Yeah, like this…
I’ve been grappling a bit with pain, lately. The headaches that used to dog me are back, and I’ve been having a lot of pain in my neck, lower back, shoulders, hands, wrists… lots of places I used to have pain, but then wasn’t bothered (as much) for a while.
It seems to be bothering me more, lately. I know the headaches that used to make my days a living hell subsided considerably when I started seeing a chiro, and my neck was doing better. But I don’t have the money for the chiro anymore, and I also don’t have the time or availability to see them regularly, so there’s not much point. I’ve been doing some stretching, trying to stay fairly active, and I’ve been focusing my breathing exercises on noticing the sensations in my body, so I can track them.
It’s hard… not sure why it’s harder now than it was before. I think the longer commute is tearing the living crap out of me, with the prolonged sitting. And sitting longer and more at work isn’t helping, either. I have resolved many times to start taking regular breaks, but I never seem to be at a “stopping point”. It’s my fault, entirely. I have control over my schedule. I just get stuck in a rut. Must do something about that. Really.
Anyway, I’ve noticed that even on days when my pain is up around an 8.5 out of 10, if I can immerse myself in some activity, some reading, some work, and completely pay attention to that, it gets my mind off the pain, and I don’t even feel it anymore. Of course, when I get up again to move, it comes back, but while I’m 100% focused on something I’m doing, it’s not a problem.
So, I’ve been spending time trying to find ways I can get my mind onto other things and cut the pain that way. I’ll eventually need to find ways I can cut the pain when I’m not in some intense concentration zone, I suppose, but for now, finding something more compelling to think about than my pain is the only solution I can come up with.
That, and ibuprofen.
Oh, and some homeopathic pellets I came across. I used to take them and they helped somewhat. I’ll have to start taking them again. Magnesium phosphate — 6x or 30x. It seems to help.
Anyway, it’s a beautiful day, and I have a ton of stuff to do, including help a friend find another car — theirs died in a parking lot, when a belt failed and the engine blew. Tough break. But it’s fixable.
sorry to read your pains are back again, have you tried checking what type of pillow you have. hope you enjoyed the beautiful day. and your friend obtain a car. have a good weekend.
I was wondering if you had or still have problems with noise. Today, I went to church which was VERY noisy, the clapping, shouting ,and the speaker on the microphone all caused me pain in my ears, headache and I really couldn’t take it anymore, so I left. what did you do to save your ears? Will the doctors listen to mmy complaint?
Just curious how long have you had your injury?
Thanks – I do need to check on my pillow. I was out of town for several days, a while back, and the hotel where I was staying had strange pillows. Probably didn’t help much. I probably need to do a “pillow re-boot” before long.
Oh yes, I have major problems with noise, especially when I am tired. The 4th of July fireworks got to be a huge deal, because they didn’t start till late, and I was tired to begin with. All the shouting and screaming and booms really got to me. Not much fun, which was a shame, because they were so beautiful.
To save my ears, I try to sit behind people who I know are loud, so they are not “shouting” right into my ears. I definitely try to stay away from loudspeakers. I was at a presentation a few days ago, which had loudspeakers pointed right at me, so I put my fingers in my ears. It was too painful, otherwise. I think about the direction the sound is going — it moves like this, from a given point: -< like it's moving out in a "V" from the source. I try to put myself out of the direct line, on more of an angle away from the sound. I'm not sure I'm explaining it right – I will need to write a post later describing how I do it.
Your doctors may listen to your complaint, but I'm not sure they can do anything about it. My experience has been that if I am tired and I am right in front of a loudspeaker or a loud person, I will suffer… sometimes terribly. So, I try to keep rested and also sit away from the "line" of the noise that's coming out from a source.
I hope that helps.
I have had a number of mild TBIs in my life — a number when I was young, then several when I was a teenager, then several as an adult — about 9 total (that I know about). My most recent one was at the end of 2004, and it had a huge impact on me. I guess all those concussions/TBIs caught up with me. That’s how it’s been explained to me. I almost lost everything, and I’m lucky to have gotten help when I did.
Thank you so much. you’re the only person that seems to know and understand EXACTLY how I feel (by your experiences which are very similar to mine) . It’s really reassuring that someone out there understands. I felt really bad today but I am beginning to feel better after resting. I got my problem Dec 2011 a week to Christmas. I was a freshman in medical.school. I had a lot of problems which I cannot really put together on this page, but in the end I had to leave because I couldn’t cope. I have my highs and lows now and then, but I think I am learning each day to cope with these daily problems. I wish you continued improvement. Thank you for this blog you created. Its really a helpful guide.
good idea, and thanks for the smile….pillow reboot….funny…
You’ve very welcome. That’s interesting that you had your injury while in medical school. Maybe someday you will return and add your own personal experiences to your fund of knowledge. Just keep learning and growing each day, and pay close attention to how things affect you and the changes you experience. I also recommend you check out Give Back LA – there is a link to them on my blogs list on my homepage. They have great info about examples of solid recovery from TBI. Their approach has helped me immensely. Best to you in your continued recovery.
I once had a chiro sell me a special pillow for $35 — it did nothing for me. It’s now a prop on my couch for when I watch t.v. Plain old pillows that have good substance work best. Keepin’ it simple.
I do understand the pain;including the noise! What you are saying,sounds more like me and only each day I get up and try to push myself to the gym to work out,train my mind and body for relaxation.It does help,better then medications some times,don’t have to depend on them.As a former boxer,well the past intense training I had and abuse I had in the ring took strong affect on my body as a female,now that I am older! I am really feeling the pain!!
simple = best
true
may you have a good weekend
thanks – and you as well
Hi – intent concentration has been identified as a cause of migraine with brain injury. Exercising 40 mins every second day is supposed to help with migraine, so maybe that would help if you are not doing it already. Ibuprofen can cause rebound headache. I read and write like you and sometimes wonder if it is too much computer or holding a book for too long, if i have a headache. Good luck, Ive had years of headaches with my brain injury and it is good to be having less. I know you dont want them back, and you want to know why so you can fix it!
Thanks Jen – I think it may also have to do with stress and some neck/shoulder issues I’ve been having. But that would not explain the tightness I feel across the front of my head behind my eyes. Probably “just” stress — changing jobs is quite the challenge, especially when the actual process is several months away…