Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

[kibskix]

The jist of its in my journal somewhere, but I'm having some major nerve problems lately and for some idiot reason i'm cheating because I hurt.
I mean im not literally thinking "hey i'm in pain so I think i'll go have something I cant have" but you know what I mean.

I type all day long ad my job and I think its starting to catch up with me. About a week ago or so my hand went numb. I've had slight numbness in my pinky once in a while for years, but this came outta nowhere and is effecting mostly my 4/5th fingers, then up the top of my hand and up my arm to where now the muscles all feel like jello and evrything I do with that hand hurts. My elbow's throbbing and i'm really miserable, because I HAVE to type at work, and work Is busy, so i'm typing a LOT. I had a brace on, but I seriously can't type fast enough in it to get anything done, so my moods been really grouchy because im feeling frustrated with it because there's nothing I can do about it.
I have to go have an EMG next friday and I really dont feel like I can put up with this for another 8 days.So what do i do? I start cheating! wtf.
They aren't horrible cheats for some reason but cheats nonetheless. I had a normal breakfast this morning w/ eggs/sausage and water, I even passed on the coffee. Then I had a frustrating conversation with DH because hes giving the typical male response of "Well what do you want me to say, I dont know what to tell you" when im freaking out because it just aint normal how its feeling! so I got up and got a plate of veggies w/ ranch, and baby carrots were involved which are a no no. Then not 20 minutes later for some reason I got up again and came back with coffee (w/ splenda), a diet cherry coke and a mini bag of wheat thins and I wasnt even hungry. *Sigh*
someone slap me and keep me on track, it seems like every time I start doing well something idiotic comes up and "gets in the way" well things will always get in the way and I need to learn not to let them run my life!

[boonie stomper]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

Consider yourself SLAPPED! You probably have a subconscious memory of feeling better when eating/drinking a high carb food. Maybe your mother gave you punch in a bottle when you cried.
No excuse to cheat. The food will not help your pain! You will only add to your misery by defeating all your progress by cheating.

Look at other ways to solve the pain. Use Google. Ask-a-nurse service. Your local sports med doc. Chances are you could simply be suffering due to improper ergonomics and/or carpal tunnel syndrome. Maybe a different sort of brace should be worn, or a gel strip in front of your keyboard, or a different height chair... An OTC pain releiver would likely have done more for your pain than any amount of carbs. So, that said, hop back on the wagon!

[dreamof145]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

The old habits of reaching for food when you are feeling upset, nervous and overwhelmed are what we all have to overcome. Breaking habits is hard to do. Thats why it is important that you develope a plan to stop the cycle. First of all, keep track of the things that set you off on a cheat. Once you recognize these issues, you can better conquer them. Then, after you've identified them, write out things you can do instead of eating. For example, 'call a friend or relative to discuss them' or 'take a walk to clear your mind' or 'drink a tall glass of water' or 'write down your feelings and solutions in your journal' and/or 'come to the ADBB and get inspiration.

We can all break our unhealthy habits, its just a matter of making a plan to do it. Make sure that you have 'acceptable snacks' available for these times, have a written plan of action and follow through. You are important. You know the reasons you have decided to lose the weight. Make that #1 on your priority list. Arrange your life around your plan, not your plan around your life as things do and will always happen that we don't expect!!

You can do it!! We are all here to help you.

[Sheshy]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

I totally agree with Boonie and Becky...it is a bad habit and they are hard to break.

Many comfort themselves with food instead of dealing with the real issues. This isn't quite the same, but I crave when I'm tired...so I recognize that now so my solution is simple, I go to bed. Your solution won't be so simple since it's pain, but recognizing it and replacing the eating with another action. Maybe soaking your hand in a warm water...or something like that.

[kibskix]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

Thanks for all the slappage.
Its "suspected" to be something called cubital tunnel syndrome, its sort of the same thing as carpel tunnel only a different nerve in a different place. I called the doc to ask her advice but shes apparently gone for the day. One of the things that triggers me is stress. Not so much like when its happening, but after its all done like "whew! That was tough, that calls for pizza" that sort of thing.

[kacey1]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

Well I haven't been doing this for too long - just coming up 6 weeks. But what has saved me - is every time I feel like that (or find myself wandering around the kitchen in search of something I don't really want) - I plop myself down in front of the computer and read success stories. There might be better things to do (like go for a walk, or ...) but this is working for me!

Maybe it could help you too?

The support here is great - it has kept me going for sure.

Good luck with your hand!

