4 Tips to Deal With Chronic Pain & Improve Health

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Chronic Pain Pic

Okay, so let’s talk about chronic pain. Experiencing pain consistently, no matter how big or small, can leave you feeling all out of sorts. Suddenly, simple things like going to the store or standing while cooking are a chore.

No one wants to feel as if they don’t have control over their body, let alone no control over their life. If chronic pain is affecting your quality of living, here are some simple ways to deal with things. But before we get into helpful tips, consider reading more insights into what can cause chronic pain.

Now onto the tips!

#1- Adopt healthy habits

Although chronic pain isn’t always tied to something that you can control, it never hurts to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Creating healthy habits can help to prevent you from experiencing other medical problems and give you a productive outlet for your pain.

The foods that you ingest have the ability to affect your mood as well as increase or decrease inflammation (which can cause pain) potentially. According to a Harvard article, common foods like nuts, olive oil, spinach, and tomatoes can potentially reduce inflammation. It’s also recommended to cut out soda, fried foods, and sugar for better results.

Along with this, increasing the amount of physical activity you get and making time for self-care is crucial. One thing to note is that you don’t overdo it with the exercise. You may end up worsening your pain and being counterproductive. That’s why going to a professional is sometimes the best course of action in this case.

#2- Visit a physical therapist

Going to a physical therapist and getting hands-on assistance can help to improve your experience with pain. A professional therapist can either rehabilitate you to the point you no longer feel pain or support you while you reduce the pain to manageable levels.

Through evaluation and a series of diet and exercise recommendations, seeing a PT is a great addition for those who want to proactively work on taking back control of their lives.

Along with specialized workouts and health plans and professional insight, massage therapy is also a great benefit of seeing a PT. Not only is a massage a form of pampering that is considered self-care, but it can also do wonders for your mental and physical health. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s been found that a proper massage can:

  • Reduce aches and pains
  • Promote relaxation
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Improve immune system

There are a ton more benefits that you can find here.

#3- Consult a psychiatrist

Living with chronic pain without reprieve can wreak havoc on your mental well-being and potentially exacerbate your symptoms. Not being able to do things as you normally would or constantly hurting can make you feel alone and depressed.

A few symptoms that may indicate that you might want to consider online psychiatric services are:

  • Problems adjusting
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Isolation and loneliness
  • Excessive anger or emotional outbursts

It would be beneficial to talk to a professional about what you’re going through so you can nip your problems in the bud before they worsen. Not only that but joining groups on Facebook and following influencers who also experience chronic pain can help to alleviate some of the loneliness you may feel.

#4- Have non-taxing fun

Sometimes it can feel as if chronic pain is taking over your entire life and that you have no time for anything else. However, try not to let that negative mindset consume you. Continue to do activities that bring joy to your life and don’t let pain rob you of that happiness.

Less physically taxing activities like watching movies, reading, or having a spa day can help you have a good time while also not being too demanding. Even if the activities you like to do are physically tiring, sometimes all you need to do is adjust how you do them!

For example, if you love cooking but constant standing is a problem, consider using a chair while cooking to improve your posture. David Reavy, PT, OCS– React Physical Therapy says:

“Musculoskeletal imbalances can lead to chronic pain. The position of your bones dictates how your muscles work signifying the importance of your posture, spine / pelvic position, and the position of your foot. Maintaining a neutral spine and pelvis position will help allow for proper co-contractions throughout your body reducing stress on the overused areas of your body which is typically the source of your pain.“

So, make sure your ingredients are all within a close distance and that you have a comfortable cooking chair close to the stove to help reduce stress on certain areas of your body. Is it a little unorthodox? Maybe, but who cares as long as you’re still able to do something you enjoy and remain comfortable.