Cactus for Boo-Boos

Dealing with the aches and pains from living with a chronic illness is overwhelming for anyone. I’ve been dealing with it every day since my daughter was in elementary school. Considering that she’s now a high school senior it’s a big deal. My illness has affected our quality of life in many ways. I’m always looking for ways to help with things, especially the swelling.

It has stopped me from enjoying the simplest things in life like going to a school function or being able to walk out the front door when a family out was scheduled. I’m always looking for a way to help deal with everything.  I’ve checked out a several drinks with a lot of vitamins and nutrients. Drinking cactus juice is an option for me since it helps with cleansing toxins from the body.  Nopalea is a cactus juice that’s been around for twelve years by people for helping with illness issues. 12 million bottles have been sold to help with the pain from inflammation from daily aches and pains. The goal of the company has been to help people feel healthier. Until reading more about the cactus juice I wouldn’t have considered drinking juice from the cactus.

The Disappointment of Pain

Finding a remedy to reduce pain becomes a mission when you live with chronic pain. I’ve experimented with several remedies day after day. The problem with chronic pain is its unpredictable all the time. I’ve used creams, lotions, and medications to reduce pain and inflammation.

I’ve learned this from planning to go somewhere then having to cancel my plans. Just last night I had to cancel a dinner date with my family, instead I had to stay home and nurse my aches and pains. It really gets old quickly especially when you have to deal with a disappointed teen. It seems like I’m disappointing her more than helping her because of an illness that never quits.

The biggest problem with chronic pain is nothing works all the time. It takes a lot of patience to figure out what will work with pain. One thing may help with daily pain while another thing may not help at all. Nopalea juice is something you might want to try to relieve the inflammation from living with joint pain. It’s a super fruit called Nopalea cactus. It’s been used by the natives for centuries to help with inflammation of the joints and pain.   Right now you can get a bottle for the price of shipping.

Wanted: Chronic Illness Survivors or Family

Ideas:

Spotlight on Chronic Illness Blogger:Annie

Chronic illness blogger of the week is Annie of Trauma Dolls. Annie’s a writer, single mom and ten year survivor of chronic pain.

Annie wrote several posts on living with chronic pain and exercising. She brings up a lot of great points

Exercising with Chronic pain

• Exercise: Pain Relief or Pain Trigger? The Answer Might Surprise You

• Move It, But Not Too Much: Pain-Free Exercise for Chronic Pain

Check out the rest of her posts on Trauma Dolls

Thank you Annie for spreading awareness of chronic illness.

Staying Active with Chronic Illness

Does exercise help reduce your pain?

Are You on Stage with You’re Chronic Illness?

By Chronic Chick

Do you feel like you’re on stage while living with your chronic illness? I feel that way a lot because people don’t understand that my strength and abilities go up and down hourly. One day I may be able to clean the house and the next day I’m lucky to be able to get out of bed. It plain sucks, but it’s my life. I’ve lived with it nearly a decade so it has become the norm for me.
Since I’ve lived with lupus and fibromyalgia some days I’m in my wheelchair and other days I’m able to walk around. I used to feel very subconscious knowing what people were saying and thinking about me. I heard- I was faking how much pain I was in or she doesn’t look sick, or it cannot be that bad. I could go on about the snide remarks.

All of these nasty comments made me feel like I needed to act a certain way. And it stinks how other people’s thoughts make you feel like you have to act a certain way.
Finally, I’ve got to that point that the naysayers can say whatever they want to say. I am going to be myself and I am going to be myself. Walk a mile in my footsteps then tell me how I feel living with chronic pain.

Do you feel like you have to meet people’s expectations or feel like you’re on stage?

photo credit: Clarita

Chronic Illness and Depression

I wasn’t new to depression when I was diagnosed with lupus and fibromyalgia amongst other things. It was a total blow to my plans for life. The lupus totally rocked my world. My life was turned totally upside down by the daily pain I was feeling. I had lost total control of my body and  I couldn’t do  anything about it. I started to spiral out of control. My life became the disease not a part of my life. I looked in the mirror I saw lupus. I woke up I saw lupus. Lupus tore my life apart piece by piece.

It took me several years to find myself and realize that I was more than lupus. I was a human being with a condition. I had to learn to deal with all the ups and downs of lupus. It wasn’t easy, but I had to pull myself together. I’ve learned that planning ahead isn’t a guarantee of being able to do something. I’ve learn sometimes I can walk while other time I have to use my wheelchair. My days vary with my illnesses.

