depressants? Awesome timing, guys.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
hot and cold patches- review
Well, they are certainly better than hot patches. Remember, those you-know-whats burned me. Literally. Yuck.
These puppies haven't burned me yet (and I've tried two generic brands), and they do feel nice. The trouble is, they do not like to stay on. But that is a problem with hot patches too, so I am still feeling an improvement here.
So, plusses:
These puppies haven't burned me yet (and I've tried two generic brands), and they do feel nice. The trouble is, they do not like to stay on. But that is a problem with hot patches too, so I am still feeling an improvement here.
So, plusses:
- Don't get too hot
- Feel kinda nice
- take with-able
- Don't stay on!
- Stink v.v
- Come in weird sizes
trigger point blues
I think I must have had a bad reaction to the trigger point injections. Bruising galore along my back and neck where I got them. Not sure what causes that in particular. Did she improperly do them, or maybe my pain areas were already weakened?
Anyway, I have had a bad pain week. Went home from work early on Monday. Yesterday was a nightmare! I toughed it out to go to a lecture, and I was in too much pain to care about what he said! It wasn't super my cup of tea anyway, but I usually like lectures.
Plus, a friend basically told me to come to her for a certain chiropractor's phone number when I "feel like getting rid of the pain." But I have a muscle condition, which I have said and said again yesterday, so chiropractry will not help (have asked all my drs-- who all agree). Plus, I don't have any time for it, and my insurance will only cover PT or chiro. And I've stuck with PT this long...
PTs were irritated because I wasn't working out much. But how can I work out to decrease pain when it hurts so bad? I did the bike today, but I might not be able to go time-wise tomorrow.
What a (wait for it) pain!
Anyway, I have had a bad pain week. Went home from work early on Monday. Yesterday was a nightmare! I toughed it out to go to a lecture, and I was in too much pain to care about what he said! It wasn't super my cup of tea anyway, but I usually like lectures.
Plus, a friend basically told me to come to her for a certain chiropractor's phone number when I "feel like getting rid of the pain." But I have a muscle condition, which I have said and said again yesterday, so chiropractry will not help (have asked all my drs-- who all agree). Plus, I don't have any time for it, and my insurance will only cover PT or chiro. And I've stuck with PT this long...
PTs were irritated because I wasn't working out much. But how can I work out to decrease pain when it hurts so bad? I did the bike today, but I might not be able to go time-wise tomorrow.
What a (wait for it) pain!
Monday, October 25, 2010
busy weekend= quarter's first pain crisis!
Wow, it all hasn't hurt this bad in a while. I'm sure there are many factors, such as getting trigger point injections Friday, studying for the GRE, taking the GRE, grading midterms, sitting at computer at work, and not working out for a few days.
Anyway, it is annoying, because I think I may have to miss the wonderful RDG Kelley speak at UW. I'm a huge fan of his work (as of today, but nonetheless), and am quite sad at the idea. But I think I won't be able to handle it.
I'm going to see if I can just lay on a bunch of ice pads tomorrow at PT. We did that for ten minutes before, and it helped for a bit. If I do it for the whole hour appointment, I think it will help even more. Though be amazingly unpleasant.
Speaking of unpleasant, trigger point injections. Oh my. My dr. felt confident that I may not need them at next month's appointment, but I really am not feeling it. Don't feel I could survive without them, despite their massive hurting.
Keep looking for pain retreats. Wouldn't that be nice? Ahhh... Though, I imagine they cannot really be retreats FROM pain so much as retreating BECAUSE of pain. As in hiding. Bother.
Anyway, it is annoying, because I think I may have to miss the wonderful RDG Kelley speak at UW. I'm a huge fan of his work (as of today, but nonetheless), and am quite sad at the idea. But I think I won't be able to handle it.
I'm going to see if I can just lay on a bunch of ice pads tomorrow at PT. We did that for ten minutes before, and it helped for a bit. If I do it for the whole hour appointment, I think it will help even more. Though be amazingly unpleasant.
Speaking of unpleasant, trigger point injections. Oh my. My dr. felt confident that I may not need them at next month's appointment, but I really am not feeling it. Don't feel I could survive without them, despite their massive hurting.
Keep looking for pain retreats. Wouldn't that be nice? Ahhh... Though, I imagine they cannot really be retreats FROM pain so much as retreating BECAUSE of pain. As in hiding. Bother.
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