Smile, it's painless!

Tonight is the first I can type with any speed and less pain, so I guess I'll fill you in on what's been happening. My right shoulder is jammed and the shoulder blade is locked back and up, putting pressure on the nerves to my arm, hand, neck and down the right side. All that pulls me over to the right and messes up everything on the left side. As my physical therapist works and gets things to realease, the nerves are irritated causing more pain. It's all related to my fibromyalgia and involves the fascia (if you know what that is). We think the jamming is a result of my leaning on the cane which I use mostly on the right, so now I have a walker. It's actually kinda nice since I have been switching the cane back and forth and even use 2 canes sometimes. The walker has a seat so I can sit down when I need to. I'm actually walking more, which is good, hopefully I'll be able to lose some weight. I do need the right knee replaced, which I've put off for 5 years, and my doctor tells me I can't put it off much longer. There's no cartiledge left and it keeps locking up on me.

I have a plaque on my wall by my computer that says, "If you're alive to feel pain, you have something to be grateful for." It's become my new motto. Also, when I start to get depressed and feel sorry for myself I think of all the people I know who are in worse shape than me.

1. Penny, my sister-in-law, who has RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). Put very simply, it's a disease where the nerves fire constantly sending pain signals to her brain even when there is no reason. She's in excruciating pain constantly, 24/7. There are 3 stages to RSD and the third stage ends when the patient dies. Penny is in stage 3.

2. Then there's Nicole, the daughter of a friend, who has such severe chemical allergies (a rare disease) that she is a virtual prisoner in her home. Everything is washed with special soap before it comes into the house, including people. Her husband has to go through decontamination every day when he comes home from work. If she's exposed to chemicals, her skin breaks out in blisters like she's been burned.

I could go on, but Penny and Nicole are the most severe. By the way, Penny is 44 and Nicole is only 26 years old. So, when I start to feel sorry for myself I think of Penny, Nicole, Joanne, Betty and others who are in far more pain than I am. I say a prayer for them and for those who love and care for them. I focus on their pain and their needs and when I'm done my selfish "pitty party" is over and my pain is reduced to background noise that I can handle. After all, I'm alive to feel pain and I am grateful.