Crocheting The Way Out of Chronic Pain

[zeropixie]

WM managers are totally evil jerks! and the girls I had to work with were more evil than WM management is.

 

Been there done that. Working at WM caused my mom to miscarry while working :eek and nearly did the same to me. I avoid the potpourri and candle aisles. I make my own potpourri

 

1Tablespoon ground cinnamon or 3 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups water

 

Put everything in a pot and let it simmer for a couple hours until it is reduced by half. Add 2 cups water and again let it simmer until reduced by half. Remove the cinnamon sticks and allow to cool then store in a glass jar. When needed just remove one cup of potpourri add to a pot with 2 cups of water and heat over low heat until your happy with the way your house smells. Add more water if it is to strong for you.

[ashleighraew]

Oh, my other favorite aisle is the cleaning aisle at Smith's! All those wonderful cleaners, bleaches, room deoderizers! ACK!

 

But, onto better news,

 

Get ready!

 

I FINISHED MY FIRST AFGHAN!!!!!!!!!

 

Picture will be posted shortly in my blog!

 

YAY!!!

[ErinLindsey]

Oh, my other favorite aisle is the cleaning aisle at Smith's! All those wonderful cleaners, bleaches, room deoderizers! ACK!

 

But, onto better news,

 

Get ready!

 

I FINISHED MY FIRST AFGHAN!!!!!!!!!

 

Picture will be posted shortly in my blog!

 

YAY!!!

 

I cant walk down the chemical (cleaning products) aisles in stores. I can barely make it down the next aisle if the smells from the chemicals are strong enough to waft over into the next aisle.

 

When I worked at WM and people would ask me where stuff is, I had to escort them right to it. It was hard to walk down the chemical aisle without breathing and then have to continue to answer the customer's questions.

[anita47]

I have once again come to late in this thread.

I don't have any of the horribly painful diseases discussed earlier. I do have Systemic Lupus and have been coping with the on again off again illness for years. One thing that never leaves is the Arthritis pain. I was diagnosed at the ripe old of 14 with my Arthritis and have taken almost all the drugs mentioned. Unfortunately, I always have to stop and change because of the Lupus. Something always goes wrong. Some drug reaction somewhere. So when they said Vicodins, I said no thanks. My father, in his wisdom, bought me a book on herbal remedies. I swear by it! It's not for everyone but I swear by! Ask me about the gin soaked raisins! Works great on Arthritis pain. If it gets to bad, there is always kava or valerian tea that I drink.

I had to actually stop crocheting when my lupus raged out of control for 3 long years. It was a nightmare. Pills to sleep, pills to get through the day, walking with a cane, hair loss, ulcer sores on the legs. You name it, I had it! And the steriods made me gain that always attractive weight. But I took a good turn and here I am today. Crocheting away to keep my sanity! It is must do on a daily basis. I refuse to allow my illness to define what I can and cannot do.

 

Hang in there!

Anita

[ashleighraew]

anita47, the ulcer like sores you're talking about hugely suck! I get them all over my arms and legs during the summer time if I get any amount of sunlight.

The best thing I can suggest for them is hydrocortisone cream, and don't touch them! No picking, no scratching! Just put lots of anti itch creams on them and they won't scar.

Well, there's my two cents for the day.

And here's a way for everybody to keep a healthy level of insanity:

If a fair amount of people in your house drink coffee, switch what's in the pot to decaf for 3 weeks. After everyone has gotten over their caffeine addiction, switch to espresso.

[newthingcrochet]

I just found this thread and had to put my 2 cents in. I too have been diagnosed with fybromialgia, but I'm not sure I believe in it any more! Now before you get all crazy on me, let me explain. I believe that a lot of us have something wrong with us, maybe many different things with similar symptoms, and they don't know what it is so they call it "fybromialgia." Which basically means "You've got a lot of weird symptoms and I don't know what to do about it." Basically I believe that all of the immuno deficiency diseases are caused by poor nutrition. And believe me, if you live in a developed country you are not eating properly. I have been through what you all are talking about, Dr.'s who thought I was a hypochondriac, then dr.'s who thought I must have something really dreadful, then dr's who could only offer me antidepressants that made me a little wacky. I couldn't sleep, my feet hurt so bad in the morning I could hardly walk, I was achy all over and so exhausted I just wanted to lay in bed all day. And I don't think I was as bad as some people! I'm still not back to normal but I have come a long way just by dealing with it through nutritional therapy. And I don't mean taking a lot of supplements although I believe some of those can be helpful, but I just don't have the money. I just mean eating right. I cook everything from scratch, avoid MSG like the plague. I have gone off gluten and chocolate to help with migraines. I try very hard to eat lots of "live foods" to help with enzymes and good bacteria. I also try very hard to get enough of the good fat that my body needs. I wan't you all to know that I know what you are going through and there is help out there besides drugs.

