Taking Care of Everyone but Myself
The ever-present struggle with self-care continues. Stephanie at Surviving the Workday (one of my fav blogs) is focusing on the issue. Her recent post could be speaking directly to me. One of my ongoing issues is paying for my health care. Since I first developed a repetitive strain injury, I have wrestled with feeling guilty about the impact on our income. My doctor told me to take two weeks off of work, but when my employers doctor told me not to I didn’t feel that I could justify taking the time off. My employer’s doctor wasn’t looking out for my best interests, but I saw him as an expert so I did what he told me to do. Then after things got worse and the doctors had released me as permanently disabled (following a period of misdiagnoses and accompanying useless treatments), I found alternative treatments that helped but they weren’t covered by insurance. It was hard for me to think about spending that much money on myself especially when we were already struggling without my income. I wish now that I had spent whatever it took to get well which would have been cheaper in the long run. But hindsight is 20/20. I now know that repetitive strain injuries need to be taken very seriously in the beginning before they become a chronic disability.
Today, I wrestle with the same issue. I have been putting off seeing a chiropractor and an acupuncturist because of the cost. I find myself feeling guilty about spending the money on myself. Its an ongoing inner-conversation that is being intensified by my back and neck hurting so much lately! The pilates, yoga, qi gong and walking have been helping me manage the pain but I obviously need more attention to my back.
Speaking of self-care, I just stumbled on My Daily Yoga with exercises you can do at your desk. I’m saving the link to use during my workday.
I’m glad you’re going to take care of yourself, but, boy, is it hard to do…:)
Chiropractic treatments surely help back and neck. Your health is worth the cost.
Well, I haven’t actually made an appointment yet! So far I’ve gotten a recommendation for a chiropractor, but there’s still a strong voice of resistance in my head. It doesn’t help that the one I want to go to isn’t on my health insurance’s list of preferred providers. Sigh.
I’ve been going to the chiropractor since I was four years old. I carry my tensions in my neck and upper back. Every month I have to get my spince straightened out or I get headaches and a pain like someone is sticking a knife in between my shoulder blades. It really helps me!
If you decide to try it, I hope it helps you. Chiropractic doesn’t rely on drugs, but rather the body’s ability to heal itself once the spine is in the correct position.
Wow, Marilyn, I’m glad it helps you! I actually have gone to two very different chiropractors as well as an osteopath (they practices their own spinal manipulation). I’ve had positive experiences with two of them. I’ve been intending to try another chiropractor for a while. It has just been a matter of picking one and of paying for it. I’ll let you know how I make out!