A support thread for those dealing with the ups and downs of living with chronic illnesses, pain or disability.

I am not sure there is room for my list of ailments! This multiple pathology is the stuff of getting older.
Anyway here goes!....
- limp due to unmended foot fracture ... use a stick
- acute groin pain for 14 years since hip replacement
- back surgery ... numb heavy legs still.
- back pain
- bad arthritis in right elbow following previous injury
- trapped ulnar nerve
- numbness in hands
- in constant pain
- numerous heart problems and now have stent, pacemaker and had av node ablation
- sphincter of oddi syndrome ... its a problem with bilary system and known as SOD ... I'll drink to that!
- weak bladder ... use pads
- there is more, but I will stop now!

The irony is that everyone tells me how well and young I look ... I have longish very dark brown hair still and very few wrinkles... both hereditary .... and I dress in jeans and no crimpelene! I'd rather have white hair and wrinkles than feel so grim!!

So, some coping ideas:
- blue badge ( apply and give it a go), which also allows you to get a disabled railcard for £20.
- recliner chair ... mine is great
- profiling bed ... also great
- grabbers in every room
- sock gadget
- long handled shoe horn with gadget to get shoes off attached
- shower chair/rails
- Alexa
- supermarket deliveries
- amazon, ebay etc for shopping
- keep up every possible activity, even if it is a struggle ... U3A, singing, art, local events, whatever .. just don't let them go.
- don't give up
- avoid getting glued to TV .... walk round the room while you watch or during ads
- make sure you have every benefit to which you are entitled
- never lose sense of humour
- use passenger assist ... they are great and no-one asks you to say what your problems are
- try not to grind on about ailments all the time. They may dominate your life but when with others it us good to try and put them aside for a bit
- find ways to help others. I still run a choir, do the bookings for the local hall, do the publicity for all local events, write book reviews, run an annual arts festival day. Find things you CAN do and gloss over those you can't

It's all a bugger, but we have to make the best of it
- keep smiling ... good luck!

I just have arthritis in my hands and knees which makes walking painful and for some reason makes my body tire very quickly. Which is, I think, the reason why my house is now like the houses on Sort Your Life Out, which is why I have motivational tiredness on top of it and am currently just looking at the mess not knowing where to start (procrastination has always been my superpower). I can’t keep up with the general maintenance; currently have a dripping bathroom tap and have got to drain all the water so I can get it isolated; as I have a water meter this is doing my economy minded brain in big time. Also have a bowel and bladder that really seem to dislike me…even if I feel ok one of them will gleefully go ‘we’ll see about that’. Bus rides or theatre trips are a nightmare.

Great idea.

Shall we share our current conditions and diagnosis?

I’m happy to kick off?

I’m 67, have widespread osteoarthritis (knees/hips/back/neck), and also about 12 years ago a diagnosis of both fibromyalgia and CFS, I have mild asthma, diverticulitis, IBS, been on and off anti depressants, (currently off), Hidradenitis Suppurativa, (a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes painful, recurring abscesses, nodules, or tunnels under the skin where rubbing occurs.) and thanks to most of these conditions now obese!

Happy to swap any treatments I’ve had/tried and to listen and support others.

🥀

I would pop onto the thread from time to time. Good idea

This thread is a great idea teabagwoman. I'm fortunate not to be in this situation but knowing how important the support thread on the estrangement forum has been and continues to be, I'm sure this will be extremely beneficial too .

I saw this yesterday and thought it was really interesting.

www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/bones-joints/neuroscientist-solution-to-chronic-pain/