Taking time out of my busy life is crucial to manage EDS pain
Whose health comes first — a horse's or my own?
As I wrote last week, October tends to be a stressful month at my job, where I work with students on their post-high school plans. With November approaching, I’m thankful I feel a little better after some tough Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) pain. Prioritizing bodywork and rest time was crucial to my ability to bounce back and feel better.
I have a massage every other week, which is the only thing that helps me avoid feeling like a painful, twisted pretzel from EDS. Although my insurance doesn’t cover it, I’ve built it into my budget because its benefits are profound. But life occasionally gets crazy and I’ll miss a session. I always regret it, but sometimes it’s just unavoidable.
Ahead of my last session, I ended up in a bit of a conundrum. Cherry, one of my two horses, was injured after being kicked in the shoulder by another horse. Unfortunately, an appointment with the veterinarian fell on a Monday afternoon, and my massage was scheduled for later that evening. But I couldn’t be in two places at once, and Cherry had to be examined.
The problem, though, was that if I skipped my massage, my pain would worsen for weeks. I decided to rearrange my schedule and leave work early, so that I could take care of Cherry and get my massage. It was a little stressful, but a temporary hiccup was better than missing my massage. I’m glad I made that decision, as I could manage the stress that came with it because I felt better after the massage.
When the next weekend came, I needed a break, but I had several chores and other things to do. I’ve learned the hard way, though, to avoid starting a week tired, if possible, so I decided to prioritize my to-do list. I separated items into things that needed to be done and things I wanted to get done. Whatever wasn’t finished by 4 p.m. on Sunday had to wait.
I managed to get everything I needed to do done, along with most of what I’d wanted to do. I also cooked, making sure I had breakfast for the morning and leftovers for the week.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s OK to compromise and take a break. I can’t be everywhere and do everything at once, and it’s OK to push back noncritical things for a few days. I used to get frustrated when my EDS prevented me from doing what I wanted, when I wanted to do it. I’ve since learned that if I take a short break and give in to my EDS, it’s better for me in the long term.
Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.
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