What Distracts You From the Pain?

Lyrica. 🙂 Being on the computer or cellphone is good distraction as long as you got proper ergonomics and take breaks. Screen time is frowned upon by many people, but the distraction if more powerful than say a book. I really love books, but find that pain wins at least half the time when trying to focus on reading material. With screens, I generally pay more attention.

Performing -- acting or singing completely hides the pain. Spending time with family and sitting in my stressless Ekornes chair with my feet up and watching a good tv mystery.

I keep busy! I enjoy Face Book. I live in a rural area of NC and it is 4 hours from my immediate family. I play Word Play, Solitaire, build puzzles, volunteer and deliver meals on wheels, and help my neighbors. I have 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and I love to video chat with my family. I cook my meals early in the day most of the time and reheat them in the evening because I hurt more as the day goes on. And I walk 3 miles most days. Doctors always told me to keep moving.

You definitely have more energy than I do ! My wife still works so I usually do the typical clean up to make her day or night ( she works a screwed up schedule. Then take the dog for a walk. Then I work on my music which is a passion to me. This week I’ve weeded all the gardens, laid mulch, trimmed bushes etc…etc… yes I’m paying for it now. But regardless I will NOT let the pain run my life. As well, I’m old school where I will never become a burden to my wife. She comes home to a clean house/yard and normally a nutritional meal…..David

You sound like you have lots of energy! My husband and I owned our own business for about 30 years and the guys called me the energizer bunny. They even bought me a T-shirt with that on it. I raised 5 children and then after I retired I did day care for several people for 10 years. I also pay for my energy. I do a lot on days when I feel better, then pay for it the next day. My pain started in my early 30s and so I think I just got used to living with it. When it gets really bad I do have to sit down and rest for a while. But I'm like you, I just keep moving forward the best I can.

I find that praying for others gets my mind off my pain. Being a blessing to someone without telling anyone else blesses my heart and gets my mind on them and off my pain. My family laughs a lot and that helps me tremendously. Soaking in epsom salt with a candle and just relaxing. Heat packs and voltaren gel help me to relax. A massage. I also sit down and write cards out to others that are much sicker than me. Texting someone that is sick and let them know that i love them. Calling my closest friend and unloading...........or calling a close friend and letting them unload gets my mind off me. Pain consumes your thoughts and turns you inward no doubt. I have to fight it. Thank you for your post. God Bless!

It’s been 9 years since my ACDF of C-5 - C-7 unsuccessful I might add and the pain was worse following surgery. The best way for me is to stay busy and not think about the pain. I use the analogy that if you see a mosquito bite your arm causing an itching welt, then you WILL scratch at it. If you don’t see the mosquito bite you, you probably wouldn’t even notice it. I read the Bible, or pick up a guitar just keeping my mind busy. Yes at times I have break through pain especially after overdoing something and those days I just take it easier. Hang in there as better days are ahead of you….David

This is a great support team! Thanks to all the positive responses!

This group is excellent. Thank you for adding me. I think the common denominator from you folks is to not let the pain consume you. And giving back to others always helps us. I enjoy reading fiction and self-help books as well as Bible study. I watch too much TV but hey, a person in pain has to cope in their own way. I have had chronic back pain since a car accident when I was 18. I am 58 now. I was diagnosed with Fibro 23 years ago. I am on Lyrica, Cymbalta, Nortriptyline, Tizanadine, Skelaxin. I would not survive withour these meds. I also take vitamins and supplements to help my body function. I use Lidocaine cream and Salon Pas patches. I listen to contemporary Christian music all day. God cured me of Alcoholism and illicit drug use almost 16 years ago. I just quit! Never any rehab. I hate the taste of alcohol, even a glass of wine or a beer. I am grateful every day for this. I have an Ebay business selling women's clothing, skincare, pottery, small art. So I go out on finding missions every few weeks, to nice thrift stores. That is fun for me. Take care of yourselves!

Yes, I think you found the common denominator. #1 We all could sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. ( yes I sat around and drank beer all day for a year ) and the only thing I gained was about 20#. One day I said to hell with that kind of life. I got into my routine and will never look back. Congratulations on quitting the drugs and alcohol! That by itself was a hurdle….David