breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk
Patients Association – Hi just for in case you have not heard of them, The Patients Association campaigns tirelessly for patients rights. You can get a lot of information about things which could be driving you mad and find that the PA are already on the case. If you are in pain and feeling frustrated, it is good to know. www.patients-association.com
Recently hurt my hip – don’t ask – don’t know! But the end story was a sort of quasimodo walking style, one eye open, jaw gritted hand on spot and snail pace movement. Has kind of abated now after much ado and ibuprofen (one of the few meds I really think are amazing) the get you into a condition where the inflammation is down so you can at least try to move or identify where stuff is coming from. I was terrified it might be the return of the dreaded CRPS. But so far no. What it showed me though is what a completely different experience having CRPS in the hand is compared to a lower limb. I could walk…….. I really feel for those with it in a lower limb. To keep it elevated enough to help reduce the oedema must be really troublesome. I had to keep my hand in the wave position for months and as soon as I let it hang it would swell up and turn much more purple and mottled and the pain would increase massively. Sunny
It is so important to try to keep your (crps) limb moving as much as possible. Try to make sure you breathe properly – difficult when you are in pain. Pain tends to make you hold your breath. Just stand / sit – let your shoulders drop for a minute or two, breathe deeply and try to be conscious of your whole body. Gently touch the skin around the location of the crps. This may feel like fire, but I found it so important over a period to de-sensitize the skin and the less you touch it the more painful it will be in the long run. We all know it is excruciating whether we touch it or not. Little steps every day may not feel as though progress is being made, but they become like healing layers. Please don’t give up. Sunny
I think the most difficult thing about having CRPS is that others either think that you are making too much fuss in the beginning and then after your limb begins to swell and turn blue and grow hairy and your nails start growing faster than usual, they panic a little, I mean what can they say? There is a saying which is “If people could remember what pain feels like, most women would not have more than one child.”
I believe though that if you don’t let go and keep trying it is possible to at least stop the CRPS from completely taking over your body. It is important to start working on it as soon as you see the symptoms.
Sunny
The most successful treatment of CRPS seems to be a multidisciplinary one. For me it was Occupational Therapy, constant and gentle Hand Massage to stimulate circulation and de-sensitize the skin, Acupuncture, Alexander Technique, Pain meditation, Osteopathy – especially Cranial Osteopathy, Acupressure, Herbal ointments and tinctures, Mirror Therapy, Physiotherapy and Paracetamol and Ibuprofen (I avoided becoming dependent on strong meds.) From what I have heard the pain remains, even on strong meds so I focussed on trying to make my body as well as it could be to combat the CRPS. This is not easy and gains made don’t necessarily show on the contrary you may feel worse after doing one of them, but once your OT or Physiotherapist has OK’d something it is usually beneficial to keep at it. The accumulative effect will eventually start to show. Please don’t give up – you are the only one who can really make a conscious decision to work hard at getting better. No-one can make you better! They can give you the stuff but it’s up to you. Sunny
CRPS-SelfHelp.com
Great website for anyone interested in Alexander Technique, I really recommend it. http://www.pedrodealcantara.com/ AT so good for anyone sitting at the computer for hours. Don’t cross those legs!!!! It really helps prevent back pain, shoulder pain and neck pain. If you do forget your posture Alexander Technique will help you to sort it out.
Sunny
CRPS-SelfHelp.com
Alexander Technique helps you to align your body which frees up breathing. It makes you conscious of your own responsibility to sit mindfully, have your computer at the right height for the health of your neck, how to evenly distribute the weight of satchels etc which you may have to carry every day………… many many techniques which are soooooo simple and so important, but we just can’t be bothered. I always decide to start tomorrow……….but when I do and do it regularly the difference is amazing.http://www.stat.org.uk
Sunny
CRPS-SelfHelp.com
Hello I found one of the most obvious responses to my pain was to bury my neck between my shoulders and hold my breath, both of which are natural reflexes. It is almost as if you do that and close your eyes, and the agony will all go away. It is the worst thing we can do for the healing process. Every single cell in our body depends on oxygenation to function. I know it may seem that the pain is so overwhelming that a small thing like breathing properly (which is hugely difficult even under normal day to day stressful conditions) can, if you persist really make a difference. Concentrate on it, listen to it. I’m obviously no expert, but I know along with all the other things I was doing, remembering to breathe was something that I could feel made a difference. It is like you are helping your body to do what it has to, to combat the problem. In the case of CRPS – unbridled shooting, stabbing, pain. Check out this site. http://oxygenesis.org/professionals.html
Sunny
CRPS-SelfHelp.com
Hi just for in case you have not heard of them, The Patients Association campaigns tirelessly for patients rights. You can get a lot of information about things which could be driving you mad and find that the PA are already on the case. If you are in pain and feeling frustrated, it is good to know there are people out there watching your back. You can get a free online subsciption for their newsletters which are very informative.
Bye Sunny
http://www.patients-association.com
CRPS-SelfHelp.com
