I believe I’ve made my last foray into the Back Pain Forum which I’ve visited online in recent months. Initially, this forum was a valuable information resource when I needed it—before and after spinal fusion surgery. It was good to connect with others who had gone that route. After all, one doesn’t attend a tea party or coffee morning and begin the conversation with, “Have you ever had a Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion including a plastic cage and titanium screws?” Or “What is your most effective post-op pain killer?”
I’ve graduated from the forum, because it has deteriorated to a mutual pity party. People who were well informed on medical issues have left, and the remaining folks simply like to talk about their suffering—along with many other disasters which are unfortunately occurring in their lives. The women complain about their husbands, and the men poke fun at their wives. No thank you. None of that appeals to me!
There are various threads on this forum: one for actual medical issues, another for non medical stuff such as hobbies and pets, and a couple more which focus on recipes and natural therapies. Moving from the medical thread to the other options seemed like it would be fun, but alas—the same people are discussing their same pain, drugs, and personal gripes on the allegedly upbeat threads. Evidently complaining is a popular hobby!
Conversely I have friends (online as well as in “real life”) who experience pain and/or illness, yet choose to “accentuate the positive”. These friends—plus my daily agenda of knitting, painting, piano playing, reading, soapmaking, etc.—provide ongoing therapy!
Along with prescribed medication, a light diet, and reasonable exercise, art is one of my very favorite therapies. I can paint sitting or standing, whichever the body requires at the moment. (Freezing any body position or doing one motion for too long at a spell are both difficult for me.) The joy of seeing wet paint spread on wet paper surmounts a lot of physical discomfort. I frequently get up and paint at night, whenever lying in bed becomes too much of a challenge.
The above rendering, titled “Lost Canyon of the Ancients”, is the product of a restless night. Better than a “forum”!
Margaret L.Been, ©2011
NOTE: for more about my nocturnal art adventures, see http://northernview.wordpress.com/ (THE MESSY PALETTE)
