Sometimes I think that the hardest part of having a health condition is the chronic pain that regularly accompanies it. As a result, managing and understanding your pain, and the impact it has on your life is a big issue with most chronic pain sufferers. The first step in managing pain is becoming more educated about your condition because that will help determine the best type of treatment for you. Before learning different management techniques, however, it’s important to understand some theories on pain.
1. Not all pain is alike.
Just as there are different types of health condition, there are also different types of pain. Your pain may also vary from day-to-day.
2. The purpose of pain.
Pain is your body’s means of saying “Woah, something is wrong”. For example, if you touch a hot oven, your brain reacts to pain signals and tells you to get your hand away. This type of pain helps protect you. Continuous pain is different and whilst it tells you that something is wrong, it usually isn’t as easy to relieve.
3. Causes of chronic pain.
Pain can be caused or influenced by several factors, such as abnormal nerve signals, inflammation, damage to tissues, fatigue and depression or stress.
4. Pain factors.
Things such as stress, anxiety, depression or simply overdoing it can make the pain worse. These factors often lead to a drop in physical activity, as a result, causing more stress, creating a downward spiral of ever-increasing pain.
5. Different reactions to pain.
People react differently to pain. Mentally, you can get caught in a cycle of pain, stress and depression, often resulting from the inability to perform certain functions, which makes managing pain seem more difficult. Physically, the pain can increase the sensitivity of your nervous system and the severity of your condition. However, emotional and social factors include your fears about pain, previous experiences with pain, energy level, attitude about your condition and the way people around you react to pain.
6. Managing your chronic pain.
Your condition may limit some of the things you can do, but it doesn’t have to control your life. One way to reduce your pain is to build your life around wellness, not pain or sickness. This means taking positive action because, most importantly, your mind performs an essential role in how you handle pain.
Many people with painful health conditions have found that by learning and practising pain management skills, they can reduce their pain. Thinking of pain as a signal to take positive action rather than an ordeal you have to survive can help you learn to manage your pain. You can prevent the downward spiral of pain by practising relaxation techniques, regular massage, hot and cold packs, moderate exercise, and keeping a positive mental outlook. In addition, I’ve always found humour to have a positive effect.
7. Try not to focus on the pain.
How much pain you feel has quite a bit to do with the amount of time you spend thinking about pain. If you dwell on your pain, more often than not, it will feel like your pain is worse than those times you don’t dwell. Distracting yourself is one way to take your mind off chronic pain. For example, concentrate on something outside your body, like a hobby or a game, to take your mind off your discomfort. Believe me, I know how hard this can be but it CAN work!
8. Think positively about chronic pain.
What we do and how we see life is frequently defined by what we say to ourselves. A positive standpoint will get you feeling better about yourself, and help to take your mind off your pain. On the other hand, a negative outlook sends messages to yourself that often give the feeling that the pain is worse. So, get the good in, and out with the bad!
Reward yourself each time you think about or do something positive to strengthen your positive mindset. Take more time for yourself and always talk to your doctor about additional ways to manage chronic pain.
This website does not provide medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Imperfect Cactus website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your GP or dial 999.
Kelly Winter is a self-care guru from Stockport, Cheshire. You can contact her here at www.theimperfectcactus.com, on Instagram (@TheImperfectCactus), Facebook (@TheImperfectCactus) or Twitter (@ImperfectCactus). ‘The Guide to Boosting Self-Esteem‘ is Kelly’s debut self-help guide which is available on Amazon.