Living Well with Pain

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None of us experience pain, but it is something that pretty much every human will have to deal with at some point in our lives, and something that millions of us will have to live with on an ongoing basis due to a chronic pain condition. So, it’s something we need to learn to live with because we can’t let pain rule and ruin our life, right?

That being the case. Let’s take a look at four things that might help you to live your best life despite your pain, right now:

1. Make sure you have a great pain management team

If you’re dealing with pain, it’s important that you acknowledge that you cannot do it alone, and as well as leaning on friends and family who can support you and listen to you when you need it, you are going to want to make sure you have a really good medical pain management team on your side too. You’ll need a pain doctor and a psychologist, but you’ll also need a physiotherapist too. The more people you have on your side working to minimize your pain, the better.

2. Explore your medication options

Yes opioids have been the gold standard of pain relief for a long time now, and with good reason – they work. However, they can also have some nasty side effects, and of course, they can be devastatingly addictive too. So, we’re not saying that you should not use them , and you should always go off the advice of your doctor in the first instance, but what we are saying is that you should explore your options when it comes to medicating your pain. Whether it’s getting a medical marijuana card online so you can try a more natural form of pain relief or trying things like steroids and nerve injections you should work with your medical team to find what works for you without the negatives.

3. Explore your mind

Okay, so a lot of people who are in pain get upset when it’s suggested that their brain could play a role in their pain, but you know what? Studies have shown it can in fact have a significant effect, and that does not mean your pain is not real – it just means there are more avenues to explore when it comes to you feeling better. Many people find things like cognitive behavior therapy and meditation can help them to accept their pain and when that happens, they focus less on it, which actually helps them to manage their pain levels more effectively. It’s amazing stuff and it’s definitely worth a try!

4. Move around

Many people who are in pain are scared to move in case it makes things worse but being active can actually improve your pain score, and if your doctor says it’s okay to do gentle exercises like walking or yoga, you really should. It’ll make you feel more positive too!

Stay positive, focus on the good things in your life, and do these four things and you will find yourself living life to the full even if you’re in pain!