My body is experiencing technical difficulties.
As you may have noticed, I haven’t been posting on Facebook or Instagram like I normally do. While I have been actively posting on Twitter, I have been slower than usual in responding to comments and messages. Why? Costochondritis, a common comorbid symptom of both fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis is to blame.
Here we go again
This is the second severe Costochondritis flare-up that I have experienced within 12 months. Not realizing what I was experiencing during the first flare, I pushed and pushed until the pressure around my ribs became so severe that I suffered multiple fractured ribs.
Now that I am able to recognize the symptoms, I am doing everything possible to avoid repeating the broken rib fiasco.
#Costochondritis: Inflammation of the connective tissue where the ribs attach to the breastbone. Recovery may take days, weeks, or even months. #chroniclife #autoimmunearthritis #fibromyalgia
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Plan of attack
My plan is to NOT have to spend as many months recovering as I did with the first flare. The only way to prevent my ribs from breaking from my current flare is rest.
I am not talking about slowing down or swapping crutches for my wheelchair, instead it is spending as much time lying in a reclined position. This means only being upright when absolutely necessary.
The good news is that as a freelance writer, blogger, and patient advocate I am able to work from bed. How I treat my body and what I use to relax my muscles allows me to think clearly and to concentrate on my projects.
My Treatment Plan
- Bed rest
- PEMF therapy
- Cannabis (topical rub and dry vaping flower)
- Heat
- Ice
- Re-prioritizing daily activities
This is just a description of how I am treating my flare and is not to be mistaken for medical advice. Talk to your doctor to decide how you should treat your next costochondritis attack. Cannabis is legal in the state of California for both medicinal and recreational purposes.
What this has to do with social media
What does this current flare have to do with my social media sabbatical?
In addition to giving my body time to heal, my next top two priorities are my family and work. At the moment this leaves little to no time for social media.
Instead of posting daily on Facebook and Instagram, my goal is to post 1-3 times per week. I will continue posting daily on Twitter, but with all three accounts I won’t be responding to comments or messages as quickly as I typically do.
Please do not be offended if it takes days or weeks for me to reply to your comments on social media. I promise I will respond as time permits.
Currently, my blog is the best place to interact with me. Be sure to follow it (see sidebar) to receive new post notifications or click here to subscribe to my email list. New email subscribers will receive health journal printouts to help you and your doctor learn more about your body and illnesses.
Thank you for your patience! I look forward to feeling better and catching up with you on social media as soon as I am able. Until then I would love to talk to you about Costochondritis right here.
What was your worst Costochondritis flare like?
What helped you the most?
