Re: Spring has sprung!

March 30, 2004

Stay inside as much as possible or window shop at dollar general stores when

the pollen range is low enough so that I don't cough, sneeze, and tear up

constantly. I have to air my house out, ie spring clean, during the winter

months via my doctor's orders because of severe year-round allergies but are

worse during spring and fall months. I take Zyrtec but some days it isn't

enough.

If I could get out though, I would probably work on my Azaleas and plant

more Jonquils in my flower bed islands.

Sam

The trouble with making plans for the future, even when you can see the

future, is that fate has a way of intervening and upsetting the best laid

plans of mice and men.

- Burns 1785

March 31, 2004

New to your group yesterday. Thank God for spring. I am also outside as much

as possible. Golden retriever and all. She keeps me walking and the plants

keep my poor hands and hips going as much as possibe. Usually I can get " lost "

walking the dog and trying to digest all the surrounds in my narrow life. I

just went on disability retirement in Sept. and am having a hard time adjusting.

I was in a boat accident and burst fractured T12. The accident was 12 years ago

and every year gets worse. Especially artheritis is setting in to my hips and

tail bone; which was fractured too. Also have arteritis in my hands I have to

take bextra everyday.

It's raining today so maybe I will take in a movie, everybody I know works days

and I spend most of my time alone; which makes the mental part even worse.

Just had to have my cat put down after 22 years. Wow, what a bout of depression

that brought on.

Hope it will help to talk to somebody with similar problems. I know it sure

will help me cause very few people understand how you can keep going and have

something wrong. They look at me as if I was nuts when I can't get out of a

chair or I trip over myself. Balance is a problem too. Take care. Bummback

HRayN wrote:

Now that Spring is here, I am usually outside as much as possible either at

the garden center I work at or in my yard and garden. I truly do get " lost "

while working with plants. It takes my mind off of my chronic pain and

arthritic problems. I'm a gardening addict!

What do the rest of you do during the Spring and Summer that allows you to

" forget " your pain at least for a few hours?

Ray Neal, co-moderator

Know someone who could benefit from our list? Send our direct sign-up URL:

http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe.cgi/chronic_pain or write us at:

chronic_pain-listowner

Manage your subscription with several special email addresses:

chronic_pain-owner - Sends email to the list owners

chronic_pain-subscribe - Subscribe to the list through email

chronic_pain-unsubscribe - Unsubscribe from the list

chronic_pain-normal - Switch your subscription to normal

chronic_pain-digest - Switch your subscription to digest

March 31, 2004

Hi: Welcome to the group and it sounds like you came to the right place. I

just had to write as soon as I read your message because I could tell that you

are a fellow animal lover. I have a wonderful dog, Mandy, who is a 10-year-old

Border Collie/Chow mix and two cats, Willie (Persian, age 12) and Piper (Mixed

breed, age 6). I've always had pets and of course I've lost a number of them

due to aging so I know the grief you feel at the loss of your kitty. Even

though you had your pet for a long time, I don't think one is ever really ready

to part with it. My pets are just like my children and I feel many of the same

feelings toward them that I felt while I raised my two kids who are now grown.

I also love to garden but have had to curtail a lot of the more physical stuff

because I'm too incapacitated to do such things but I still love to try new

plantings and design the look of my garden. On good days when my pain level is

not so bad, I sometimes go out and pull weeds which, for some reason, I find

very tranquilizing. I have lots of perennial borders, an herb garden, rose

garden and also raise vegetables. My spouse is the main hole digger. :-)

I'm so sorry you are having such a difficult time with your back. Do you find

that your pain gets worse during rainy weather? I feel that many times my pain

level is very much linked to the fluctuations in the barometer. I also have

severe pain in my hips, legs, and feet. Those are the worst places but I also

have pain in my arms and back but at a lower level of severity. My main disease

is panhypopituitarism (failure of the pituitary gland and endocrine system), but

I also have fibromyalgia, heart valve disease, osteoporosis, migraines, and

GERD. I was sick for over twelve years before I finally got diagnosed with

pituitary disease and this delay caused some of the other problems I now have.

