TENS Units

I am trying so hard to manage the level of pain I have.  I come up with a theory on what I am doing that causes the pain, when to try various things, and I think I just have my act soooooo together.  Oh to be so wise.

My physical therapist felt it was best to give things a rest for some time, which makes sense when looking at the big picture.  I took a break, and after about a week that seemed like the solution.  Soon I found the TENS unit was working wonders!  I even began using it proactively, thinking I could ward off the pain before it hit.  Take the pain medication, follow up immediately with the TENS unit, and it’s going to be a great day!

That worked great.  For several days.  Then, it didn’t.  In fact, it failed miserably.  A family member described it rather like a mild roller coaster with slow slopes up and down to express the improvement and setbacks.  A good visual example.  The big question is, am I getting better?

I reassessed things again.  The oddity that I am, I always loved exercise. In fact, anything physical.  So I went back to what was familiar.  Work the muscles one day, then give them a day of rest, then push them a little more the next day.  Good plan, works under normal conditions.  Well, the story every day is. . . I’m not normal!

I’m going to resting in peace.  I spent the morning moving my TENS unit around in conjunction with my pain medication.  I am having a lot of pain in my  neck, which i believe is because I don’t use my wheelchair to turn to people to speak to them.  I’m also not on the same level with them, height-wise.  I knew if I didn’t change my ways it would catch up with me. 

That is my own little secret that I am not sharing because I am really tired of therapy & all the medical stuff right now.  Okay, truthfully, I am at that point in the day when my medicine is making me really, really sick so what comes out right now may not represent where I am at attitude-wise for the rest of the day.  I just want to make some behavioral modifications, adjust what I can with regards to any DME equipment available to me, and move on. 

Quite honestly, I want a shower but my phone & emails have come at me with an onslaught all morning long. . . for 4 hours now and counting.  I generally can get myself ready in about 1.5 to 2 hrs.  When I have to do the full shower, etc. ~ everything ~ it is about 3 hrs. 

On a day like today, I don’t think anything could save me. I could not answer my phone or respond to emails, but then people rightfully ask how it is that I am at home recuperating and yet not available.  It’s a fair question.  If someone has a better solution than this, I would love to know what it is.  I am feeling flooded right now by attempts to manage the necessary affairs of my LOA, managing my pain, and wanting to be mentally sharp rather than be so constantly dulled by the medication.  I have been on it way too long for this to still be such a factor.  I think I’m a wuss!!