dont know which way to turn

Melanieb...

I know how this disease can rob patients of a life. Readjusting to the many things we could do is in the past to what we can do now is essential. The journey is to know our limitations, work for healthy maintenance thru exercise and PT. LEARNING to cope with mindful new ways of doing things in every day living. 

Learning new ways thru body movements to stay strong and prevent further damage is key.

Aging is not for sissies as our beloved actress Betty Davis once said, known for her ability to fight for everything she could in her life. "Tighten UR seat belts UR in for a bumpy ride". That's it in a nut shell... Be proactive. Be UR own advocate. Learn what works for UR body and level of concern for UR strengths and weakness.

Know how important it is to can fight for a healthy lifestyle & improving our furtures. 

Stay strong..keep core muscles strong to support the bones and lead a active life.

I have joint arthritis, degenerative disc disease, many itisis...FM .. Total hip implants both hips..PSA...just important to know that exercise in appropriate levels for the patients body and lifestyle can be a real sucess in moving foreword with controlling pain as we age.

be assertive ask UR doc for ways such as PT to Help with coping techniques appropriate for you. Everyone is different as we persure our journey to stay positive and healthy.

good luck stay strong.

Hope

 

Hi Melanieb,

I can only support what Hope has said. You can change ways of doing things and learn a new approach to life. When I found that I could only walk in agony I was devastated as I had always been a great fell walker and liked to do everything at the double. I had just reached the stage in life where my family were at uni and I could look forward to getting some job of interest.(domesticity was never my scene) when I was struck down with this dreadful bilateral heel pain which in time affected other joints through walking badly. I ended up teaching the piano because it was something I could do sitting down(I couldn't wear the type of footwear I'd have needed to for my sort of high falutin' job that I wanted to get back to plus I soon found that I couldn't stand up in any footwear without agony. The piano was something I'd always enjoyed and so, in redirecting myself in order to keep going I taught a lot of people to make music.

I also wrote more music and poetry and so I had turned in another direction.

You may find that you can get a little buggy and take your dog out with it.

People find ways around things when they have to and remember that you never know when things are going to change for the better.

Wishing you well always

Brenda

its the panic stage your in suddenly your life has been turned up side down, my fibro started in my early 40s i am 54 and still struggling with not being able to enjoy what i used to take for granted , i dont know if iv gone thru menopause more than likely at my and with the fact that my symptoms have been worse for the last 4 yrs,[i had a hysterectomy]

i also have ASPERGERS  which i have had all my life, which also makes me sensistive to pain ,noise and temp,etc so i know what its like to be in a real state trying to get on with your life and manerging your so many symptoms at the same time ,

all i can say is pace your self if you want to go some where rest a couple of days before hand , and rest when you come back , its not easy to make yourself do but if you dont you will surley pay the price with extra pain and fatigue, i am sorry but really its how it is ,you got ot try to do baby steps dont do what i and many others do ,and throw your self in to stuff thinking its all in the mind i can do it , because its not , just rest befor and after anything you have to do l also try and do a hypnoses cd twice a day once you get into it your find that relaxing completly twice a day destress you and helps alot. wih your symptoms get one for stress

good luck.

hi there,

i can  only echo what everyone else has said.  take your time and pace yourself.  get plenty of rest before and after any activity that needs a good effort.

i know that the menaporse is a  bitch she comes around and gives us hell and what can we do not a lot.  i had hysterectomy 25 years ago when i was 28 years old and i was placed on HRT but i stopped taking that many years ago folowing health scare and went it alone.  i did suffer hot flushes etc., but i got through it by sheer determination, healthy diet and gentle exercise.

i used to enjoy going to Zumba classes which were great fun and the instructor was brilliant .  i had explained about my back and leg problems and she said just to do what my body could cope with and she would give me the nod so that i could gadge what icould and could not do.  i am thinking of going back as it was great fun and the girls there were great many ages attended from 14 to 78 so if i can keep up with the oldies i am sure i could cope again.

i tend to do gentle chair exercises for my legs and arms i find this helps.

i hope that you find a way of getting some of your life back and enjoying taking your dog for gentle walks.

kind regards

janet

Hi melanieb, I can't say I can tell you any magic answers  im afraid i wish i could. Only that I see exactly where your coming from, as I am just started being treated for Sjogrens. My life like yours is changing, I can no longer walk round shops anymore ( I also have a chronic leg pain in my left leg after three ops). If in pain which is most of the time, I take painkillers I then feel drowsy which I can have (fatigue) anyway with Sjogens. I do get down as I want to be able to do things myself and myway, but get told to sit down when family see i am in  pain. Look around at other things that add joy to your life- children? music ( what would life be without it!? for me anyhow ). If you enjoy gigs can you not still go to seated concerts? Some have passion for watching sport etc. Friendships, even if you have chats over a meal now & then, to have fun or to share things with.Others find their faith in God more important. Take care of yourself eating proper meals & don't but put undue pressure on yourself!