A lot of Fibro sufferers speak of how much pain Fibromyalgia can cause. Many report that they are bed-bound or couch-bound and can barely move. Is this due to them “giving in to the pain” and choosing not to deal with it, or their lack of motivation to persevere through the pain and keep going?
No judgement calls here, just asking.
For me, I have found if I keep moving, I do better than sitting or lying down and doing nothing; my joints actually hurt more when I do that. It is quite difficult for me to get to standing once I am down and trying to walk after sitting hurts until I get moving, lubricating those joints! And because your joints stay lubricated when you move, it helps lesson the pain to keep moving. It’s a backward issue, because once we sit down, the pain crawls out from those joints and can be excruciating. Some people prefer to stay down so they don’t have to endure the pain, while others prefer to keep moving to keep the pain from dominating them upon the sit-down.
NO ONE understands this better than a fellow Fibro-sufferer (me!!).
Keeping on the move conjures up images of hustle and bustle, never stopping to exhaustion. This is not the vision I am trying to convey. Instead, picture small tasks throughout the day by starting with a list of necessary things to be done and numbering them in order of priority. Chisel away at that list as your body can handle, stopping often to practice deep breathing, reaching up to the ceiling and slowly bending down as far as you can. Repeat as you are able.
It will hurt!! But it will also help.
Some people don’t get any of these options as they have to work outside of the home-their motto is “no rest for the weary” and that’s rough! Likewise, there are those days when you have to be on the move due to appointments, commitments you absolutely have to keep, errands that cannot wait, etc. Those are rough days, too. But on the normal day-to-day, keeping a pace that works for you is crucial.
Now, let’s talk brain-fog! Keeping on the move will also stimulates your brain and can minimize brain-fog. There will be those days when the Fibro brain-fog is evident and nothing we do helps; we are caught in a sort of trance-like fog and nothing computes. On those days, I like to turn to my journaling Bible. It is a good way to read God’s Word and do some therapeutic coloring as well.
Bible journaling helps with those Fibro brain-fog days!
I am a King James-er, so I use this journaling Bible. I love the all the drawings and scripture letters to color, too. Try it! Any simple coloring pencils will do, the ones I use are fantastic, smooth and rich in color. Click here for those.
If you suffer from Lupus as well as Fibromyalgia, then a lot of the above won’t apply as Lupus causes a host of other issues, including joint swelling, internal issues, etc. I would like to encourage you to stay moving as often as possible, but if you are like me, moving with Lupus can include the high probability of needing a wrist brace, foot arch sleeve, knee compression brace or ankle compression sleeve, back brace, TENS unit, portable neck heating pad, etc. If you understand this, then you know exactly what I mean!!!
It DOES make moving more challenging when you also have Lupus!!!
So, whether you choose to spend your day on the couch out of necessity or just giving your body a rest, or you choose to be up moving around to keep from locking up, or you must work and/or keep commitments, may the Lord bless you with minimal pain today!
God Bless-
~The Fibro-Lupus Momma of Ten