 

The Weston A. Price foundation is a good place to start when researching proper nutrition. http://www.westonaprice.org/ Let me know if you are interested and need any more info or tips.

[arkansasgrits]

add me to the list of fibromyalgia "survivors", (i refuse to be labeled a "victim"), i had a car accident, too, and have a spinal cord stimulater implant, (like a tens unit, just implanted under skin), tried tons of medications, but crocheting seems to help when it gets bad, it's just a calming presence for me. take care all! carolyn:hug

[arkansasgrits]

add me to the list of fibromyalgia "survivors", (i refuse to be labeled a "victim"), i had a car accident, too, and have a spinal cord stimulater implant, (like a tens unit, just implanted under skin), tried tons of medications, but crocheting seems to help when it gets bad, it's just a calming presence for me. take care all! carolyn:hug

[EllieBeth]

"That was my first obvious symptom of MS." -- EricLindsey wrote...

 

ErinLindsey, you're not alone in dealing with idiot medical personnel. I have MS, and so did my grandma....in the 1940s, my grandma woke up one day with one side entirely paralyzed. An outstandingly stupid doctor said that her paralysis was an emotional breakdown!! :eek It was 20 more years before someone diagnosed her. It took me 8 years to get a diagnosis, and sometimes my neurologist still calls it "probable MS", although the diagnosis sheet says plain ole' MS

 

If my grandma had been a man, the doctors would have taken her seriously, I'm convinced... unfortunately my experience is that doctors, even female doctors, are still too quick to discount women's medical concerns.

[rainbowridergrma]

Accidently came across this thread. Glad I did. Was diagnosed with fibro 8 years ago. Have learned since that a very traumatic occurence usually sends you into the full-blown symptoms. Several people I know had car wrecks. Mine was having to put our Mother into a nursing home and get rid of her thinks as though she were dead. Just killed me. Anyway, was started on Amitriptylin. You do have to increase the dosage over time, but the relief is worth it. There are some wonderful sites that explain to and support those with fibro. One that really helped me in the beginning was FibroHugs. My sister, niece, cousin, mother all have it. I do believe the tendency is hereditary. Also, I was told by one doctor that it was like all your senses were tuned up full volume. Sounds aren't just loud, they are painful, lights are painful. And the change in air pressure is definitely painful. I do know that for me adrenalin causes severe symptoms. So that stress is doubly bad. I would be interested in knowing others methods of coping. Here's a few that I have learned.

Don't clean the whole house, or mow the whole yard. Do it in portions. I did that before I knew I had fibro. I knew that if I did things all at once, I would suffer.

Heating pad-life saver! If I am hurting in a specific area, I put it on. Some nights I move it around from spot to spot, but that is okay-it works.

Put cortisone 10 on the spots that have the flashing needle pains. It does not go away, but eases them. I asked my doctor if this was alright. She said there is not enough drug in them to hurt and if it helps, use it.

And crocheting seems to help the hands. But I truly believe that crocheting makes my fingernails grow faster-LOL.

 

Glenda

[renwiss]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=43980

 

I came across this article today and it made me think of you and this thread. I hope maybe it will help a little.

[Misa]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=43980

 

I came across this article today and it made me think of you and this thread. I hope maybe it will help a little.

 

Very interesting article I wholeheartedly agree with the soothing power of music

[blackpurl]

I was diagnosed by my doctor after my brother died in 1999. I have been relatively healthy most of the time. Twice I have been trapped in bed after a flare up. I am doing very well now. I crochet to relax and since Fibromyalgia has ties to stress I think it has helped me tremendously!

[ErinLindsey]

"That was my first obvious symptom of MS." -- ErinLindsey wrote...

