Sometimes I try self-massage with a hand held massager. Distractions really don't work. Have you tried Vicodin or Morphine? My doc had me on those and then I moved and now can't get them. Do you have any hobbies you enjoy? There's a lot you can do sitting down (drawing, doodling, reading,etc).

thanks jacob. my nerves are grown in to scar tissue so the pain and numbness makes it extremely uncomfortable to try to massage, although making the blood go through it definitely helps. i like reading , watching movies and playing some video games but i hate having simple things being such a chore. ive always denied having trouble but it's really kicking my ass these last 10yrs or so..

Can you afford to have in-home support come over and help you out? You seem eligible for it.
I can't get it because I live in a room and board. We are required to do chores and to cook for the household. That can be a pain with fibro. I like reading,too. Had to break out my SAD visor 'cause it's getting too dark outside.

I really want to work, but so many employers are against pain meds and working, even if before the almighty ua you have no px doing your job, in fact my boss said "Oh that's a shame because your work is excellent your co-workers have nothing bad to say about you and the pt all love you". I feel disriminated against! They waited almost 4 weeks to tell me oh my you take nacotics, your a risk to the safety blah, blah, blah. If I was such a risk why did they wait almost 4 weeks to relieve of mmy job?

It's a hard road when you have fibro to look to the future, especially if you have other chronic conditions to go with it. The depression of not working and feeling useless also go along with this and that is the hardest thing I am going through right now. I feel I have no future because I can't do anything. I also have no friends or family support as when this whole thing began I pushed them all away. I have 2 daughters that keep me going from day to day but they don't understand and it breaks my heart thinking I can't be a great mom because all I do is sit or lay around. I just keep praying that God will give me the strength to go on living-such as it is

I completely understand! I have depression, chronic pain, panic, anxiety and agoraphobia. The pain has spread and gotten worse every year and since last fall I have not been able to do anything. I wish I could just sleep, but that even evades me. I sit or lay, due to the pain. I have absolutely no life at all and I am alone. Husband left two years ago while I was recovering from a huge surgery that saved my life. The pain alone causes depression, but I have struggled with that my entire life. I barely survive and can't even afford to eat a full meal every day. What's the point..... Waste of oxygen is what I feel about myself. To constantly suffer, with no break and no one around to even talk too. Being way below the poverty line, I couldn't fix my vehicle when it broke down, so I am literally stuck here at home, not that I even want to ever leave my house anyway. I used to find some peace in doing crafts or coloring and now nothing at all is desirable. I wish I had the answers for you, for all of us. I know I am barely surviving myself. I could never take my own life, just can't do that, but I have begged God to take me back home. I feel like even God ignores me.....

How do I keep from going nuts? 1st, what's wrong with going nuts every now and then? :P

Sense of humor is the primary way I keep my sanity. If you can't laugh about being bedbound, you're going to have a harder time with so many things. Try to make yourself laugh. Surround yourself with happiness and laughter. Watch funny movies. Watch comedians you enjoy. I'll walk past my mother during my daily (try to have it daily) walk with my rollator and announce "beep beep, make way for the speedsters" I'm such a slow poke on my rollator, but I have fun with it anyway and act like I'm racing my chariot. That's what we call it too, it's my Chariot, sports car Red, built for Speed!

Another thing I do is Learn. I can't stand doing nothing. Just as when I was healthier and I couldn't stand sitting around doing nothing or even just playing video games. I had to keep moving. Now, I have to keep learning. One, it distracts me from my physical pain, etc. Two, it keeps me mentally healthy and on top of my game if/when I am able to return to the workforce. I learn all sorts of things: math, economics, history, geography, languages. Things that interest me. I am saving up for a stand for a keyboard my sister gave me. I hope to play a little each day. even if it's just 5 minutes. It's something!

Try to learn something new like embroidery, crochet, knit. Something you can do a little each day while you're having to sit or lay there. It can be tough when pain and medicine can make our hands shaky, but just a little each day can make a difference. Before you know it, you have a pretty hand made item that you did. It feels so good to accomplish something.

In the moments in the day when I am ok but not great enough to walk about the block, I will give myself a few minutes of sunshine by taking a stroll in the yard. I also always take a stroll in the house. Remember to get some movement in, even just stretches in bed. You want to avoid blood clots and the exercise can lift us out of the funk of depression.

I have chronic pain, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea. I am primarily left in a reclining position with periodic moments here and there when I can get up to walk a little or sit up. My life is literally in bed or the recliner. No husband. No kids. I am 34 and live with my parents. When I am really, really down, I listen to uplifting music. Often spiritual. When the body can't stand, the soul can stand for it and fly even.

When all else fails, I hug my dog. :)

Some people write poetry, blogs, make videos. There's other ideas out there but I hope something I shared helps you. {HUG}

You just have to find that "thing" that you enjoy doing that allows you some joy. I've been in Pain Management for 30 years now, I still work part time, about 25 hours a week, and that keeps me going. I would hate it if I was stuck in my house all the time. I can work from home if need be, but I still like to get out of the house, so I don't go stir crazy.

I do zen tangling and art therapy to help me stay calm and centered so I'm not grumpy all the time. I'm also starting a blog. As long as I can use my brain I do okay.

What do you like to do? What gives you enjoyment, within your limits? You find that one thing and you do it as much as you can. Sometimes just being on these types of Support Boards and meeting people, making friends does the trick.

Take care,

K

I have found that it's not only the distractions but the type of distraction that matters. When I fell last year and broke both of my legs and was bed bound with multiple complications for months, I had to find distractions. I started the adult coloring, that is a big distractor. But eventually I had all these finished pictures and that's it. I have found during my journey that " the true purpose of life, is found in the joy of helping others. " how could these pics help others? Well I live around many assisted and nursing facilities, with people who are lonely and rarely have visitors or see beautiful things. So I got myself over to these facilities with pictures in hand and the residents lived them. I also joined a group called just for fun singers. We don't rehearse, we just show up as we are able at these assisted living facilities and sing songs, no music, sing old songs that the residents know. It melts my heart. And when you are involved in an activity of doing for others, I forget about my pain, at least for awhile. Can you try that?