How do you cope with multiple chronic problems?

I appreciate your suggestions. I have heard the Mediterranean diet mentioned several times by different people, so I am definitely looking into that. I have a hard time with medication, the side effects are killer for me, always on the "baby" dose of everything I do take! So I only take those I have to have, basically blood pressure meds and prn meds for migraines.
Thanks for replying 🙂

@sunkist27 Oh, I know that story. The only thing is that I have so many other things going bad that all I can do is feel the pain everywhere. oldkarl

I walk daily, exercise and pray a lot. Also I take Tylenol for Arthritis three times a day(the daily maximum). Also if really hurting, I take Roboxin(methacarbamol) prescibed for me by my Rhuematologist. Take the edge off the pain.

Do things you like; change hobbies from running to walking! Find things that make you happy, not for someone else! My pain level stays high; however I still find ways to volunteer, do hobbies, and visit with friends without complaining about my pain.

I loved this statement: "My pain level stays high; however I still find ways to volunteer, do hobbies, and visit with friends without complaining about my pain."

Here is a little anecdote about how well it can work. Last week, we made side trips on our journey between Texas and Minnesota. First we visited a cousin who is old enough that her kids are in AARP. She recently lost her husband, still lives in her own beautiful home, is recovering from surgery, but still insisted we stay with her. We talked into the night about her husband's death & final illness, of course, but then ranged on to family, hobbies, travel - just a lovely visit. The next morning, we found it almost impossible to leave. She still has 3 distinct groups with whom she socializes regularly, in addition to her family. The only negative was her announcement that we will need to visit her in future, as she will no longer be making the drive, by herself, the 1200 miles to see us! We left feeling uplifted.

We then proceeded to an open house at an art & craft gallery in a small city in Nebraska. The honoree was a dear friend and our winter next door neighbor who decided that she would try something new this summer - she is displaying her paintings and teaching at the gallery - a lifelong dream. She is living in her travel trailer at the local campground. B... studied art in college, then lived the life of a wife, mom, farmer and greenhouse owner. She returned to her painterly roots after her husband died suddenly 10 years ago. She has studied hard, taught, and helped run a local art league and gallery near our winter home in Texas.

At the open house, along with B's extended family (aged 14 to 80+) were a number of local artists nearer our age. The older group "took over" a large table in the front of the gallery to chat, and my husband and I joined them. I expected to leave quickly, when the conversation turned to aches and pains. Wow, was I wrong! Each talked about his or her artistic interests, then local revitalization of the town, national politics, personal stories...

At the end of the evening, as we were helping close up, B told us most of those we visited with had serious medical problems, which they "treat" by being immersed in life. And the gallery owner lives with serious chronic pain & heart issues. (Our friend & my husband do as well.) Yet health issues and pain never came up! What a blessing.

On the way home, we talked about how uplifting the trip had been. We even made a side trip on the way home that in the past we would have passed up, saying "Maybe next time." For the first time in several trips, we arrived home energized by our travel instead of drained. We even unpacked and put nearly everything away instead of stepping around it for several days!

Over the past 2 years, I went through pain management therapy for multiple issues. I got off the couch and returned (ever so slowly) to regular, but modified, exercise and to my hobbies.
I still live with pain, some days are just awful, but overall I can say that, for me, attitude is everything.

I understand that not everyone can have the same experience, but here is a challenge for this week. Turn off the TV or radio, step away from the internet and find something - art, music, a hobby, a book - for even a few minutes a day - to forget about your pain & truly enjoy life. You may be amazed at how powerful the mind can be!

If you try this, let us know how it works for you/
.
Sue

@nac1 Good for you Nancy, walking every day and exercising. 😊 Keep up the good work!

My pain is constant and increases from physical activity. I cannot however stay still and just wither away and die. I do things and then suffer the pain and then do things and then suffer the pain. Part of my problem is that I never know how much of what is going to cause how much pain. Sometimes it seems I do more and expect alot of pain and the pain results are less than expected. Other times I think well did that and the resulting pain was this. So, this activity seems a lot less so the pain will be tolerable. Not always the case. In fact, sometimes I am not even sure what I did, and I find the pain increases. "Dammed if I do Dammed if I don't" as the saying goes. What I miss is any real substantial method or medicine for relief for when the pain is horrible and debilitating to the point of making life miserable. Unfortunately, due to the "Opioid epidemic". And the reclassification of hydrocodone to equal heroin, which subsequently has proven to resolve nothing. There seems to be no substantial relief for those of us who are in the 10% of drug abusers/ addicts' who continue to find a way to kill themselves. So, I suffer and cry and feel like a burden and fight off depression. Somehow that's just the way it is. Acceptance I understand is the last phase before death. Take that to the bank. Oh, yea most of are barely scraping by now that we can barely move due to the pain. Keeping it real.

@gcranor Congratulations on having such a positive outlook, and volunteering! I love that you say, "you find ways" to volunteer. That tells me it may not be easy, but you use moderation and modification to have your best outcome. Distraction is such a powerful tool. Don't you find it rewarding to help out?

And I have to touch on the fact that you also said, "without complaining about pain". That's a HUGE step in the right direction. Check the pain talk and pain behaviors at the door and free yourself to live a more deserving life. Kudos to you!

A wise man once told me:
"Identify self as human with interests and values,
not plagued by health issues."

Thanks for sharing how you cope with multiple chronic problems. You've motivated me today!

@betterway I hear your struggle and have lived your struggle. Are you working with a psychologist or behavioral therapist who can help you work through your emotions?

When I had no clue how to use my body because everything I did caused me pain, I needed to start from the bottom up with a gentle rebuild by using graded exposure to physical exercise. That meant regular movement with gentle reps daily then increase by one rep each day thereafter. It may hurt but if your issues are chronic and not acute, you must keep your muscles and joints moving or you will decondition and that's no good for anyone. Are you interested in graded exposure to getting your body moving?

I see a pain specialist, a massage therapist, an acupuncturist, do physical therapy have all the home remedies and devices. And still, it hurts. Not an ingrate, just really living it. If you are not suffering physically and subsequently suffering mentally, emotionally and economically I have trouble believing you get it. I'm not saying I wish this on anybody. The down and dirty of it is life quality. I want to have more of it and don't. I'm left being the guy who tells everybody have a good time see you later. Have skills that I can barely use.
Trying and Trying and Trying to not let life pass me by.