7 Tips for Chronic Pain Management
Did you know that over 50 million Americans live with chronic pain? For some people, this is from an injury that they suffered and never recovered from. For others, it is because of chronic illness that affects the joints and nerves.
If you have chronic pain, you may wonder about chronic pain management and how you can feel better. Here are seven tips that you can use to feel better and have a more fulfilling life.
1. Avoid Activities That Strain Your Injuries
With chronic pain management, you may have to make some sacrifices in order to have a comfortable lifestyle. Your chronic pain management doctor will probably give you advice on what activities are safe to do.
If there is a risky sport or activity that you enjoy, evaluate whether it is worth it. Although it may seem fun, it can exacerbate your injury and cause even more pain.
You can also make adaptations to the activities you love instead of giving them up completely. For example, if you enjoy hiking, try doing some easier trails or terrain so that you do not have to work your muscles as hard.
2. Try Meditation and Relaxation
Did you know that meditation can actually be a powerful tool for many problems, including chronic pain? Although it will not make the pain go away completely, it can definitely help you learn to keep it under control.
When your body goes through stress, it can often cause your painful symptoms to flare up. With meditation techniques, you can bring more relaxation to your life and learn to regulate your breathing.
Practicing breathing techniques will lower your blood pressure, slow down your heart rate, and cause your body to enter a state with less stress. There are many apps you can use for your phone that offer guided meditations, or you can set aside time every day to do it on your own.
3. Limit Your Alcohol and Cigarettes
When you have chronic pain, getting good sleep can be difficult due to flare-ups of symptoms. Therefore, you need to make sure that you get the rest that you need so your body can operate at its finest.
Unfortunately, alcohol can cause sleep problems which will increase your pain. That glass of wine may seem harmless, but the night of tossing and turning with broken sleep may not be worth it in the long run.
If your chronic pain issues are related to blood circulation, then smoking in any form can worsen your symptoms. Smoke going into your body can decrease circulation and even put you more at risk of problems such as heart disease.
4. Stretch It Out
Stretching at home can be great if you want to learn how to manage chronic pain without relying on medication. When you stretch gently, you loosen your tendons and muscles without straining them too much.
If you do not know how to stretch, you can learn some specific techniques from your chronic pain management doctor. You can also take classes in yoga or dance that will teach you how to stretch all the different areas of your body.
Stretch before you do any physical activities, and try to focus on areas that you know will be more affected, such as your knees.
5. Make Diet Improvements
Did you know that your diet can actually have a tremendous impact on your chronic pain? You may know that eating healthier can cause weight loss, but it can actually help to relieve your chronic pain symptoms.
If your doctor suggests that you lose weight, it may have the benefit of putting less strain on your joints. When you carry around more weight, your body has to work harder to support it.
In addition, learn about foods that help to reduce inflammation. For conditions like arthritis, lessening inflammation and joint pain can significantly reduce your pain levels.
6. Book a Massage
Although you may only see massages in spas, you can even get massages for medical reasons, such as chronic pain management. If you visit a regular masseuse, let them know about areas that you need to work on. They can target the muscle groups that will help to relieve your pain.
For those with a specific type of injury, you may need a specialist that will help you learn how to manage chronic pain. Try visiting a center for pain management, where a doctor can diagnose what the problem is and then give you an action plan to help.
They can also set you up with regular massage sessions that target the specific muscles and tendons that you have trouble with. Massage is just one tool that you can use for pain management. They may even show you how to massage certain areas at home if you can reach them.
7. Get the Rest You Need
Form a healthy bedtime routine so that you get at least eight hours of sleep every night. Getting the right amount of shut-eye allows your body to rest and rejuvenate, so you wake up in the morning ready to face the day.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try to make accommodations so that your nighttime routine is more conducive to a good night’s rest. For instance, take some melatonin a couple of hours before you want to go to bed.
Eliminate outside distractions by reading a book, and avoiding your smartphone.
Learn About Chronic Pain Management
If you have a chronic injury, you should not have to give up your entire life to manage it. With these tips, you should be able to live a happy and fulfilling lifestyle with less pain.
Would you like to learn more about how you can recover from an injury or how to manage chronic pain? Look around our website or get in touch with us today to make an appointment.