Dealing with the depression isn’t easy for me at all. I’ve learn that I have some control over what the depression does to me. I can tell when I’m spiraling into an abyss of depression. When I see and feel like I’m spiraling out I have to take a step back from life. I’ve learned to do things to bring about happy moments in my life. I’ve learned that sewing relaxes my mind and reading allows me to wander away from reality for a little while. Often I’ve put myself into the stories. The most valuable thing I’ve learned is to express my inner thoughts through my blog and in my many writings.

Yes, the diagnoses have turned me inside out, but I’ve learned to deal with them. I’ve had to adjust my goals in life, even if it’s not exactly what I’m waiting for in life. I try to make the best of things. The pain does overwhelm me at times, but I’ve learned that it will pass and this is what gets me past things.

Moving with a Chronic Illness

The thought of moving makes me cringe since I’ve been sick. It was hard enough when I was well. I can remember the never ending stuff. No matter how well I packed for the move there was always a mess to clean up. The whole experience seemed never ending. Today I’d need help to move because of my back and leg pain. I’d be worn out within the first ten minutes. If  I had to move again I’d use upack moving. I could pack at my own pace when I had the strength. Friends would be better able to help out on their schedule and I wouldn’t need to  deal with strangers in my home and being in such a hurry to move belongings. Every little bit helps.

Giveaway: Sunshine Pillows Heating Pad Ends 2/12/11 USA Only

Being in pain doesn’t have to keep you tied down always. Since receiving  a large shoulder heating pad from Sunshine Pillows.

The shoulder pad is large enough that it fits my shoulder and upper back area. The flax seed filling doesn’t weight my shoulders down and it’s comfortable to wear. The heating pad goes in the microwave for easy warming up. It has a soft fleece cover that’s washable.  They come in scented and unscented.

The flax seed stays warmer than my old sock filled with white rice. Yes, I know it’s tacky, but when you live with chronic pain you have the right to be tacky for comfort. Now, I don’t have to be ashamed to wear my heating pad in public. I can wear or carry my heating on the go in the retail storage bag that Sunshine Pillows sent me. All I need is a microwave and my heating pad and I’m off and running. Well I should be.

The heating pad is divided into equal chambers so it doesn’t pool into one area of the heating pad.  The heating pad can be put into the freezer and turned into a freezer pack for freezing those sore muscles unless you’re cold sensitive. I usually put the heating pad into the storage bag when using I want a freezer pack. After using my heating pad, I put it into the retail packaging that Sunshine Pillows sent me for easy storage in and out of the freezer.  It wouldn’t be fun to have a heating pad that smells like my freezer.
I’ve been warming the heating pad up on my way out the door. The heating pad fits comfortably under my coat and sweater. It keeps me toasty warm in this never ending winter.

About Sunshine Pillow from their Website

“BioMed DB Design is dedicated to promote healthy living through innovative products. Sunshine Pillow is one of our creations that reflect many users’ requests and feedback. After its introduction in the fall of 2007, Sunshine Pillows quickly became a favorite among our users.
BioMed DB Design is committed to provide quality products and services. We are the best at observing and listening to our users’ needs. We are the specialists in customizing personal healthcare devices, such as neck pillows.”

BioMed DB Design is active in community services. Below is a list of non-profit orgnizations that received donation from us:

• Georgia Health Sciences Foundation, Augusta, Georgia, 2010
• American MS society, 2009.
• American Relay for Life, 2009
• United Way, October, 2009.
• Meeker-New Zealand Student Exchange Program, October, 2009.
• City of Hope, April, 2009.
• Charles Wright Academy, March, 2009.

Now for the giveaway:

Sunshine Pillows is giving one lucky reader one a  large shoulder heating pads of their own.

(A comment per entry- 1 entry=1 comment 2 entries=2 comments)

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*Tell me what you do to reduce pain.
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Disclosure: Review product was provided to me. No other compensation was received. Opinions expressed above were all my own, and were not influenced in any way.

(A comment per entry- 1 entry=1 comment 2 entries=2 comments) Winner will have 72 hours to respond to my email once winner is announced. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Open to US resident only. If I don’t have an email I cannot contact you.

Chronic Pain Makes People Desperate

A couple of years ago I saw a copper bracelet at my local drug store. I had read that they are beneficial for reduces your pain level. At first, I was hesitant to buy the copper bracelet, but I decided to purchase one anyways. After living in pain daily I’ll try anything reasonable to reduce my pain level. I bought the bracelet and I was really surprised that the bracelet does seem to help reduce my pain level some. I’ve been thinking about buying an ankle bracelet so I don’t have to take the bracelet on and off my wrist everyday when I type on my computer. I’d like to find a store online that offers free shipping online.