Now I take replacement hormones for all the endocrine glands plus lots of other

meds - I should have invested in pharmaceutical stocks. I've been on disability

for two years and had a hard time giving up my job because I had so many friends

that I knew I probably wouldn't see again. I still keep in touch with a few but

it's impossible to maintain relationships with all one's friends from work.

After 30 years working, the adjustment is a big challenge.

I used to feel awkward about talking to folks about my infirmities but when I

can't do something, that's just the reality of my situation. I figure if people

have a problem with it, then that says more about them than it does about me. I

have many problems regarding memory and often forget that I've told a story to

someone, so then I will repeat it and the person has to tell me that I've

already told them that same story. I used to feel embarrassed but now I just

laugh about it and then so does everyone else. Everybody has flaws, some

obvious and some invisible. I think you'll find this group of people very open,

honest, caring and willing to listen or make suggestions if you want them to.

The commonality is that we all have an intimate knowledge of chronic pain.

Take care,

Virginia USA

March 31, 2004

Hi Ray,

I'm with you during spring, summer and fall. I live in my gardens and

it sure does help to take my mind off everything, including my pain.

The only problem is that spring has not sprung here. It is rainy and

cold and both will continue until early next week, sigh.

It is barely 40 degrees during the day which is much too cold for my

achy bones.

I guess I'll start my windows tomorrow. I usually begin on April 1st.

I have 24 windows, blinds, and curtains to do so the sooner I get

started, the sooner I get outside. I could care less if it's raining to do the

windows as they tilt inward to wash anyway. So, if I can get some get up and go,

I'll start tomorrow.

Arianne

[snip] " HRayN " <hrayn@c...> wrote:

> Now that Spring is here, I am usually outside as much as possible

either at the garden center I work at or in my yard and garden. [snip]

March 31, 2004

Hi Ray,

I'm with you during spring, summer and fall. I live in my gardens and

it sure does help to take my mind off everything, including my pain.

The only problem is that spring has not sprung here. It is rainy and

cold and both will continue until early next week, sigh.

It is barely 40 degrees during the day which is much too cold for my

achy bones.

I guess I'll start my windows tomorrow. I usually begin on April 1st.

I have 24 windows, blinds, and curtains to do so the sooner I get

started, the sooner I get outside. I could care less if it's raining to do the

windows as they tilt inward to wash anyway. So, if I can get some get up and go,

I'll start tomorrow.

Arianne

[snip] " HRayN " <hrayn@c...> wrote:

> Now that Spring is here, I am usually outside as much as possible

either at the garden center I work at or in my yard and garden. [snip]

March 31, 2004

Hi Stanley. I too have arthritic hips. One is worse than the other. I

limp and have pain every step I take. My doctor has set up some

physical therapy for me beginning tomorrow. I have been going to a

heated pool for 15 months. It really has helped, but my doc thinks

that PT might help me in standing and using my body to reduce the

pain. I certainly hope so.

I have one of those kneelers to work in my gardens with. It helps me

to get up as it has handles on each side. I have 1/4 acres of gardens

and a pond. I just love to be out there getting dirty, smelling the

earth, and watching everything grow. I can't wait for the weather to

break here. I hope that by April 15th, It will have warmed up to 50

degree sunny days. I can take that, but no cooler. If it is cloudy,

it has to be near 60 or not windy. My hands and hips will ache for

days afterward if it's too cool.

I wish you sunny, warm days in your garden as well.

Arianne

[snip] STANLEY J KUHARSKI <d.berg43@s...>

wrote: New to your group yesterday. Thank God for spring. I am also

outside as much as possible. Golden retriever and all. [snip]

March 31, 2004

Hi Stanley. I too have arthritic hips. One is worse than the other. I

limp and have pain every step I take. My doctor has set up some

physical therapy for me beginning tomorrow. I have been going to a

heated pool for 15 months. It really has helped, but my doc thinks

that PT might help me in standing and using my body to reduce the

pain. I certainly hope so.

