Tag Archives: ouch

Oct17

4 Strategies For Dealing With Chronic Pain

Posted on by
Standard
4 Strategies For Dealing With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be debilitating to live with on a daily basis. According to the National Health Interview Survey, a comprehensive study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 21% of adults in 2021 experienced daily pain, while a more recent study for 2023 found higher numbers of chronic pain cases at 52.4 per 1,000 persons per year. Chronic pain can stem from a multitude of conditions, each with its unique challenges. From arthritis and fibromyalgia to cancer, injuries, and many more, these conditions inflict the body, causing persistent discomfort and disruption to daily life.

Chronic pain often persists despite medications, necessitating a shift in lifestyle to accommodate fluctuating pain levels, energy, and capabilities. This adaptation empowers sufferers to take control of their condition and live their lives to the fullest, even on challenging days. This post is going to look at some ways that you can help ease chronic pain levels to reduce the impact it can have on your life:

Move:

The last thing you probably want to do when you’re in pain is move. However, being sedentary can make pain levels worse and cause a whole heap of issues for your body. It’s important to look at the type of movement you can do within your capabilities and incorporate as much or as little as you can each day. Movement for chronic pain can be simple stretches from bed as much as you can manage. It can be taking a short walk or even walking in place at home. For some people, it can be more intense movement like Pilates and yoga that helps build strength and keep the body moving. Find what works for you without making the pain worse, and move your body as much as possible.

Alternative Treatments:

Alternative treatments for chronic pain can be beneficial in helping when traditional medicines cannot. Acupuncture, using an acupressure mat, or visiting a chiropractor can provide some relief. Using products like CBD or THCA pre-rolls can assist in relaxing the body and help to soothe pain. Other treatments that can be beneficial for chronic pain include massages, cupping, meditation, and even biofeedback. It’s essential to use these strategies as part of your overall plan for dealing with your pain levels.

Go Easy On Yourself:

One factor that can make chronic pain worse is forcing yourself to be “normal” when you’re in constant pain, and if you’re trying to live your life as if you’re not in pain, the likelihood is, you will only make things worse and more painful for yourself. Instead of forcing yourself to do more, do less. Make adjustments for your capabilities, find workarounds, and cut yourself some slack. By accepting your condition and health status and working with it, not against, you’re setting yourself up for success.

Therapy:

Getting therapy for your chronic pain can be an excellent tool for helping you to move forward and cope with the stress of being in pain on a near-constant basis. That’s not to say the pain is in your head, but more that the mental toll of being in pain can be a lot to deal with, and many people experience depressive thoughts as they can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. If beginning therapy is the step you want to take to improve your chronic pain, start by browsing websites like https://onebodyldn.com/physiotherapy-london (or similar clinics in your local area). Opt for a location with lots of good reviews and patients who expressed success in their testimonials. Therapy can help you to find coping strategies and methods for living your life while navigating complex pain.

We hope these ideas provide relief and lift your spirits!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan26

Urgently Awesome

Posted on by
Standard
Urgently Awesome

Hello!! A few weekends ago, I took a tumble that resulted in some pretty gnarly cuts on two of my fingers. The boo boos were in the most inconvenient spot – right on the crease beneath the pad of the finger. My right hand ring finger was healing pretty well, but the one on my middle finger was a different story. I felt like the wound was barely closing and what’s worse, it felt infected too. By the time I was nearing the end of a course of antibiotics, I was worried that it wasn’t enough so Johnny and I decided to go to the Well Now urgent care clinic down the street from us. This place actually used to be a Family Video lol.

We went to Well Now this past Monday and we were both most impressed with it. We were in and out in less than an hour, which was great. The care was phenomenal and there were also TONS of goodies there too! Check it out:

image_67531777image_67516161(3)image_67191553image_67164161(1)

Before going to the Well Now clinic, I looked up some reviews online to see other people’s opinions. For the most part, it came highly recommended. This was nice, but what stuck out the most to me was that this place had a Slushie machine in the waiting room! Obviously, I just had to see this for myself and by god there was. Lol, I have never seen anything like it before and it was so fantastic to sip on a blue raspberry Slush Puppie as we waited to get called back. It reminded me of when my dad would take me to skating practice because he would always get us a Slushie to share afterwards. Such a lovely burst of nostalgia. 🙂

We were called back to a room less than five minutes after sitting down and the PA who took care of us was the best. He was so nice and funny, which really helped put both me and Johnny at ease. He dressed my finger to help get it to close and wrapped it up in some crazy contraption that made it look like a banana. Trust and believe I couldn’t wait to flip people off with it! The process was quick and pain free and before we knew it, we were ready to walk out the door. Of course, we had to grab some snacks to go on our way out. Another very nice touch, indeed!

