Self-Care Can Be Humbling, Too
I have this extreme stubbornness that I and my husband must live with. Might be genetic (thanks Dad) or just my “too independent-ness.” I often preach the necessity and wonders of self-care on this blog-a-ma-thing, but sometimes even I forget to pay attention to what my body needs. And so the humbling. Ha!
I’ve been experiencing pain in my left elbow area for a couple of months. It’s not constant, but it’s there anytime I try to carry things or make espresso drinks. I believe it’s a repetitive motion injury or tennis elbow. It’s not the elbow joint itself, but the surrounding muscles. My husband knowing the human anatomy extremely well (had to memorize for massage school) saw me massaging the muscle on my forearm just below the elbow and we talked a bit about getting a brace for it. I shrugged this off. But time passed and the pain has very recently gotten worse. So at Target yesterday while searching to feed my addiction (cherry Carmex, I love you!), he saw a brace that would work. There were a few, but too small for my fat. Then he pulled a smallish band-like one and handed it to me to check the measurements. Here I was thinking I needed a full-on brace and this is just a strap, really. So he bought it for me.
And? Well, it was a humbling experience, but it’s on my arm today and I feel a bit better already. I am terrible when it comes to any medical looking things having to be used or worn due to an injury or illness. If it was someone else I would make sure things were working and used properly. Because it’s me? I’m a stubborn asshole sometimes and I need to just suck it up and do what my body needs to recover. Not as easy as I’d like though. When I broke my foot a few years ago, I had to walk with a cane for almost two weeks (they gave me crutches but they hurt my pits too much to use). I hated that cane like little else in this world. My BFFs were complete assholes about it, too…calling me granny and shit (I never forget)! I ended up working from home and pretty much staying home unless absolutely necessary. My foot got better and the cane went away.
So this elbow thing? Yeah. I’m wearing it today. At work. Even though I was embarrassed at first, it’s staying on until I close. And you know what? It actually doesn’t look so bad. Like a narrow sweat band or something:
So I’m sucking it up and I’m in less pain and that’s great! Tonight I’m going over to a new friend’s house right after work to cut loose, watch some Tarantino films, and just have a ball (and a biscuit, Sugar)! Cannot wait! <3
What self-care have you had a hard time with?
Oh man, except for the cherry flavor and the Tarantino films, we are total twins! I’m good at helping other people take care of themselves, but when it comes to me I’m like that old man in Monty Python and the Holy Grail insisting he was entirely too alive and well to go on the cart!
I do better with the little things like a tasty slice of cake when I want one or the rare bubble bath to relax, but anything that smacks of being too unwell to take care of myself… you should have heard me crying when I finally accepted after four weeks of being really, really sick that I needed to see a doctor the first time I had bronchitis.
The darn thing is, if I had just gone when my ‘cold’ didn’t clear up in a week, I might not have the endless coughs that accompany every cold to this day, twenty-one years later.
At least it only took me two weeks to give in and see a doctor when I had whooping cough.
Oh gawd yes! The doctor thing? Meh! I mean, I know when I have bronchitis now, had it a kajillion times. But I rarely go to the doc for it now. They wanna give me antibiotics which rarely do anything for it anyway. And yeah, I’m good at giving myself sweet things when I want them and facial scrubs when I need ’em…but this “important” stuff? ha-ha! <3
This isn’t on topic at all, but I have a policy that when I see anyone, basically under any circumstances, whose hair looks fabulous, I tell them. And your hair is super cute in that picture.
That is a fabulous policy! Thank you! I’m growing it out and yesterday it was made of fail. So thank you x 1,000! <3
Hello, fellow stubborn person! I got a repetitive stress injury a little over four years ago from too much typing and writing at work, and it comes back periodically. I have gotten better at paying attention to pain cues– I no longer put Tiger Balm on sore muscles before I’m done typing or writing for the day. My pain is telling me something I need to know, and masking it hurts me more in the long run. But if I have an approaching deadline, I still find myself rationalizing why I don’t have time to take my typing breaks, get up to get a glass of water, schedule a massage, or go to physical therapy (all things that actually make me feel better).
I hope the brace continues to help you feel better.
Oh I am a firm believer in breaks. Gotta follow the 20-20 rule: 20 second break (as in looking away from any/all screens) every twenty minutes. For me it’s my eyes that get dried out if I don’t. But it’s been so long since I”ve had to actually type all day that I can’t recall exactly where that pain was. But I feel for ya! <3
You might want to have your elbow checked out by a chiropractor who does more than just backs. I always assumed they were just for backs and my other body aches were not part of what they do, but my awesome chiro can work magic on all parts of the body, including the elbow, hips, and feet.
Can work wonders for plantar fasciitis or carpal tunnel or whatever. Not a sure cure, of course…..nothing is…..but certainly worth trying with any chronic pain.
Thank you! You’re probably right, but our our insurance won’t cover it and we’re beyond flat broke now. I may go back to the accupuncture school if it persists. It’s super cheap and really did the trick on my back last time. Thanks again.
first off, i TOTALLY came over here from my google reader to comment on your fabulous hair, so I second what ashley said! secondly, i think your arm band makes you kind of look badass. and finally, hoo boy, this one hit close to home. me knees are hurtin’ something fierce and I’m not really taking care of them the way I should…maybe i think it’ll just get better or I don’t deserve to take care of them? workin’ on it.
Really? Well, thank you. I didn’t do much to my hair, but happy for the rave reviews.
Yes, you have to take care of those knees of yours. I read your post about it and I think the sudden decrease/increase in activity could be the culprit. The body is an interesting thing. It just suddenly decides to shut down when we least expect it. But I would suggest a massage with this in mind. My husband has been able to do wonders when I needed it most. Thank the stars for CMTs!
Basically any besides the basics(uh, don’t smell) when I’m in flare-up. If I’m not careful, I can get downright self-destructive. I shared a Ben&Jerry’s with L. every.single.night I was in serious flare-up, three nights in a row. I am such a bad influence…..
I don’t know enough to truly understand or instruct you on self-care for your flare-ups, but do treat yourself gently and kindly, hun. Ben & Jerry’s or no, you gotta take care of you! <3