 

ErinLindsey, you're not alone in dealing with idiot medical personnel. I have MS, and so did my grandma....in the 1940s, my grandma woke up one day with one side entirely paralyzed. An outstandingly stupid doctor said that her paralysis was an emotional breakdown!! :eek It was 20 more years before someone diagnosed her. It took me 8 years to get a diagnosis, and sometimes my neurologist still calls it "probable MS", although the diagnosis sheet says plain ole' MS

 

If my grandma had been a man, the doctors would have taken her seriously, I'm convinced... unfortunately my experience is that doctors, even female doctors, are still too quick to discount women's medical concerns.

 

It took her twenty years and you eight years to get diagnosed? OMG! I feel bad that it took me about 4 months from the time I got optic neuritis till the doctors finally did an MRI of my spine (the lesions were hiding in my spine, not in my head) The ON hit me in late August of last year, and the neuro diagnosed me in early January of this year. The leg numbness that that female PA said was a sprain (and I think she just said that because she didnt believe me about the numbness anyways) started in late April of last year.

 

I'm asking for a second opinion about the MS. It's not that I dont believe them. I'm 99.99999% sure that I have MS, but I'm a teeny bit suspicious that it could be Lyme disease. I had THREE tick bites in late 1999. (my dog collected them for fun) and then I had a erythematous rash in late 99 and early 2000. I think it was after that that a lot of my problems started. Also had another tick bite in the early 1980s when I was in the Camp Fire Girls and we went to camp.

 

So, I want them to re-test me for Lyme...and I want them to use a different test. They used the ELISA test (checks the titers for Lyme) and from everything I've been reading about Lyme, that's not an accurate test at all. Apparently you have to have the Western Blot for Lyme test...and there's only two laboratories in the country that have any real success in finding the Lyme bacteria on the Western Blot. So I called one of them and asked for them to send me a test kit. The kit is free, but I have to find a doctor that will do the blood draw, and I also have to pay for the laboratory out of pocket (around $200) to test my blood. I have just enough suspicion about Lyme that I'm going to do it. I just have to find a doctor to do the blood draw, my regular doctor's nurse was rude to me last week when I tried to ask questions about it, so I'm going to see if I can find some other place that will do it for me.

 

Lyme disease is called the Great Imitator, since it's almost indistinguishable from MS if you're looking at the symptoms alone. I dont expect to get a positive result of Lyme from this test, but I still want to make sure, since Lyme can be treated, even after it starts to affect your central nervous system. (it also affects the heart sometimes too, and I've been having weird heart palpitations for a few years now)

 

No matter what it is that's making me all numb and tingly, at least for the past few weeks, things have been pretty good for me. My eye is starting to improve, the numbness isnt bugging me as much...I've either gotten used to the numbness and can ignore it more, or the numbness has gotten better.

 

I just wish my arms would quit falling asleep when I'm asleep. I wake up several times a night to shake my hands awake.

 

I go to the MS Clinic here in town next week...as long as they dont cancel on me again. They've cancelled me three times now. (good thing I'm not dying of a brain tumor or something, I'd die before seeing the doctor) I would like to get on a treatment of some sort soon, while I still have some myelin left to hopefully save.

 

Are you on a treatment? and if you are, which one? I've been looking at copaxone...and I've also looked at one that's experimental (and not being tested in my area) The experimental one is Estriol. It's a female hormone. I'm not sure exactly what it does, but since women seem to have improvement in their MS when they get pregnant, I'm guessing that Estriol does something to try to trick your body that your pregnant or something. At least that's what I'm guessing it does. It at least sounds intriguing.

[newthingcrochet]

It's so sad to hear about all of our experiences with medical personel. I personally am very wary of Dr's now because of my experiences before being diagnosed with Fibro and with other things that have happened with my kids. I think they need to listen to people more instead of assuming they know everything. I have found that to get proper care I have to do a lot of the research myself like mentioned in the previous post about the Lyme's disease test. You just can't assume that your Dr. knows everything which is fine since they are only people but they do need to admit that and listen to you once in a while. That said, I have found a few dr's that do listen so there is hope out there!

[ErinLindsey]

It's so sad to hear about all of our experiences with medical personel. I personally am very wary of Dr's now because of my experiences before being diagnosed with Fibro and with other things that have happened with my kids. I think they need to listen to people more instead of assuming they know everything. I have found that to get proper care I have to do a lot of the research myself like mentioned in the previous post about the Lyme's disease test. You just can't assume that your Dr. knows everything which is fine since they are only people but they do need to admit that and listen to you once in a while. That said, I have found a few dr's that do listen so there is hope out there!

 

I'd been misdiagnosed for things before...by that same Physician's Assistant who thought that my numb legs last year were from a sprain.