Going to the Well Now clinic was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it. Not just for the Slushie machine, but for the excellent level of care too!

What was the best waiting room you have ever been in? Have you ever been to an urgent care before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

Out On The Town OOTD Bloopers

Posted on by
Standard
Out On The Town OOTD Bloopers

Howdy everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Out On The Town OOTD! The blooper segment on lifewithlilred is something that I am very proud of. Every time Johnny takes my pictures, there are always at least ten bad shots for each good pic! It seemed like such a shame to waste perfectly bad (But good!) content and I liked the idea of being someone on the world wide web who wasn’t embarrassed to share horrible pictures. I am most pleased that the blooper reel is continuing to go strong and I even started sharing some yikes shots on my social media. Hey, if you can’t be about it then don’t talk about it! Let’s take a look at the pics that definitely didn’t make the first cut from my OOTD shoot and have a laugh:

Mannequin pose on point

image_50432001(10)

Sweet, sassy, and looking stoned AF lol

image_50754049(1)

I feel like I’m about to say the word “indubitably” in this pic if that makes sense?

image_50437377(3)

Get me out of this thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

image_50728961(3)

TFYM when you get electrocuted

image_50456321(9)

Is it just me or is anyone feeling particularly clumsy as of late? Lol I feel like for the past week or so, I have been dropping stuff left and right, forgetting things I need at home, and acquiring minor injuries. I think I forgot my mind in 2023! Yesterday, for example, I got up from the couch to give the bunnies their snack. Within twenty seconds of getting up, I stubbed my toe SO hard and then managed to hit my hand against the door as I steadied myself. Talk about a double whammy because the toe stub hurt like a mother and the hand hit was just salt on the wound smh.

I don’t know about all of you, but I feel like stubbing your toe is one of the worst things. It’s like a paper cut or hitting your funny bone and I think everyone in Timber Top and surrounding neighborhoods heard me yelling expletives. If my life were a reality show, last night’s debacle definitely would have made the blooper reel! Maybe I’m just shaking off the fog of being pretty sick over holiday break. Maybe I’m just going crazy. OR maybe I need to time travel back to last year and get myself together. It could be a combination of the three, but here’s to hoping I have an accident free day today. Fingers and (stubbed) toes crossed!

Bloopers in photos are a hoot, bloopers in real life are not as fun lol. But, hey, at least it makes for something to share with all of you! 🙂 ❤

What is the worst minor injury in your opinion? Have you ever broken something special to you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug11

Dr. Paw Paw Overnight Lip Mask Review

Posted on by
Standard
Dr. Paw Paw Overnight Lip Mask Review

Hello! During a TJMaxx Mini Haul in February, I purchased the Dr. Paw Paw Overnight Lip Mask. However, I only started using it in July because I am forever obsessed with my Pacifica lip balms. The packaging for the Dr. Paw Paw mask (lol at the name) promised softening, smoothing, and plumping for lips and I thought that all sounded great. And, it was great, until it wasn’t. Let’s discuss:

image_50433537(6)image_50404353(3)image_50409473(5)

When I first started using the lip mask, I was applying it every night before bed and was moderately impressed with the results. I honestly didn’t see any difference in softness or smoothness, but I did notice that my lips looked plumper. Granted, the plumping effect diminished throughout the day but it was definitely there in the morning. I thought that was really cool and I still had my Pacifica balms to assist in the smoothness department.

The Dr. Paw Paw mask quickly became a staple in my nighttime routine, until things took a drastic turn. One morning, I woke up and my lips were on fire. They were burning, highly sensitive, and cracks were forming. I slathered my lips with my balm throughout the day, but nothing eased the pain I was feeling. My lips actually didn’t go back to normal until two or so days later.

