Lesson 4: Coping strategies - the physical aspects
Managing the Pain
We have to accept the fact that we're going to have pain. Some days not much, other days bad. But it's always there, lurking. Luckily there are things we can do to help minimize that pain.
- Good posture helps. This means holding your body the way it was meant to be held. Good posture minimizes strain and thus pain. So does careful movement. The book, Inside Fibromyalgia, has a great chapter on "fibronomics" (Chapter 20, pp. 159-168.) which shows not only proper posture but also ways to move sit and lift things that minimize stress. Read it carefully and pay attention.
- Don't remain in one position too long. It is easy to get hooked on web surfing and remain in your chair for hours. That makes for aches. Make yourself change positions or better yet, get up and move a bit every 20 minutes or so. Set a timer if you are the type who gets absorbed and forgets.
- Stretch. Not vigorous, muscle-popping stretches but slow, gentle ones that help us to unkink.
- Drink lots of water. And no, coffee doesn't count just because it's made with water. Water flushes out the toxins in our systems, and can really help to reduce myofascial pain.
- Aerobic exercises such as the treadmill stair stepping machines or swimming are gentle enough not to stress us and actually make us feel better. While exercising may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, it is much less comfortable to sit and let the kinks move in. Start in slowly. You'll find that after a short time the discomfort disappears.
- Use tools that ease the discomfort. See what Marilynn, Mary and Carol have found that makes work easier.
