We've got your back

[Emelia8]

Your woollen prayor mat sounds special @Appleblossom 😄 and well done on the daily stretches. 

I have a yoga mat that I do some stretches and other specially devised exercises on, on the days I dont have formal pilates or hydrotherapy.

Sadly,  now that my spine is supported by titanium rods,  I am nowhere near as flexible as I used to be. But at least I can move without screaming in agony. And I am very grateful for that. 🙏

Emelia

[Dimity]

Thanks for sharing re your daily exercises @Appleblossom @Emelia8 . I'll try to keep it up. I didn't think it was possible at first.

Nice to hear of your prayer mat @Appleblossom . I have a kilim but appreciate the give of the yoga mat for old bones. 

[Appleblossom]

@Emelia8 @Dimity 

Ooooh Backs.

Love you ladies.

[Patchworks]

I've been trying to stretch and do my physio exercises every day as I'm in pain every day. It does get a bit easier to do the stretches the more I do them. 

I have a break from my Pilates classes at the moment.

I hope everyone enjoys seeing in 2024. I'll be curled up asleep by midnight but I'll enjoy watching the early fireworks.

[Dimity]

Well done @Patchworks... it seems we're all trying to be diligent @Appleblossom @Emelia8 . 

Happy New Year everyone... may it bring health and prosperity too... 

Hope you get off to a good start with the specialist physio this week @ClockFace .

A friend just called in with a new gym mat and weights... hoping I'll put them to good use. 

[ClockFace]

As you guys know I have other shit wrong with me, other disabilities but I appear able bodied. I think it might be one of the harder things that I say "I cant" while appearing that there is no reason why I couldnt, that Im completely able bodied, while Im actually not. 

It shouldnt be that difficult for my family to understand, they should be able to see the pain etc. But no, they see the able body and hear the "I cant" and interpret Im lazy. 

The year is coming to an end and Im really very happy to see this one go, but I feel like Im taking so much of this year forward with me, into the years ahead. So many diagnosis and so many issues yet to be diagnosed, the year feel so unfinished. Im hoping that the next year to come is less about my health and more about learning to live with my new reality, my new reality though is only an outline at the moment, the details are missing, there are so many questions left unanswered. Hopefully in the first quarter of year I will get those answers.

I hope that the coming year is more joy and enjoyment for all here than years past. I am so grateful that I found this community this year and for all everyones encouragment and for just listening to my rambling. 

Happy New Year!

[Dimity]

I hear you @ClockFace . And appearing "able bodied" happens with mh challenges too. 

It will be good if you can get answers over the next 3 months but for myself I'm trying to find a path between learning to live with uncertainty and figuring out where my decisions can change things.

[ClockFace]

@Dimity 

Im looking for answers at the moment only because my life has come to a complete stop pretty much until we get some. Like my licence has been restricted until we can work out whats going on with me falling asleep when I stop, not sleeping at night etc. I went and saw my sister in hosptial with Dad today and was basically asleep within a few minutes of us all sitting down. So I cant work at the moment, amongst other reasons. But yeah there is a lot of just learning to accept where Im at, accepting the pain as part of my life rather than something to fight against constantly. 

[Appleblossom]

Yep. Thanks @ClockFace Dealing with chronic pain is difficult, as fighting against it can increase tension, but where to escape when the pain is within.  I had terrible experiences of my mother's denial of my pain. I did not take it personally at first as I thought she was worse to my brother, but in the end I realise she had no capacity to really love beyond herself, though she could put on a performance.  It is very difficult dealing with invisible pain, but often enough my pain was visible. Visible enough for a couple of random people to approach me and tell me they could see it and see that I was also cheerfully working away at the gym.

When everyone in the family dynamic is in various denials, it can seem to become an actual energetic issue, which I have also observed.  Its hard when everybody in the family is sick, but the bottom line for me... is that we all deal with pain... in families with less social capital or material resources it is usually tougher.  

@Dimity  

Good to hear of your friend's visit.  We had a discussion here yesterday, about attitudes to exercise and motivation.  Do what you can. Enjoy what you can. Be kind about the rest .... lol

[Dimity]

Thanks @Appleblossom .

Hope you got the help you hoped for with physio @ClockFace and doctor @Shaz51 .

I see the osteopath tomorrow and am pleased with my progress... the pinched nerve on one side has eased so I have hopes for the other. I guess I'm more aware of my back with increased movement.

Onwards and upwards.