Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Funeral or Branding Calves- which hurt the most?

i DON'T GET IT
I stood for a funeral/graveside for over an hour. My back and knees were just killing me. It was nearly all I could do to act like I was ok with these strangers. I drove home and laid down for a bit. I changed clothes and helped a rancher brand, vacinate and casterate. It was my job to push the calves into the shute. The biggest was 150#lbss. I did get kicked, but I am good at pushing. I started feeling better the longer I was working cattle. I am sore today, I do have bruises on my legs, but wow it was fun. Why does it hurt for me to stand and give a message, listen to others talk about a loved one so much more than lifting and pushing a little angus bull?
I know I am blessed to stil be able to do these things, but to try and tell someone how much It hurt to stand there is almost meaningless.

1/2 of snow last night, wind - but hay, .... forget it..
Forgiveness is such a wonderful thing, after doing the nasty to the little bull (now a steer) he still came up and sniffed the hay in my hand!

yes it is amazing that the hardest things for me to do are stand, sit, and lay.......still.

sue

So it is not just some psychosis i got going?
A bit of movement can make all the difference..

Lon,
This may be a sure sign for us that movement is better than standing or sitting still!
And also that positive feelings are (always) better than negative (sad) ones!
Take care

hi
Nice to meet you!
Yea, I think we need to move it, as they say.
I went to school with a "brit" from S. Africa. Quite interesting friend.
Hope you enjoy it here.

I guess we need to be thankful that you weren't being the one that got the vacinate and castrate..lol

We can always find pleasure in life's little lessons..lol

Lisa

Lon, if I am hurting very bad, I can usually feel better if I get busy. I think part of it for me is that it is easier to keep your mind off of the pain.

I do think that stress makes it worse though and there is no way that your Mom's funeral could not be stressful. I flared big time losing my dad; even ended up in the hospital with lung problems. I was much more careful when we buried Mom less than 2 years ago. I tried to rest more during the last times and also was more ready for her passing. It of course was not easy but I knew I had to keep from flaring so I tried to stay on an even keel.

I imagine it was both stress to make it worse and then lessening as you worked with the cattle. That certainly had to get your mind off of it.

Blessings
Possi

I think the whole excitement and adrenaline that comes with vaccinating, castrating & handling large animals (or other such similar activities) over-rules pain in our bodies. A kind of 'fight or flight' response.

If I remember correctly, Michelle had very little pain when she went thru the whole hurricane season of Katrina. I'm not sure, though, if her pain came back during cleanup or not.. hopefully she'll chime in here shortly.

I know when I've got a physically challenging task that HAS to get done, I can do it no problem but the simplest things cause me great pain probably because they don't give me the rush.....

but really,... who knows anymore?!

I sure hope no one will read that post and think that castrating bulls should be considered a good therapy for AS sufferers!!