Great topic. This is actually a hard one for me. I have to be constantly aware of how I'm moving, or I'll hurt myself more. I can't get too caught up in any project that involves lifting - and what doesn't? Last night, I started to pull a small aluminum pan from the middle shelf of the fridge - it contained about
a half-inch of water, six Brussels Sprouts and 8 baby carrots...it felt too heavy, meaning I knew my Sciatic Nerve would get angry if I continued. So I shook my head,
put it back and called hubby.
Pain is one of the big focuses of my life - but in the sense of avoiding it, NOT of dwelling on the physical sensations of it. I agree that thinking about
how it actually feels just puts me in a downward spiral, emotionally. The only time I let myself do that is when I'm experiencing something new that might need medical attention.
I try to walk every day, at the mall in Winter or around the neighborhood in Summer. It always makes me feel better and gives me a sense of hope...unless I overdo it, of course. And I try to always do some of the basic core strengthening exercises my PT gave me after spine surgery. But I'm afraid I've gotten pretty minimal about
that, largely because it increases my pain.
Focusing on others and looking at all the positives in my life also help a lot. There's so much I want to do - I keep chipping away at it, in tiny little baby steps, one foot in front of the other....
Debbie