I honestly thought that the sensation I was feeling was a fluke because the mask was working so well before. So, I tried it one more time and the exact same thing happened. I haven’t used it since. When I looked up reviews for this product, it was a draw between people raving about it or saying they had similar results to mine. What I find interesting is that there is no disclaimer on the packaging to discontinue use if you are experiencing burning or pain. This seems like something that should be included if people are online writing reviews about it!

In good conscience, I can’t recommend this product because in the words of Napoleon Dynamite: “My lips hurt real bad”. If you try the Dr. Paw Paw Overnight Lip Mask, you might have great results or your lips will be burning. You’ve been warned!

Have you used this product or a similar one before? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan10

How To Recover Stress-Free After A Work Injury

Posted on by
Standard
How To Recover Stress-Free After A Work Injury

Injuries can happen at any workplace, no matter how safe the environment is. If you find yourself injured while on the job, it can be a scary and overwhelming experience. However, there are steps that you can take so that your recovery is as stress-free as possible. Let’s get started:

Stay Calm:

The first step in recovering from a work injury is staying calm. It may be hard to do this in the heat of the moment, but remaining calm helps you think more clearly and make better decisions about your next steps. Take deep breaths and focus on staying present until help arrives to make an informed decision about what comes next. Being knowledgeable about workplace injuries can also help maintain your sense of calm as well as assist in making an informed decision after the fact. Take the time to learn the policies at your place of employment and find out how does workers comp work there. Every job site is different so this will be valuable information to have.

Document Everything:

Any professional at a personal injury law firm will recommend that after an injury occurs, document every detail, including when and where it happened, what caused it, who was involved, and any other information that might be important. This documentation should be completed while everything is fresh in your mind so that you have accurate answers if any questions arise later. In addition, be sure to document all conversations with supervisors or other personnel related to the injury incident. This is going to be most important, especially if you choose to work with a personal injury lawyer like https://www.warfortol.com/ or one in your local area.

Seek Medical Attention:

When an injury happens at work, seek medical attention immediately if necessary. Even if you don’t feel like anything serious has occurred, it’s essential to follow up with a doctor for further evaluation and treatment if recommended by a health professional. From there, your doctor might suggest a visit to a specialist or put in an order for X-rays. If the latter is the case, you may need to head to a practice that offers X-Rays in Lake Hopatcong, NJ (or your local area) for the procedure to be carried out.

Make sure that any medical visits related to the injury are documented for further review by employers or insurance companies if needed.

Understand Your Rights:

After being injured at work, you must understand your rights when going through workers’ compensation processes or filing a legal claim against your employer if necessary (depending on circumstances). Researching relevant laws and getting yourself an expert Personal Injury Attorney ahead of time will give you a good idea of what type of compensation is available so that you know what steps you need to take to receive them (if applicable).

Follow Up With Employer:

Once medical attention has been sought out and documented accordingly, follow up with your employer to check that all paperwork related to the injury is filled out correctly and filed within the required time frames (depending on state laws). This is also something that a personal injury lawyer like Stewart Bell (or a similar practice in your local area) can assist with. It can be most helpful to have someone in your corner, especially if you are feeling anxious about the situation. Keep copies of all documents related to the injury for future reference and check back with your employer periodically for updates or changes regarding the incident that may have occurred since its initial reporting date.

Take the time to research the protocol for your employer about work related injuries so you will know exactly what to do if getting hurt on the job ever happens to you or a coworker!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sep29

Getting Back To Work With An Injured Finger   

Posted on by
Standard
Getting Back To Work With An Injured Finger   

No matter what kind of injury, you need to make sure that you don’t exacerbate it when you return to work. For a lot of people, a finger injury might not seem like a big deal. However, if you spend a lot of your time working, it can really get in the way. As such, here are a few tips to help you get back to tapping away without worrying about exacerbating the injury any further:

Take on a little less work:

It might not sound like the solution that you want, but you may simply have to get used to the fact that you’re not going to be able to type as much as you could. Most finger jams and sprains don’t take more than a few days to heal but, in the meantime, you shouldn’t think that you can keep up with your pace just by relying on your other fingers. This is going to strain other parts of the hand much more than they’re used to, which can then lead to repetitive strain injury in the hand or wrist, which can see you taking even longer to get better.