I have one of those kneelers to work in my gardens with. It helps me

to get up as it has handles on each side. I have 1/4 acres of gardens

and a pond. I just love to be out there getting dirty, smelling the

earth, and watching everything grow. I can't wait for the weather to

break here. I hope that by April 15th, It will have warmed up to 50

degree sunny days. I can take that, but no cooler. If it is cloudy,

it has to be near 60 or not windy. My hands and hips will ache for

days afterward if it's too cool.

I wish you sunny, warm days in your garden as well.

Arianne

[snip] STANLEY J KUHARSKI <d.berg43@s...>

wrote: New to your group yesterday. Thank God for spring. I am also

outside as much as possible. Golden retriever and all. [snip]

March 31, 2004

Hi Stanley. I too have arthritic hips. One is worse than the other. I

limp and have pain every step I take. My doctor has set up some

physical therapy for me beginning tomorrow. I have been going to a

heated pool for 15 months. It really has helped, but my doc thinks

that PT might help me in standing and using my body to reduce the

pain. I certainly hope so.

I have one of those kneelers to work in my gardens with. It helps me

to get up as it has handles on each side. I have 1/4 acres of gardens

and a pond. I just love to be out there getting dirty, smelling the

earth, and watching everything grow. I can't wait for the weather to

break here. I hope that by April 15th, It will have warmed up to 50

degree sunny days. I can take that, but no cooler. If it is cloudy,

it has to be near 60 or not windy. My hands and hips will ache for

days afterward if it's too cool.

I wish you sunny, warm days in your garden as well.

Arianne

[snip] STANLEY J KUHARSKI <d.berg43@s...>

wrote: New to your group yesterday. Thank God for spring. I am also

outside as much as possible. Golden retriever and all. [snip]

March 31, 2004

Kathy, like you, I also like pulling weeds. Everyone I know thinks

it's weird, but I also find it tranquilizing.

It's a mindless job and lets my mind wander to the sights and sounds

out in the garden. Sometimes I play music but mostly just listen. I't

amazing what you hear when you 'listen'.

Arianne

[snip] " Kathy Featherston " <kfxston@c...>

wrote: Hi: Welcome to the group and it sounds like you came to the right

place.[snip]

March 31, 2004

Kathy, like you, I also like pulling weeds. Everyone I know thinks

it's weird, but I also find it tranquilizing.

It's a mindless job and lets my mind wander to the sights and sounds

out in the garden. Sometimes I play music but mostly just listen. I't

amazing what you hear when you 'listen'.

Arianne

[snip] " Kathy Featherston " <kfxston@c...>

wrote: Hi: Welcome to the group and it sounds like you came to the right

place.[snip]

March 31, 2004

Kathy, like you, I also like pulling weeds. Everyone I know thinks

it's weird, but I also find it tranquilizing.

It's a mindless job and lets my mind wander to the sights and sounds

out in the garden. Sometimes I play music but mostly just listen. I't

amazing what you hear when you 'listen'.

Arianne

[snip] " Kathy Featherston " <kfxston@c...>

wrote: Hi: Welcome to the group and it sounds like you came to the right

place.[snip]

March 31, 2004

[[ What do the rest of you do during the Spring and Summer that allows you

to

" forget " your pain at least for a few hours?]]

Hey Ray,

I with you on the garden stuff...also a garden addict! My only wish is that

I could do more...it's usually only about 1/2 hour of work and my pain

reminds me it's still there. I try to take frequent breaks, maybe put ice

on my back, turn up the stimulator and relax with some ice tea for a while.

If I do this then I can go back to the garden for a while. I have also

recently put up lots of bird feeders in my yard so I can sit on the deck and

watch them while I'm on a break. I used to do lots of veggie gardening but

where my veggie garden is located is way in the back of my property and up a

hill so it would kill me just to get to it. Now I do a lot less but in

containers and it makes for a lot less pain. I still get tomatoes, onions,

lettuce and even green beans from containers...just love picking my own

fresh veggies!

I'm ready for spring!!!

Ann

March 31, 2004