Chronic pain is the type of pain that persists for months or even years. That type of pain can result from an injury or a painful medical condition like arthritis or cancer.
Depending on your unique circumstances, chronic pain may be severe or mild. Either way, persistent pain, even mild, can significantly disrupt your life.
Still, you can live a relatively normal life with chronic pain through effective pain management methods.
There are a number of pain management techniques you can try to see what works for you. Let’s look at some of the most effective strategies for managing chronic pain.
-
Exercise
The health benefits tied to physical activity are countless. Your body needs to be active to function well, and if you have chronic pain, strengthening your muscles and keeping fit is crucial.
Exercising can reduce pain by improving tolerance and releasing chemicals to block pain signals.
Since you’re dealing with chronic pain, discuss with your doctor how to approach exercising to avoid worsening your pain. You may want to work with a physical therapist who will guide you through exercises designed to address your pain.
2. Explore Yoga
When implementing physical activity, you may want to explore yoga, an ancient practice designed to strengthen the mind and body.
Yoga movements not only count as exercising but can also ease painful areas. As a mindfulness practice, yoga can relieve stress, improve mood, and strengthen your mind.
3. Use Pain Medicine
Medications are a key part of managing chronic pain, and they come in handy when the intensity of pain makes it challenging to go about daily activities.
Depending on what’s causing your pain and severity, your doctor may prescribe pain medicine like analgesics and NSAIDs.
If medications are part of your pain management plan, it’s crucial to stick to the dosage and to discuss side effects with your doctor. You’re also encouraged to ask about alternative medications so that you select the option that suits you.
4. Try Herbal Remedies
Aside from medicine, you could add natural pain relievers like herbs to your treatment regimen. Since you’re dealing with a long-term health problem, herbs present a safer option compared to pharmaceutical drugs when it comes to adverse effects.
White willow bark, Estragon, and Devil’s Claw are some of the strongest herbs you can try for relieving chronic pain.
Cannabis is also a popular choice for pain relief. However, the plant has many strains, some with stronger pain-relieving properties.
User reports show that most people prefer Indica-dominant strains for pain management. That makes strains like this worth looking into.
5. Explore Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy from the ancient Chinese medicine system. The practice can help with different types of discomfort associated with various illnesses but is mostly effective for pain.
The therapy involves tiny needles that a practitioner inserts into the skin at specific points in the body.
Acupuncture is effective for short-term relief from lower back pain, arthritic pain, neck pain, and joint pain.
6. Control Your Thoughts
Controlling your thoughts may not take the pain away, but it can help you cope better. It’s important to cultivate mental fortitude to avoid buckling under the pressure.
Train your mind to stay positive through meditation, which allows you to focus on the present or the things that matter. Talking to loved ones about your pain can also help you shed the stress that comes with it.
7. Sleep Well
Individuals with chronic pain often struggle to sleep at night, which means that pain can interfere with sleep. On the other hand, the lack of quality sleep can make your pain worse the next day.
There’s a two-way relationship you need to address as part of your pain management strategy.
Since poor sleep could increase pain levels, you want to ensure you get quality sleep. Try adopting healthy bedtime habits that promote quality sleep so you don’t struggle at night.
8. Stay Active
You have to stay active when you have chronic pain as it keeps you moving, adding to your daily workout dose. Most importantly, though, being active allows you to focus on everything else but pain.
Honestly, the alternative is not good for you. Sitting idle when you’re in pain can feel like a prison sentence. You’ll constantly think about your pain and stress yourself out, which makes things worse.
You can keep yourself busy with work, house chores, and hobbies. Take part in community ventures that bring positivity to your life.
Final Thoughts
You can live with chronic pain by implementing ways of managing it, many of which are easy and readily accessible. Effective pain management will generally require medical intervention as well as lifestyle adjustments.
These strategies are meant to reduce pain and increase your ability to cope with the discomfort that comes with chronic pain.
When considering ways to manage chronic pain, it’s crucial to consult a medical professional.
