Okay, totally gross and I am embarrassed to share this, but I haven't showered in over a week. I am terrified. The last time I took a shower I ended up sitting on the shower floor crying out for someone to come help me. Unfortunately I was home alone at the time, the pain from the water hitting my face was so intense that I couldn't even stand. I have been sponging myself, but I feel gross, I am used to showering once a day or maybe once every other day if my Fibro is acting up. So now what? Tips?
I personally have found running water helpful as it diverted the pain. During the winter I would also take bath so I could lay the affected side of my face under water. Can you stand any further back in the shower or adjust the head? I'm sure you've already thought of these. Everyone has their own things that predispose pain, maybe water was one that didn't mine. Would a loose shower cap over your face work, and just keep your head out of the spray as much as possible? Keep your head out of the shower and wash your body, put a towel on the floor as it would get soaked. I'm not sure which areas of your face hurt, upper, middle, lower? Years ago I read a book my a young woman who had such horrific pain in her scalp area that she would be anesthetized every three months to have her hair washed.( it was pretty outdated, don't know that they'd do that anymore, plus the cost!!) Can't remember the name of it, but I got it off Amazon. Most of all, I would say wait until you have medication on board, maybe even two doses if you are at home. There are Lidocaine patches available by prescription. They also would have to be on long enough for the medicine to be absorbed, there is also the same thing in an ointment/cream..I never had any luck with it, but others have...kind of like having your face numbed before seeing the dentist! Oh, there used to be those plastic face guards that you held up to protect your face from hairspray, I haven't seen them in years, but practically everything can be found on eBay.
People do sponge bathe daily and get their hair shampooed at a salon once a week.
Thank you for the response. It is my V3 region or Mandibular area that is affected. I have lidocaine patches, lidocaine viscous, neurontin and tramadol. It isn't the water per say that hurts me, it's the force of the water hitting my face. I have tried every reasonable option that I can think of but have yet to find a solution. Although I may have to find a good salon and go that route. I don't know why but I just don't feel clean when I sponge bathe or take a bath...I'm weird when it comes to bathing lol.
Tiffers, I here you! Have not been able to take a shower, shower in years due to this mess called tn. Will try not to whine, or vent at this time.Struggling with that real bad here lately.I start the bath water (about every 10 days, unless having unusual good day, I do know how to sponge bathe well!) After 20 years of this, I just want to be CLEAN, that's all that's important anymore. I stick my head under faucet wash and rinse fast (sorry, mind all over the place) wrap head in warm towel, put plastic shower cap over top to help hold towel in place, and keeps towel tighter to head to keep warmth in.Let water out while washing body, rinse, start fresh water. Now light wash, rinse well using cup, shower sprayer. I get out. Blow dry hair in about 3 mins. You didn't say if you had short or long hair? 20 mins.Max if pain is manageable from start to finish including brushing teeth which is another big trigger for me. The kitchen faucet? Is that an option for you? Did I say this all, already? I have been in constant burning, boring, throbbing pain from one degree to another all day. My anxiety is over the top and I am exhausted totally. So sorry if I am repeating. If I go back and look will loose this and have lost it twice already. Working off an old kindle.Washing your hair in kitchen (let any OCD go about hair in the kitchen!! LOL!) I have been unable to do my hair that way for years due to worsening tn, and to many little breezes, room tempt, but mostly the pressure of any bending forward.I am Sorry for whining and venting. Maybe some tiny bit of help here in this mess for maybe just one person that might even make a tiny bit of difference, even if only for a min. or so, or one time something might work. We all know how CRAZY this disease is.We all find ways to adapt to this crap! I don't know how but ----Wishing you to be painless or free SOON
I have the same neuroticism with the shower! I hate baths!
When I would shower I would Be sure that my face was the last thing to touch water and get washed- if I was even able to that day. I would wash my hair and body and then when I Was ready to do my face I would keep orajel in the shower and would apply some to the inside of my mouth of the affected side before getting my face wet. It didn’t take all the pain away but it helped. I went many days without showers, washing my face or even brushing my teeth. You are not alone!
