I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 17 years ago. Ever since I have experienced various levels of pain, both nerve and muscular. On many occasions, pain has kept me from going to the movies, enjoying a play, or just sitting through a nice dinner in comfort.
I haven’t had much success with pills, either over-the-counter or prescription. Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) don’t alleviate the pain and evidence suggests they may damage the gut. Anti-seizure drugs put me in a fog. In my search for other solutions, I’ve made several discoveries that reassure me that I really can manage the pain.
It’s taken time, but accepting that pain is a permanent part of my life and will never permanently go away means I spend less mental and physical energy on finding ways to “cure” it. No longer focusing all my energy on my pain seems to have alleviated some of the tension around my nerves.
Accepting my pain doesn’t mean I’m passive about it. I continue to find ways to ease it, including practicing yin yoga, a type of yoga designed to settle the nerves. I also walk as often as possible in my garden or around the block. On days when I have more energy, I may even hike on a local trail. Most days, I slip into a warm bath in the evening to settle my nerves even more.
Finding ways to distract myself has become a fun mission. Music is particularly helpful. When my earbuds are in and the music is rocking, my fingers flow across the keyboard and my articles seem to write themselves. Like blinders on a racehorse, music allows me to focus, and the pain fades.
Sometimes the smallest amount of joy—spotting a sunflower along the highway, watching a red tail hawk soar overhead, listening to ocean waves pound the beach—can dissipate the greatest pain. I look for beauty in everything I do and everywhere I look.
Two of my passions—travel and photography—help dull my pain. Recent trips to Africa to photograph lions in the Serengeti and to the Galápagos Islands help dissipate my discomfort.
For the first time in a while, I have a wonderful companion who wants to enjoy life with me. The pain lingers, but I now have even more distractions, which keep the healing energies flowing.
Sometimes it takes a leap of faith—like not paying attention to the pain—in order for it to go away. Or at least to not be as bad as before.
Caroline Craven was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001. Her award-winning blog is Girl with MS. She can be found on Twitter.