Make sure that it’s resting:

If you’re typing at the keyboard, you need to make sure that you’re not using the injured finger to do so. You need to keep that finger in a state of rest as much as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to make sure that it’s dressed to avoid using the fingers any further down your hand (so, don’t use your pinky if you have injured your ring finger, for instance.) Learn how to wrap a jammed finger so that you can keep it compressed and prevent it from wiggling too much while you’re typing, as well. It might take a while to get used to typing without all your digits on your side, but it is worth it.

Managing the pain:

Even if you’re able to avoid using the affected finger while you’re working, you’re still going to be moving the digits around it, which can affect the tendons controlling that finger. Micro-movements can still cause the pain to get a little worse. For that reason, you might want to look at some of the natural ways of easing pain that you can rely on during the day to make sure that you’re alleviating some of the stress that you might be causing. If the feeling starts to tick a little higher on the pain chart, it’s important to stop and rest for a while. Don’t work through the pain, that can only make it take longer to recover fully.

You might be going a little slower than usual for a while, but it’s important to make sure that you give your finger the time it needs to heal. If you have to talk with your employers or clients about maintaining expectations until you’re back at full strength, then you simply have to do it.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sep24

How To Cope With An Exercise Injury   

Posted on by
Standard
How To Cope With An Exercise Injury   

The recovery process for sports injuries usually concentrates on physical rehab. But for athletes, it’s also important to incorporate sports psychology techniques to help them recover mentally. When you’re otherwise healthy and physically active, an injury can be frustrating. Resilience is needed both physically and psychologically to cope with injury stress.

Despite these feelings, it’s important to move forward and find more positive ways to overcome this setback. Athletes who can handle injuries gracefully will become more focused, flexible, and resilient. The following strategies can help:

Educate Yourself:

Ask your doctor, trainer, coach, or therapist the following questions to learn what you need to do to heal quickly and fully:

  • Do I have an injury (what type is it)?
  • How can I get treated?
  • Why am I receiving these treatments?
  • Can this be recovered in a reasonable amount of time?
  • During rehabilitation, what should I expect?
  • Are there any safe alternatives to traditional exercise?
  • If I get worse, what are the warning signs?

A second opinion may be necessary if you feel uncomfortable with the response from your care team.

Recovery Is Your Responsibility:

Your recovery can be impacted if you take responsibility for it. A greater sense of confidence can be found when you take control of your recovery process. The process also helps you recover faster than trying to return to the level of performance that you had before your injury. Making sure you have a first aid kit with medical ice packs is a start to taking responsibility and good care of yourself.

Stay Committed To Your Recovery Process:

Others may lose motivation and slack off on their therapy, while others may become discouraged and quit. To heal quickly, be committed to your treatment and listen to your doctor and/or athletic trainer. You can stay balanced as you achieve your healing goal by setting small daily or weekly goals that build momentum. You should also speak to yourself positively.

Stay focused on what you need to do and not what you will miss during your daily rehab. Work hard and maintain a positive attitude throughout it.

Get Support From Others:

Following an injury, it is common to isolate from teammates, coaches, and friends. You should keep in touch with others as you recover. They can offer advice or encouragement when you need to vent. Make sure that you are surrounded by strong, positive people who can encourage you during your recovery and boost your spirits when you are feeling discouraged. It can be very comforting to know that you are not alone when you suffer an injury.

These four tips should help you to look after yourself during recovery from an injury. Be good to you and get well soon!

Featured Image By: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

May4

Vaccine Team Pt. 2

Posted on by
Standard
Vaccine Team Pt. 2

Hi! I am so pleased to announce that as of April 29th, Johnny and I are fully vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine. When we got our first shot, we drove to the location in white out snow conditions and this time around, it was like driving in a monsoon! Rain, snow, and hail were not going to stop us from getting vaccinated and I am very thankful that we made it to both appointments safe and sound.

Similar to when we got our first shot, Johnny and I were in and out in about a half hour and were feeling good for most of the evening. Then, five or so hours later, we both took a turn for the worst with really sore arms, headaches, and what felt like a fever for me and chills for Johnny. We were SO miserable that night and the following day and we both just couldn’t get any relief. There was, honestly, a part when I started crying because everything hurt so bad.