I wish I could chop all of my hair off...I have VERY thick, long hair. But I can't go short, I have a very long face and an extremely embarrassingly ugly pointy chin. I would look like a deformed alien with short hair. Sooo...I have to spend about 15 minute on my hair in order to get all of the shampoo and conditioner out. Shaving is excruciating because for reasons I cannot understand, bending over also triggers facial pain. I really am considering just becoming a sad, dirty hermit...
And please, never apologize for ranting, we have every right to, we live in pain. I feel like I complain and rant and whine too much, but you know what...what else can we do? Sit around and pretend all is well? That our lives are full of rainbows and unicorns? No, we have every right to speak our minds whenever we feel the need to.
I appreciate everyones advice and understanding. I am very new to this hell so I am still learning but becoming increasingly frustrated with all of the stupid things that cause such horrible pain. And to think...before this I thought fibro and RA pain was bad...hahahaaaaaaaaaaaa....
I also have very long, thick curly hair. A blessing and a curse! And like you, bending over triggers pain. I tried Doing yoga to relax myself during flares and boy was that a mistake! Have you tried sitting in the shower to shave? Angling the water away from you face and more towards you legs/feet.
I don't know if this will help, but I bought a bath visor for our grandson a couple of years back, in order to keep the water out of his eyes/ears while bathing. I wonder if it would work to keep water off the face in the shower.
I feel your pain as I had such a hard time Washing my hair and brushing my teeth, I am Post MVD now and pain free now. I had my surgery in July of this year and I still get fatigued, but no real pain. I am wondering if you could buy a shower sprayer the kind with a hose that you can wash just your body? This really helped me when I was in so much pain. I didn't get water on my face. I used to cry everyday brushing my teeth and and washing my hair too, but that was a bit more manageable. This forum is amazing and there are so many good ideas. I hope something here helps you!
Gentle hugs
I have shower problems as well, and definitely hair washing issues. After almost 3 years of illness and wanting to still smell pretty here are my rules.
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Try not to shower alone. I have a husband and a 13 year old daughter, so I always make sure somebody is home.
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I bought a handheld shower head so that I control the shower hitting my face.
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If I have to wash my hair (I have tons of thick hair I only wash every three days now at a minimum), I take pain meds 15 mins before. Not enough to knock me out, but enough to dull the eventual pain.
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I have a Terry cloth robe and no towel so that if I need to go from shower to bed that’s doable.
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Evening showers as much as possible.
Good luck
I take a bath
Stephanie covers most of my suggestions. I use a hand-held shower head and then I can keep it away from my face. I usually was my face using a washcloth. For your hair, since you want to keep it long, you might consider having it thinned out so it will dry faster. Besides medications, this is problem is up on the top 10 list of complaints that we TN'ers have - it's just something we have to deal with!
Hi I wanted to ask you about what pain med's you take. I've been on hyrocodone 10 by the hand full and have been told by Doc that they have made it so bad on doctors to scribe it anymore he won't.So now I am in a panic. what to do with out that.Any ideas??
Stephanie Rudin said:
I have shower problems as well, and definitely hair washing issues. After almost 3 years of illness and wanting to still smell pretty here are my rules.
1. Try not to shower alone. I have a husband and a 13 year old daughter, so I always make sure somebody is home.
2. I bought a handheld shower head so that I control the shower hitting my face.
3. If I have to wash my hair (I have tons of thick hair I only wash every three days now at a minimum), I take pain meds 15 mins before. Not enough to knock me out, but enough to dull the eventual pain.
4. I have a Terry cloth robe and no towel so that if I need to go from shower to bed that's doable.
5. Evening showers as much as possible.
Good luck
I know this is an old post but...
Showering is becoming a major trigger for me when I'm not in remission.
I find that if I face the shower with my face away from the shower head to try and avoid water running over my face things are better, but even then the water can run over my forehead and trigger an attack. Facing forwards increases the chance of an attack. In either case when this happens it lasts a little longer than normal too.
Just a tip that may help some.
ps I hate baths and I shower nearly every day!