March 6, 2011
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Living with Pain
Recently - well not really recently - I have been forcefully reminded of the impact of pain on the quality of life.
When I had my knees replaced, I thought I could scale back the rather serious pain medicine (Indomethecin) I have been using for some years. A few days with Naproxin (Advil - but stronger) disabused me. It seems my arthritis wasn't just confined to my knees but is everyplace. My left shoulder, for example, has been completely destroyed by it - at least according to the Orthopedic surgeon, in addition to hands, elbows, back, feet, I guess all 200+ bones.
I had little pain with the operations but it was explained that my threshold was so high that what would really hurt most people, I felt as "discomfort".
The point of all this self-pity is to comment on living with physical pain and learning to do what you can and not cry over what you no longer can. I think many of us allow disability to overcome our sense of adventure and cause us to give up all thought of doing anything that may be a failure. My wife and I (she's in a wheelchair and almost blind) have somehow manage to keep pretty active, and are looking forward to the four-day drive to Maine in June. We are certainly not house-bound but do regret not being able to hike.
We enjoy eating out, sightseeing, picnicking, and travel. Now if I could just figure out how to get us into a sailboat.....
Comments (3)
I'll say a prayer and keep my fingers crossed that you'll figure out how to get into that sailboat! Annie
Thanks for the good thoughts Annie.
One thing I have found that we can do is keep up with the world - much easier in this age of the internet and 300+ cable TV channels.
It does seem to me that the ease of access to the "world Village"has made us less liable to access the neighbor next door - or sometimes our own family. This has made the loneliness found in large, cold, urban areas common even in what used to be friendly and open small towns.
I wouldn't say that you are indulging in self-pity, not at all. Just realistically stating your life. Your attitude is great! Not letting the difficulties stop you.