Johnny had to keep reminding us both that what we were experiencing was better than getting COVID and while that didn’t make me feel any better at the time, he is most certainly right. Being fully vaccinated despite all of the aches, pains, and restless nights makes it all one hundred million percent worth it.

Although the second vaccine shot was no joke whatsoever, I still highly encourage everyone to get themselves scheduled for their vaccination. I feel so happy and proud to do my part to keep my loved ones and complete strangers safe and am incredibly thankful to begin feeling safer around others and have people feel protected around me too. Please join me and Johnny on the Vaccine Team!

What was your COVID vaccine experience like? Which side effects did you have? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb12

Turning Back The Clock On Those Creaky Joints

Posted on by
Standard
Turning Back The Clock On Those Creaky Joints

It happens to all of us, but when you feel it for the first time, it’s only natural that you might be a little worried. Your joints might be starting to complain at you a little more regularly and you might be worried that this is an irreversible sign of aging. However, while joint paint does tend to naturally come with age, it doesn’t mean that it’s inevitable or unstoppable. In fact, here are a few ways you might be able to stop it:

Consider your weight:

It’s not a topic you might like to think about that often but the simple truth of the matter is that the more overweight you are, the more pressure is going to be put on areas like your back and your knees. Not only are they going to be uncomfortable more often, but you’re more likely to develop musculoskeletal injuries from simply moving around. Weight is not the end-all and be-all of your health, but if you are overweight, it can be damaging to your health in the long term. There are plenty of healthy weight management strategies, try choosing those that are easy to incorporate in the long term rather than fad diets or short-term tactics like cleanses.

Get yourself a little relief:

A lot of the pain that you are likely to feel around your lower back and your joints is likely to be caused by pressure as a result of inflammation. There are ways to help combat this inflammation, such as by managing your weight, but a little physical assistance can also do a lot of good. For instance, after exercising, it’s important to stretch and to use foam rollers to make sure you ease the tension out of your body after tensing it for so long. If you’re having joint aches, then direct approaches such as visiting a chiropractor for knee pain can help, as well. There are plenty of proven techniques for applying a little pressure to get the pain out of your body.

Check with your doctor:

Joint pain can be a natural part of aging or it can be a result of working too hard, being stressed, or not getting enough time to rest. However, it can also be a symptom of a chronic condition that you’re not dealing with. The most common of these is arthritis. Arthritis pain almost always presents primarily as joint pain, as it is a condition that is related to long-term inflammation. Getting a diagnosis can help you get access to additional treatments you need, such as medication and even surgery if the pain is that bad. The symptoms of such conditions tend to worsen over time, so it’s important to find it and start combating it early.

You can’t prevent all of the signs of aging from coming at one point or another. You can, however, make sure you’re doing your best to keep your body young, healthy, and free from pain as possible. Hopefully, the tips above can help with that!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov5

Literally Falling For Fall Update

Posted on by
Standard
Literally Falling For Fall Update

Hello! If you have been following lifewithlilred for a while, then you have been with me through all kinds of ouches like when Johnny and I got in a car accident and I was hospitalized and an oral surgery gone dreadfully wrong. My most recent “whoopsy daisy” of taking a tumble on the wet, leaf strewn wooden walkway to my apartment was nowhere near as severe but, gotDAMN did it hurt and I’ve got a hell of a bruise to prove it. Check it out:

Now, this is not a post to get sympathy for this deep purple monstrosity. Rather, it is a reminder to be careful!! Coincidentally, my Johnny took a spill mere hours before me when he was taking out the trash that day and we have since been taking our time making the walk to our apartment on the wet, rainy fall days that Ohio has been plagued with.

Johnny has actually been so sweet because, most days, he gets home from work before me and he’ll text me to remind me that it’s really slick so I don’t take another spill. Falls, tumbles, accidents, oopsies, boo boos, or whatever you call it can be so painful and even fatal for some so this is just your Lil Red reminder to take your time while walking (And driving!) during this slippery weather so you don’t end up with a major bruise on your side too!

What is the fall weather like in your neck of the woods? What are some of your safety tips for bad weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah