PAIN DOWN THE DRAIN

Pain Update:

I’ve been having a big old RA flare and am doing my best not to take any more steroids. Pain is, well a big pain..ya know? I really did learn a lot from my month of alternative therapies, so I am trying to reach into my bag of tricks.

I did another “Clearing my Light Grid” session Friday night with Megan. It is the most Hocus Pocus you can imagine….but I like it. Maybe it’s just a group meditation with a twist, who knows? It leaves me in a good place emotionally, so I’ll take whatever I can get. RA, like most autoimmune diseases is strongly affected by stress. I had a major flare right after Daddy passed. My Dr told me it was to be expected. The stress. So I guess it makes sense that meditation helps.

But my REAL secret weapon is now…..FLOATING Therapy. I tried soaking as much of my body as I could get into a soup pot of Epsom Salts the other day. The parts that I could get in (ok, not that much of me) felt better. I called FLOAT and asked if they could call me if they had any cancellations. The place is booked weeks in advance. I got lucky and the called me with a Saturday AM apportionment. Yahtzee !!!

90min in super saturated Epsom Salt Solution (Magnesium Sulfate ) When I got out, ALL my joints were so happy! Nothing hurt. Did you hear me?? Nothing hurt!!! OMG, the relief made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I guess it pulls the extra fluids out of my swollen joints. I don’t even care how it works, just that it does. AND… They have special pricing for pain patients.

I feel like I have struck gold. The owner told me that in Europe, insurance pays for a series of Float sessions before it will pay for opiates. I know nothing is a panacea but this is to me. This was the first time I tried it at the height of a flare. It took me a few sessions to get the hang of it. I can’t swim and tend to panic in water. But I felt so good yesterday I just had to share this.

I am still drinking my Keifer for the probiotics. I do 10 min of meditation in the car before I go into work (if any of my coworkers are reading this, please do not knock on the car. I am not dead), I am walking whenever the weather and my joints allow, I am still in counseling and trying to eat local/healthy.

I am also attempting to cut my work hours back a bit. My Dr thinks it would really help getting and keeping the RA under control. I haven’t quite worked that part out yet. I know that I would much rather have less pain (and long term complications) than any amount of money.

Feeling hopeful for the first time in a while.