Learning to Accept Limits in Order to Live a Fuller Life
This last week has been a combination of fatigue from jetlag and reducing my medication again. I’ve had to get more sleep and rest more after appointments and work. I’ve had to work harder to prioritize rest and not over-schedule myself.
Continue reading “Prioritizing Rest and Self-Care While Traveling”
I spend a lot of my time lying down. One of the things I love about working from home is being able to work lying down. I also relax lying down. The existence of laptops means that I can literally work with my computer on my lap every day. Sitting or standing for too long triggers pain throughout my back. Often sitting and working at a desk makes my upper back (between my shoulders) scream and shout—I feel deep stabbing pain and long-drawn-out soreness. Standing too long triggers my lower back and makes it ache and ache.
Continue reading “Secondary Pain: Trying to Avoid Pain But Causing Other Pain”
I was talking to a new doctor the other day: explaining my surgical history. You see, I’ve had the same surgery twice. I first had reconstructive surgery when I was thirteen years old. My spine was an S-curve: both curves around 85-90 degrees. My right lung was collapsing and my heart was being squeezed. I had to have surgery to stay alive. I was and still am grateful to my surgeon.
I’ve spent a lot of time, energy, and money trying to buy health and wellness, especially this past year. In some ways I’m an easy sell—as are many people that suffer from a chronic condition—I want to believe that I’m just one purchase or undiscovered treatment away from better health.
In my quest for wellness and relief from chronic pain, I’ve decided to try acupuncture. I’m in a transition period from graduate school to working and decided to use some of my time to give it a real try. I’ve been really good in the past about letting fatigue and a lack of time stop me from trying this. I’m a believer in different medical systems and what they can offer, so I’m kind of disappointed that I haven’t tried it before.
Continue reading “My First Experience Experimenting with Acupuncture”