Kacey

[2big4mysize]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

it has to do with your brain wanting to fix you and your past experience with food. our brains are a marvelous filing clerk and know what foods you had whne you had what experience and how each food made you feel. there are many foods that mimic neurotransmitters and your Dr Brain wants to fix you so it sorted through your memeory banks and found just the food to fix that feeling for you and prescribed it. You need to identify it and then find a nonfood way to fix it like stress responds to exercise as that uses up the chemicals secreted by stress in a healthy manner. once you know what the triggerring emotion is you can fix it with a second low carb opinion thAT YOUR dR bRAIN WILL FILE AND CROSS REFERENCE SO NEXT TIME IT WILL BE THERE. THE MORE YOU USE THE NONFOOD ONE AND IT WORKS THE LESS YOUR dR bRAIN IS LIKELY TO PRESCRIBE FOODS.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

ASA TO YOUR HAND ARE YOU APPLYING ANY PRESSURE TO THE INSIDE OF THE ELBOW. a MAJOR NERVE GOES THROUGH THAT AREA THAT WHEN INFLAMED CAN CAUSE NUMBNESS AND PAIN LLIKE YOU ARE DISCRIBING. STAYNG OFF YOUR ELBOW, MASSAGING THE PAINFUL PoINTS IN YOUR FOREARM AND USING HEAT AND/OR ICE FOR PAIN RELIEF CAN HELP opps soory darn cap key. your doctor can if this is what you have prescribe occupational therapy ( any therapy to hands fingers and arms is called occupational therapy)

[jcapulet]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

Hi Kibs,

Did the doc give you a brace to immobilize the sore parts of your hand? I had thumb pain a while back and wore a brace, but I could take it off when I wanted. Mainly I wore it to bed because it was affecting my being able to sleep comfortably. In the day, the immoblization helped the pain go away.

It's a learned, emotional behavior to go after carbs when upset or in pain. That's not surprising, considering we are or were addicted to carbs...you just have to realize it's a habit, and once you do that, it will help you to boot the habit. When you're feeling better or less stressed, maybe you can think of ways to cope with stress or pain in the future-something that doesn't involve eating.

It's easy to say, but harder to do. We've all been there...a few weeks ago I was extremely upset and had 2 krispy creme donuts. When I think of it now, the donuts really did nothing but make me miserable later.

Hugs to you

[kibskix]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

no the brace my DH got me because at first we thought I had hurt my hand/wrist somehow, but its really my elbow thats the source of the suffering so all the brace was really doing was keeping me from moving the things that hurt, but not helping the problem. My elbow doesnt rest on anything while im at work typing, but it is bent all day long and I tend to sleep that way too.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

here is a good pic of the ulnar nerve which is the nerve where you say all your issues are. As you can see it comes from the elbow and runs up the forearm and into the 4/5th fingers and thumb too. if that area of your elbow is inflamed to can put pressure on your nerve and that can casue all the symptoms in your hand and forearm.

http://www.netterimages.com/images/v...-0550x0350.jpg

[boonie stomper]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

Here is a good page on Cubital Tunnel, with symptoms and suggestions.
http://www.handhealthresources.com/p...l%20tunnel.htm

I also think how you sleep on it is important - there are special braces you can wear specifically to treat it, even if only worn at night.

I would also suggest using a chair with arms just below the keyboard, as the hanging elbow can only aggravate it. I had carpal tunnel and have taken all these measures; it no longer bothers me, unless I over do an unnatural activity and start cramping, or sleep in a poor position & wake up with my hand asleep.

[prfctlildvl]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

My son had a smiliar problem and they told him not to rest his elbows on anything anymore - it was causing a nerve to be "pinched" and this caused the numbness and pain.

He had to change the way he ate as he always rested his elbows on the table (yes, bad manners but he has Benign Essential Tremors and this made it easier for him to hold his utensils). He also had to watch his study habits (he's in college) as he was always leaning on his elbows. He started paying attention and hasn't had the problem in quite awhile.

Weight is about more issues than food which makes loosing weight quite complex. I am an emotional eater - I eat when I'm bored, happy, sad, busy, you name it. I've started to reprogram myself. I put a picture on my fridge of myself years ago when I was thinner but I used a program and switched the head to a recent pic of me so I can see what I would look like with a thinner body. It's weird but my motivation every time I go to open the fridge. A friend of mine has the Serenity Prayer on hers. Find what reprograms you and keep using it.

Most important - talk to everyone here at ADBB. You're not alone - you have a huge support system with ADBB.

[kibskix]

Re: Why do I cheat when i'm in pain??

Thanks for all the info!
I actually was going to a neurologist over a year ago for migraines and I had mentioned the numbness to them and they did a surface emg on the opposite hand for some reason? And told me not to lean my elbows on anything anymore, and for the last year I have been really good with that, simply because it hurts, so I dont do it! But sleeping is a big problem for me and I always woke up in the night with my arms asleep. I've been doing ok these last few nights now that im making an effort to keep it straight when I sleep.
I got yanked really hard by that arm like... last friday I think? So im wondering if that had something to with it being so irritated this week. The next day that entire arm was like screaming-ly sore, but my elbow didnt hurt, and it didnt seem like I had hurt it. Anyway, I need to shaddap this is about atkins not medschool!