Long-term pain or discomfort can have a major impact on your life, but it doesn’t have to prevent you from living well. Although no-one wants to deal with on-going pain, there are ways to overcome chronic illnesses and conditions. If you or someone you love is experiencing long-term health issues, take a look at these top tips for living well with chronic pain now:
Understand your condition
There is an almost endless list of conditions that can cause long-term pain, which means a significant number of people are dealing with discomfort on a daily basis. Rather than simply trying to ignore the pain or pretending you feel fine, learn more about your condition. When you understand what’s happening to your body, you can achieve a greater level of acceptance. Furthermore, knowing why you’re experiencing discomfort can help to reduce the impact it has on your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Learn to relax
When you’re in pain, it doesn’t feel natural to relax. Indeed, severe pain feels like the exact opposite of relaxation, so it’s not surprising that it doesn’t come naturally! However, being in a constant state of vigilance means your body is always primed and ready to defend itself. Over time, this has a debilitating impact on your health and can exacerbate existing conditions, which may mean that you begin to experience more bouts of pain.
Taking the time to learn to relax can be one of the best ways to live well with chronic pain. As well as helping you to cope with periods of extreme discomfort, learning how to relax and actually lengthen the amount of time you’re able to remain pain-free.
With so many options to try, there’s a quick-fire way to relax for everyone. Whether you favor yoga and pilates, you’ve heard about these benefits associated with natural pain relievers or you feel calmer after meditation, make relaxation a part of your daily routine. When you find the routine that’s right for you, you’ll begin to enjoy the effects that increased relaxation has on your mind, as well as your body.
Eat for pain relief
When you’re feeling lousy, it’s tempting to try and cheer yourself up by eating the foods you love the most. Unfortunately, the foods we choose to comfort eat tend to be ones that aren’t great for us. If chips, fried foods, and sweet treats are all on the menu when you’re in pain, then you might want to consider an alternative option.
There are many studies that look at the effect nutrition has on inflammation and pain, so changing your diet could help to minimize your discomfort. While the odd treat may bring a smile to your face, a healthy diet and great nutrition could be what you need to reduce your pain and live well in spite of it.
Managing Chronic Pain
Although there are many methods of self-care you can use to ensure you’re living your best life, comprehensive medical care is also essential. By finding a doctor or clinician who understands your condition, you can ensure you have access to the support and treatment you need. This, combined with compassion and self-care, will give you the tools you need to live well with chronic pain.
