by Trysh Ashby-Rolls –
Pain is the insult winter adds to injury and chronic conditions like arthritis. Stiffness waking up, joints screaming for attention, a twinge here, another there, compounded by pre-Christmas rain, snow and cold temperatures and the absence of friends gone south to warmer climes until spring.
In the British publication, Medical News Today (April 7, 2016) Christian Nordqvist writes: “In medicine pain relates to a sensation that hurts … There are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain is usually short-lived and usually indicates an injury. When the injury heals, the pain normally goes away. Chronic pain lasts much longer. It can be mild or severe.”
“Don’t I know it,” you growl, irritability par for the course. “Can’t sleep or eat. Heat’s up as high as it goes. I sit in front of the box watching Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, The Doctors and re-runs of Dr. Kildare. No one visits; no one cares. I hate winter – it’s cold, I’m cold, I’m lonely, fed up, miserable. Bah humbug. I’m going back to bed.”
The bad news is that staying in bed will only make things worse. So pick yourself up and dust yourself off – but I warn you, there’s work involved. Before we start “12 Steps to Winter Happiness,” before you get out of that cozy bed, try this: wiggle your toes, stretch your legs, bend your knees and do a few gentle pelvic tilts. Slowly roll your head from side to side and back to front. Extend your arms – sideways, up in the air, out in front. Roll your shoulders one way, then the other. Wiggle your fingers. If you can, with knees bent, roll from side to side. Rest briefly in a side position before letting your legs dangle over the edge of your bed. Push yourself into a sitting position, take a couple of deep breaths and slowly stand up. Put on a warm robe and slippers to shuffle off to the bathroom, then kitchen to break the night’s fast.
I favour coffee first while my oatmeal cooks. The oatmeal is generously laced with cinnamon and I throw in raisins, chopped apple and maybe coconut and sesame seeds. Add a dollop of yogurt, shower, dress and after one or two household chores, get outside. You gotta keep moving.
In the interests of full disclosure, I have osteoarthritis just about everywhere: from a 50-foot fall down a cliff followed by spinal cord surgery; a serious car accident in which I narrowly escaped breaking my neck. I can’t take any form of anti-inflammatory, narcotic or even Tylenol. Daily throughout winter, I’m tempted to stay in bed and read. Only rarely do I give in. So, believe me, I’m not just spieling off untried untested gobbledegook, although you may want to adjust my ideas to suit your own situation. Take one day at a time. Vary your timetable but keep quality in everything you do until spring shows her lovely face again and the pain subsides for a few warm sunny months.
12 Steps to Winter Happiness:
1. Sleep and rest
2. Eat nutritious food
3. Stretch, yoga, t’ai chi, qi gong
4. Walk, dance, pool exercises, swim.
5. Write, make art, listen to music, read, knit, weave.
6. Make plans: extend invitations to meet, visit, have coffee with a new friend.
7. Time with friends: Scrabble, potluck, movie night.
8. Group time: photo or bridge club, choir, other group of interest.
9. Meditation, prayer or contemplation (helps relaxation).
10. Get into hot water: bath, shower, hot tub.
11. BREATHE.
12. Laugh and have FUN.