 

That same PA, back in 1996, misdiagnosed me with a sinus infection when what I really had was Mononucleosis...she gave me antibiotics for the "sinus infection" and when I went home that night and took the antibiotic, I ended getting a near anaphylactic allergic reaction from the penicillin based antiobiotic. (this happens when mono patients are given penicillin based antibiotics. Not sure why antibiotics do that when you have mono) Because of that, I'm now considered to be allergic to penicillin based antibiotics. (havent gone to an allergist to get it confirmed, but if you have one reaction, they usually will say you're allergic)

 

I hate that PA now. There've been times when I've called my doctor's office for a problem, and they'll tell me the PA is the only one available that day, I'll turn down seeing her and wait a day or two to see a real doctor.

 

I took my mom to my doctor's office earlier this year for a severe sore throat. They only had the PA that day, and since it was a friday and we didnt want to wait, I took my mom to see that PA. The PA was asking how I was doing (the last time I'd seen her was for the numbness in my legs) and so I was kind of snotty and told her I'd been diagnosed with MS...and then told her that I wish she'd taken me seriously when I saw her for the numb legs...and then told her that her suggestion of putting heat on my back was a BAD suggestion. Heat makes MS symptoms worse. She got all nervous. I think she probably thinks that I'm going to file a malpractice lawsuit against her.

 

It's probably because of that PA that I now record any and all of my doctor's appointments that I can. (I have an MP3 player that has a record function...it can record up to 4hrs of audio) I'm probably breaking a law by not telling the doctors and nurses that I'm recording them, but it helps me by going back and listening to what was said when they give me specific instructions on what to do.

[losingmymind2]

Actually, in most cases; as long as one party (you) knows the converstation is being recorded it's ok; but you may want to check with a lawyer. You're simply recording the conversation to keep track of exactly what is said by the physician, what medications are prescribed in what dose, and what other instructions are given, correct?

[ErinLindsey]

Actually, in most cases; as long as one party (you) knows the converstation is being recorded it's ok; but you may want to check with a lawyer. You're simply recording the conversation to keep track of exactly what is said by the physician, what medications are prescribed in what dose, and what other instructions are given, correct?

 

Yes, it's just so that I can remember what the doctor(s) said to me. A lot of times when I go to see a doctor, I'm so stressed out that I forget to ask them important questions, and I'll forget what they tell me to do. (never used to be that way...wonder if the MS trolls are responsible for that?)

 

I have to remember to plug my MP3 player/recorder in this weekend. I go to the MS Clinic next week for the very first time...this would be as long as they dont cancel on me again (which would be the fourth time) I could have seen the MS Clinic doctors in April if they wouldnt keep cancelling my appointments.

[TerriFaeries]

Hi - saw this thread and HAD to jump in (carefully) ... started in the beginning & was surprised that it has gone on for 15 pgs. Will read over them when I can (making notes of meds that help), but want to join the "club" of crocheting our way thru the pain.

I am so glad that some of these diseases are finally being openly discussed. It does help to have people to connect with and share - and what a blessing that we have all found a way to cope.

I have fibro, R.A. and plantar facitis (sp?)- took more time getting a diagnosis for R.A. due to my primary doctor. Anyway, am sure I'm re-telling someone's story, but feel encouraged that there's some mutual support here.

Am just picking up my hook after a severe flair and am currently looking for "ONE" project to get started on.

Thanks to "the Ville" and you folks [rejoined after my 'puter died & am back online & a member once again] - I'll soon have some F.O.s to share - am afraid this is all I can offer today:

:bheart

 

Crochet hugs all around

 

P.S. PM is fine

[trin]

I'm new here, I have Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and "R.A.", I've had to go on disability as I can't work enough hours in a week to make a living at anything. I think I've been in pain my whole life. I do get great relief and enjoyment out of the few hours a week I can put into my craft work, and my craftwork is providing a supplemental income, at least my hobby is supporting itself at this point. (yeaaaahhh!) I love ETSY.

 

There are also some lovely support and information groups on-line including: http://www.fibrohugs.com

[Buttercup]

I'm so glad you shared your story. There are so many out there. I have

trouble sleeping and so many problems to deal with all the time. Crocheting

has been my therapy and I have a lot more to show for it than actually

sitting with a therapist for 50 min. Whenever my husband says anything about the amount of yarn I have, I remind him that he would pay a great deal More for a Therapist!! Besides I found a solution to him seeing my

yarn. He is on third shift so I keep the yarn I buy in the trunk of my car

and take it out and put it up the attic after he goes to bed around 6PM!!!!

