Pain
Arthritis pain…I find it hard to describe. I usually don't cry when I am in pain…I usually just keep it to myself. I am not sure why I do that. I sometimes don't want to feel like a burden…and if I always talked about the pain…I would be talking all the time…because even between "flares" there is always a baseline of pain to some degree. It's like sometimes the pain just becomes numb. Some people have said that the pain is much worse than I describe and others say I describe it much worse than it is. But aren't there many different faces of RA? We don't all feel the exact same way or same pain. I find so many similarities with others…but no one is exactly the same. We cannot put each other in the exact same shoes…but we do have an understanding about the pain, weakness and other symptoms of this disease. So my question to everyone is…how do you deal with your pain…do you hold it in, do you cry or get upset?
-L
Pain and the depth of it are ever changing for me. One day it may be excruciating to me and the next a dull throbbing sort of pain that just bothers me all day. Then there are the intense, shooting and sharp pains that come and go as they will for varying degrees of time. There are days that I feel so tired that I'm sure the pain is worse than normal just because I'm exhausted. And then there is stress...which makes it worse all around. I cry and I cry often. I get angry sometimes too. And sometimes I am quiet and sulky and want to be alone. My ankles feel like someone has driven old rusty nails into them. My muscles sometimes roll..does anyone elses do that? It's not a good feeling. The stiffness is awful. The burning pain continues all night it seems. And you're right...there is always some pain and we all learn to tolerate it in time. I'm managing today but my tomorrows are scary. I think we all mostly feel like that. The days that are good, are really good but the bad ones...I wouldn't wish them on anyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm 24 and had RA since I was 19. If I'm not with close family, I won't say anything about the pain. I try to ignore it myself, which isn't easy to do. I guess I try to downplay it. If I am with close family, I'll make a comment about it, but I usually try to avoid it unless it's really bothering me. Otherwise, I feel like I'm whiny. Like you said, if I were to talk about the pain every time I felt any, that's all I'd talk about.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone please tell me if they know how i can survive with no stomach reaction to methotrexate. I have RA which is excruciating
ReplyDeleteI've had RA for over 7 yrs now. Did several of the d-mards yrs ago. Made me sick :( So now I take 3 lortabs a day. My dr is great and we both realize I have a chronic disease. Right now it's the quality of life that matters :) Not gonna be a martyr and suffer more than I have to. It's the difference of getting up and moving and giving up. That I'm not willing to do ...yet :)
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