It wasn’t supposed to be this way. You never expected to be in pain for so long. A few weeks, perhaps, but now it’s been more than six months. How much longer will your pain last? Will it ever really go away?
If you’re reading this far, it means you might be ready to address the fact that what you have is chronic pain. And what you are experiencing will most likely never go away completely. Don’t misunderstand, however.
Though your life may be going in a direction different from what you’d planned, it doesn’t have to take you down a dark and lonely road. The bad news can be harrowing. The good news, however, is that chronic pain can be managed. Hope is still in plain sight.
Most people don’t know how to survive with pain as part of their reality. As a pain management specialist, it’s my job to teach people that living with pain is not as impossible as it sounds, nor is it as hopeless. With thoughtful pain treatment, and sometimes pain medications, your chronic pain does not have to derail your life.
What Does “Pain Management” Mean?
The goal of pain management is not necessarily pain relief, but improvement of your quality of life. This can occur in many different ways. For example, improvement can result from a greater awareness of treatment options and methods such as exercise, meditation, acupuncture, psychological support, medications, physical therapy, injections and, if need be, even surgery.
But in order to better understand the ways in which you can control your chronic pain, you must first have an understanding of the overall nature of pain. If you understand what is happening to your body, you’ll be better able to take appropriate action to improve the quality of your life.
When It Hurts All Over
When you’re in a chronic pain state, your life may be totally focused on your condition. For this reason, you may tell yourself that any chance of a productive and happy life is now impossible. Chronic pain has a way of causing a host of other problems. The most common byproducts are anxiety and depression, which manifest themselves early on. As anxiety and depression go untreated, pain symptoms may worsen and become difficult to control.
Symptoms of depression include increased pain, a greater need for sleep, thoughts of sadness and hopelessness, and a decreased desire to participate in activities you normally enjoy. Perhaps one of the most pervasive side effects of depression, however, is the way in which it affects how you perceive yourself. You must understand that you are still the same person. Your situation has changed, but you haven’t. Your first step may be to work on getting the old you back.
Stress and Pain
Because the mind and body are interconnected and depend on one another for harmony, what you feel will have a direct impact on your experience of pain. When in a state of pain, you are less likely to deal calmly with the everyday stressors that are a normal part of living. Stress intensifies feelings of anger, sadness, and worthlessness. It can also increase your pain level as you tighten your muscles and create muscle fatigue and strain.
So how can you become better aware of those instances where stress is creeping in, and head it off at the pass? First, you must identify your stress triggers. Then you must learn coping mechanisms for those triggers.
Use It or Lose It
Remember that phrase? It applies in most situations, including those in which chronic pain is part of the equation. Many people do not realize that, in most cases, pain is not an excuse for perpetual bed rest. What you think might be helping may actually be harming you.
Not using the painful area can actually lead to dysfunction of the area, which may work against your goals of being functional despite your chronic pain. Look at your chronic pain like an undesirable family member at a holiday party you want to attend. Participate despite their presence because, like it or not, it (and they!) will probably always be there.
So the Million-Dollar Question Is: Will Your Pain Always Be There?
The answer for chronic pain, most often, is yes. But let me ask you a question. Will your attitude regarding pain always be the same? The answer, of course, is up to you.
Allow me to serve as a guide in your journey toward emotional, spiritual and physical wellness. A journey that is far more “manageable” than you may realize at this point. Pain takes time to understand. And it takes even more time to accept. Just know that you’re not alone, and I will do what I can to provide you with the knowledge and support that will help you better manage your pain.
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