[Elle]

I'm new here, I have Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and "R.A.", I've had to go on disability as I can't work enough hours in a week to make a living at anything. I think I've been in pain my whole life. I do get great relief and enjoyment out of the few hours a week I can put into my craft work, and my craftwork is providing a supplemental income, at least my hobby is supporting itself at this point. (yeaaaahhh!) I love ETSY.

 

There are also some lovely support and information groups on-line including: http://www.fibrohugs.com

 

Welcome, Trin! It's so good to see you here!

You're going to love the 'Ville! I'm so sorry to learn that you, too, are a chronic pain sufferer. When I joined, I was both saddened and relieved to see that so many share the burden of going through life with chronic pain. It's a blessing that we can all help each other work through it, and a more talented group of people all stacked into one site you'd be hard pressed to find! Some nights I end up spending so much time drooling over everyone's latest creations that by the time I drag myself away from the computer, it's too late and I'm too tired to crochet!

 

Elle

[ashleighraew]

Oh my gosh, since the last time I was able to check this, this board has absolutely exploded!

 

Just a few updates from me. Since the last time I posted here, Comcast decided to get nasty and for no particular reason shut our cable off, so there went our internet. And, at the same time, I got a very nasty stomach flu that put me out of work for two weeks, and almost got me fired. Fortunately, I was able to recover and get back to work. However, that took a big chunk out of my income. As a result of the stress of losing about half of my month's wages, I got extremely stressed out and actually threw myself into an extremely vicious cycle. I hardly slept for about a week, and as a result, was in lots of pain when I woke up from my late-at-night cat naps. I'd crawl myself to work, and be in so much pain and so distracted, I would inevitably screw up on something. I had explained to my boss when I was first hired on as an Inbound agent what my limitations were, and had also given him and the owner of the company a copy of a brief narrative on Fibromyalgia. That didn't seem to matter to my boss. I got written up, shaved down, everything for about two weeks. Finally, I cracked. I took a five day weekend and relaxed, trying to sleep and pull my head together.

 

I got back into work about four weeks ago and was going insane. Everything I did, I got screamed at for, even though I KNEW I was doing it right. So, payday came. I knew I was going to have a decent enough sized paycheck to float until I could find a new job. Now, I kinda feel bad for doing this, but I WALKED OUT!!!!! No "Hey sorry, I can't put up with you making my life miserable because you don't want to keep a disabled employee" No "I'll tell you where you can stick that pink slip" No nothing. Just walked out. I was done!

 

I got to sleep in for an entire week, and found a new, fantastic job with a company I worked for about a year and a half ago. I'm happy, have been there for two weeks now, and look forward to another 54 weeks (there is 56 weeks in a year, right?) and 56 weeks beyond that of working for these guys. I have discovered, I look great in professional dress! Takes the edge off of it all.

 

My crocheting is coming along slowly but surely. I've actually started on a shopping bag to put my yarn in! I love the patterns on the labels of yarns. I also have found a special someone who is willing to put up with me dragging him through the craft store trying to find the yarn aisle. As a matter of fact, he sews, so he just wanders off to look at bolts of fabric. Sweet, sweet man. He paid for about $30 worth of yarn because I couldn't decide what colors to buy!

[specialK]

OMG

I just found this thread and let me tell you...I haven't even read through it yet and it is great! I have struggled with Drs who think i'm crazy and no treatment and being made to feel like i'm just a hypochondriac! I have fibro topped off with a bout of Steven Johnsons syndrome to boot. I can't take certain meds because of the Sjs. It is a severe allegeric reaction to meds that happens sometimes. Mine was 3 years ago during a bout with pnuemonia where i was given Leviquin (a antibiotic). I had this reaction and had to be hospitalized for it. There were aand are so many things i don't know about the effects it leaves on my body. A pa i went to recently explained that it sometimes causes edema. I have fought with this ever since I had SJS but i wasn't sure what caused it. This swelling has made my life miserable on top of the fibro. I have gained about 50 pounds. But the good news is that my pa put me on Lyrica for the fibro which is a wonder for me. Alot of the pain that i have had has gone away!

Anyone out there who wants to talk can pm me or e-mail me.

Keep your chins up :hugto everyone.

Karla