this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2024
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Chronic Illness

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submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

I have recently discovered that I am hypermobile but social anxiety and the pain prevent me from going to a doctor (also I don't trust them and they scare me) Do you have any tips on living with chronic pain? Anything from over-the-counter drugs and physical aids to tips for everyday tasks I know I'll have to talk to a doctor someday but in the meantime I'd like to be able to survive lol

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have hEDS. Moist heat pads are my go to after injury. That sounds gross but I feel like it helps the heat penetrate. A hugely helpful thing was a script for a muscle relaxer though. I get muscle spasms around the joints that slip the most (probably my body trying to hold everything together lol). My friend who also has EDS swears by a passionflower/cbd gummy for muscle relaxing, so maybe try that until you can get a prescription.

Physical therapy helps, too, and you can probably find one who will do video appointments.

Canes are pretty cheap, and they make collapsible ones. My hip and knee heal a lot faster when I use a cane after a dislocation. I don't really care for braces, but my friend really loves them, so ymmv. I much prefer using kt tape for stabilization. There's lots of guides on placement online. Just make sure you keep some oil on hand for when you're ready to remove the tape. Hypermobilty often comes with very sensitive skin that tears easily

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Thanks! Tape helps a lot, but my skin is not a fan of it. It itches very bad, and reaching out to scratch (expecially when the itch is on my back) hurts my shoulders, or just the act of scratching hurts my fingers.