IgG4-RD symptoms can turn everyday tasks into painfully long episodes
Just taking the braids out of my hair left me exhausted and in pain
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As a working woman living with immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), an autoimmune disease, I’m constantly looking for ways to save myself time and spare myself joint and nerve pain associated with the condition while completing everyday tasks.
My spine, hands, and feet are impacted the most. Typing aggravates the joints in my hand but I prefer not to take pain medicine, if I can help it. To reduce my reliance on drugs, I have purchased innumerable gadgets to make my life and work easier, like a can opener for arthritic hands, speech-to-text software, a robotic vacuum, and a smart thermostat. For pain, I also use CBD balms, a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device, and stretching bands to keep my joints limber.
Another step I take is keeping my beauty routine simple. I put minimal effort into my daily appearance. I wear leggings and slip-on sneakers because they are easy to put on. My go-to look also includes a simple, slicked-back ponytail with a bun and facial lotion instead of makeup.
I am a Black woman who didn’t grow up wearing braids, but I recently started having them done. Wearing them speeds up my daily routine and reduces the wear and tear on my body. It lessens the number of reaching and stretching motions to style my shoulder-length hair. Lifting my arms over my head often aggravates the spinal pain I suffer due to IgG4-RD. The joints in my hands are also stiff, combined with severe fatigue from my condition.
Getting braids requires little from me but patience and money. I have to sit for three to four hours while another woman uses her body and might to put them in. Of course, the $200-$400 dollars they cost are also concerning since I spend enough on medical treatment and to cover family and medical leave days.
The hardest part of having braids is when it’s time to remove them. The other night, I sat on my love seat painstakingly using a comb and conditioner to unravel more than 100 tiny braids. It took me over three hours to get the last set of box braids out of my head. To do it, I had to stop at least five times. There were moments when I wondered whether the braids really helped me at all or if I should stop getting them because I no longer can take them out easily.
I sucked up the pain, massaged my hands, and put the TENS device on my back to relieve the nerve pain. I alerted my husband that I might need his assistance. But I was determined to finish on my own, and I did. I was so exhausted by the end of it that I decided that washing my hair would be a project for another day.
When I finally settled down, I realized that having the braids saved me four weeks of daily pain. So they definitely were worth it, and I would have them done again. Next time, perhaps I’ll just pay someone else to take them out. It’s a small price to pay to reduce wear and tear my body.
Note: IgG4-RD News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of IgG4-RD News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to IgG4-RD.
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