ADLs and Chronic Pain
By emeraldisle
@emeraldisle (13139)
United States
March 13, 2007 9:17pm CST
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) many people take for granted. These are things that we do on a regular basis. I was curious to find out from fellow suffers of chronic pain if any ADLs aggravates your pain level. Does something in particular make your pain worse, are there things you avoid doing because of it? I know usually ADL's are things we cannot avoid so what do you do to help make it easier.
For myself something that really aggravates mine is washing my hair. I know something very simple but for me once I'm done my upper back and shoulders are in agony. I try to avoid it to be honest and wash my hair only when I really have to. I have long hair and although I like it long I'm seriously thinking of getting it all cut off because of this. It's just getting to be too painful to wash for me and I'm hoping with short hair it might be at least quicker and easier.
6 people like this
9 responses
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
14 Mar 07
I hate to hear about chronic pain. Do you suffer from fibromyalgia. My mother does. In my studies and research it has been suggested that some chronic pain such as fibro is like arthritis in the soft tissue.
I use a blend of therapuetic grade essential oils when I masssage her. We have also found a juice called Ningxia Red that seems to be helping alot. She has only been taking it for about 4 weeks.
I wish I could do more to help you. If I knew more maybe I could suggest something for you to try. Trigger point therapy may be an option for you as well. Painful but it also seems to have a lasting effect.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I haven't been diagnosed with Fibro yet but I have the feeling I do have it. I do like how you described it though as arthritis in the soft tissue. That really does describe it well. I was in a car accident several years ago and damaged all soft tissue as well as compressed my upper back while straightening my lower back.
I've never heard of Ningxia Red. Do you know what all is in it? I would love to have a massage or any type of therapy but no money or insurance so kind of cuts that out.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
14 Mar 07
My mom has fibromyalgia as well. I'll have to suggest that Ningxia Red to her.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
14 Mar 07
My husband has 2 slipped discs in his lower back where his spinal cord ends. He does that very phyiscal job that he has but that is pretty much it - on days he works. He tries to stay sitting or laying down the rest of the time. On his days off he tries to relax as much as possible too unless there is something that has to be done. Everything - even standing aggravetes his pain. They want to do some crazy back surgery that he refuses to do (at least right now).
I feel for you and everyone like you. My mom has problems holding her hands over her head as well. I've just started having the same problems she's having.
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
31 Mar 07
That is the is another reason he hasn't gone for it. Usually one leads to many more.
They haven't really offered him much of anything other than epidorals. But they didn't really offer him much solace after the first few days. He needs to find a new neurologist though.
1 person likes this
@sportsbiz (1)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Tell your husband to avoid surgery as long as he can physically stand it. I have had four back surgeries, the fourth being a two level lumbar fusion and once you start, you can't go back. Before surgery, multiple alternative therapies are possible and should be employed. He has my sympathies, as do you.
Rest, as well as walking, are oftentimes found to be as effective as surgery and I heartily recommend it.
2 people like this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Almost everything, honestly. Sitting up for more than a half hour or so at a time, getting dressed, tying shoes - I don't wear shoes I have to lace anymore, just ones I can slip on - doing laundry, tidying up the house... By the time I'm done, I'm exhausted and just need to lie down.
The hair thing was a pain for me, too. I did end up chopping all mine off so it only takes me a couple of minutes to wash thoroughly. And I use a bar shampoo rather than liquid, which makes it even easier.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I wear slip ons as well. Much easier normally and I can't wear heals anymore. I used to wear them all the time but now my hips won't take it. I think by the weekend I'm going to go really short. Just have to figure out the look :)
@SageMother (2277)
• United States
15 Mar 07
Washing my hair will get things really aggravated unless I have lots of meds onboard, which is most of the time these days.
The weather changes and I can't move around. I feel weak and I hurt all over. It might take me 3 hours to get to the point where I can type and focus.
Another thing that aggravates things is vacuuming or mopping. Sometimes I stop caring and just do what I need to but I pay for it for a couple of days afterward. I TOTALLY understand where you are coming from. People who don't have pain issues have no idea what it is like.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Mar 07
This looks like I could have written it. I know how the mopping and vaccuming is. I get that way too. I'll do a whole bunch all at once and then suffer afterwards. If I try to do it piece meal nothing seems to get done completly.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I have trigeminal neuralgia, while it does not affect my movement, the pain it causes (it has put me out cold) has made it difficult to do things - wash my face, brush my teeth, eat, drink, go grocery shopping, have a cool breeze hit my face or a cold wind or even a warm breeze can set it off.
Sleeping and turnin over to have the pillow case touch my face can cause pain, as can a hair touching my face.
I should say this is only on the left side of my face.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Mar 07
Well I admit I had no clue what trigeminal neuralgia was so I looked it up. I feel for you. I don't know how you deal with such pain on a daily basis. More power to you for doing so. I can imagine how miserable this is and I wish no one had to go through that pain.
@psychomom (42)
• United States
15 Mar 07
People take simple things for granted. Things like washing your hair,taking a shower, sweeping/mopping floors. Even getting a meal ready can be difficult when you live with chronic pain or a debillitating illness. I have multiple medical problems from herniated disks in the low back.,diabetes have had a heart attack and stroke, carotid (surgery both sides) and even CHF. Now to top it off, I have to have O2 24 hours a day. Simple things aren't to simple any more.I think it's walking that I miss the most. I used to walk the dog, walk with my daughter. Amusement parks are out. There are times that I am so angry at the pain that all I can do is cry. I understand that life happens and that God (if she is there) has a sense of humor,but did it have to happen all at once?
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Mar 07
When it rains it pours and I swear that sometimes it is hailing on us. I wish things didn't always happen at once but it never seems to work out that way.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
31 Mar 07
I have ms and I do get a lot of nerve pain in my left shoulder. I have to be careful not to over do it sometimes. I also have arthrits.
@APMorison (424)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I used to be able to sit on my braided hair - then the creaky joints got to me - now I'm 'short'n'sassy'. Quicker to wash, but needs it more often (can't hide it in a braid any more - sigh)
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Now that is long hair. Mine isn't that long. It used to be down to the middle of my back but I had gotten some of it taken off to where it's about 3 inches past my shoulders. I know what you mean about hiding it though. I will put mine up in a pony tail to help delay washing but it's just getting too much trouble.
@raydene (9871)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Hi
I also hurt when I shampoo
I find I hurt sweeping,doing dishes(standing),taking laundry from the dryer,And I gave up shoveling snow a couple of years ago.
I have found that the things I can do I do more of to make up for my short comings.
R
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Doing the balance of well I can't do this but I can do this, I know how that goes. Folding laudry kills my shoulders. Very miserable actually. I try to avoid it when possible but laundry doesn't do itself :(
