Get creative.

DH and I like to do things like go to the races. He fixed me a seat that clamps to the bench that has a high back and arm rests. It allows me to do something I thought I couldn't.

We have also "created" a ironing board that is the exact height I need and is incrediblly stable. I don't iron much, but there are some things I do like to have pressed.

For me it comes down to holding onto some things that I enjoyed. Take the things you don't want to give up and look around for other ways to do them.

T

You can do a little bit of gardening at a time, see how you feel, then go out and spend a little more time each day until you figure out your threshold before you overdo it. Also, don't push yourself to hard if you know you have responsibilities the next day--give yourself that ''just in case'' day to recover.

I had to give up gardening too, but once my pain meds started to kick in, I ever so gradually got back into gardening. I can't spend 6 to 8 hours at a time out there obviously, but even one or two hours of planting, weeding, watering, etc. is so enjoyable.

Hi: Naps can help, and just doing a little here and a little here seems to work best, at least in my experience.
Great ideas from the two other posters here, BTW!

thanks guys. love the nap suggestion :)

Oh, naps are great! I lie down every afternoon after lunch for about an hour. Even if I don't go to sleep, I feel so much better for resting.

Also, I think if you watch it for the majority of the time with pacing and getting in your 8 hrs. sleep, the occasional special outing shouldn't be too bad. But you can prepare for it by not planning anything the next day and letting yourself take a break.

I enjoy maintaining my vegi garden, visiting with friends, running small errands. I always rest usually within a few hours of starting my day. Thats when the pain kicks in and it can take 3-6 hours for meds to kick in. I'm trying to plan a creative art project that I can work on. It's always nice to have something to look forward too.

i think part of my problem is after working full time, i don't often have another few hours left in me for anything recreational...

I have planted container gardens over the past couple years. I used 5 gallon buckets. My husband drilled holes into the bottom for drainage and helped me put soil into them. I plant tomatoes, green peppers, cukecumbers and pole beans. Also put my flowers in pretty containers that I collect from garage sales. Seems to work well and I don't have to strain my body to tend my plants.

I have 2 young children so I'm on the move all day. By 8pm I'm so tired I can't even talk straight. My body usually hurts so bad that I feel like I just want to curl in a ball and die. Great suggestions by everybody about giving your self time to recover the next day and naps. Don't try to plan to much in one day. You have to take it easy or you will make it worse. Like you I don't always have the option of a day time nap. It's just about adjusting your life not giving it up. instead of going to the fireworks, maybe you could have a small get together at home with people that understand you can't stay up all night. Have your own fireworks. that worked out much better for me this year instead of killing myself with all the traffic and the kids being irritated and not getting home till late. Hope I helped :)

I think acceptance and modification is important for us. Acceptance that our old life will not work and figuring out ways to modify and have a new life. I am knitting a baby afghan for a friend, I use to be able to knit for hours, not now. I now I knit until my arm pain gets too bad and then stop. That is about 30-45 minutes of knitting. We are all amazing people we just forget that at times because of pain.

Love the "get creative", "simplify", and moderation suggestions- they are all things that I do also. I have this 'pay to play' theory-- the more I do at once, the more I will pay for it later. I am an avid ocean sailor, but last year it got so an afternoon on the water took 3 days to recover from, so am currently rethinking how I can still get out there.

Being at home during the day now I find taking lots of breaks helps, for example dust mop floors in 3 rooms - sit and read news on the computer for 15-20 minutes, change the sheets on the bed, sit and read out side for 15-20 minutes etc. That way I can get stuff done between about 11-4 everyday without having to pay for it the next day.

It's a bit like living on the Space Station- a lot can be accomplished, just have to sort out the feasible way to do it. From that point of view we are all adventurers....

thanks everyone. it helps knowing i'm not alone. maybe next year i'll go to the next state over and buy some fireworks of my own - i like that suggestion!

I really like letitbe's "pay to play" philosophy.

I think the biggest things I've done are accept that doing what I enjoy is going to cost me in terms of recovery, and learn to modify the way I do things. The container gardening idea is a good example of that. Another is, knowing that standing in one place hurts me, I have a bar-height stool that I use in the kitchen if what I'm doing is going to take more than a few minutes. I do things like mixing and chopping vegetables sitting at my bar, as it is a more comfortable height. Things that have to be done IN the kitchen, for instance being at the stove, I bring the stool to the work spot.

I recently had my 11-year-old granddaughter for a week and got through all our fun activities because I planned a day of rest in between every day of activity.

I have the same problem working full time. I had to learn to cut out somethings and just say no once in awhile. Make sure you do the things you love best. I actually put dates on the calendar to stay home for 24 hour periods. That's a treat for me, we are busy people! I have to pace myself.

yes, it's amazing in this busy world how awesome a weekend alone at home can feel! sometimes it's better than any other treat or holiday there is!