Chronic Pain Battery Life

Good and realistic visual explanation on the "battery life" of someone with chronic pain.

Glam With A Touch of TENS

Lately I've been thinking about what my "new normal" will be. Above is a picture of my outfit on the way to the Tom Wolf inauguration gala. Cocktail attire, Balenciaga with the touch of TENS unit. 

I am a Type-A overambitious perfectionist. I always over do it. Now, on a daily basis, I start to think to myself "What do I think I can handle?" and then I do slightly less in a very George Costanza-esque fashion.  

Naturally, having physical limitations will always be a struggle for me. It will never feel natural. I don't like to be told I can't do things--even before I was diagnosed. Starting to slowly accept that I can eventually have my life back with limitations if I keep working hard and continue to make smart choices, making my health a top priority. Limitations are not bad, not good--just my normal now.

I'm realizing now that "normal" is subjective. Look at anyone's house--nothing is ever normal. Everyone has problems whether they be physical, psychological, etc.  People have strange habits. Rather have a stool in front of my sink or a closet of odd MPS related contraptions than be a hoarder or have 17 cats. 

If I want to be able to live my life independently eventually, I will most likely need to make adjustments to way I do things. Maybe I need to sit in a chair while I load and unload laundry and figure out how to make daily lifestyle chores less painful, but if it means I get my life back and get to do what I want, it doesn't feel like a sacrifice. I'll do what I have to do to avoid pain.