Coping with a chronic illness is going to be a tough time for most people, that much should be no surprise. However, aside from the symptom of chronic pain itself, there are some lesser-discussed issues that can become as much of a problem if you’re not careful. Here, we’re going to look at some of the truths of living with chronic pain, and what you can do to manage it as healthily as possible.
The mental health side
Chronic pain can make your life a lot more stressful in a variety of ways. Aside from sleeplessness (which we will address further), it can also make you more sensitive, irritable, and generally worsen your mood. As such, it can be important to look at forms of treatment that can help your mental health at the same time as your physical health, such as massage therapy treatments like Restful Refuge Massage. Of course, few courses of action can help your mental health as readily as having someone to talk to.
The lack of sleep
Sleeplessness is an epidemic amongst people who experience chronic pain. In many cases, it’s the pain itself that keeps them up at night. However, this can lead to a cycle where sleeplessness causes symptoms of stress which, in turn, leads to more sleeplessness. Talking to your doctor to treat sleep issues is recommended, but you might be able to make use of tools like white noise machines that can help you get to sleep at night. Some people find that constructing a complete bedtime routine can also help them relax and drift off.
The pain medication problem
There is nothing wrong with using prescription medication to treat your pain. However, it does need to be done with care. People with chronic pain are some of the people at the highest level of risk of developing addiction, usually due to self-medicating to treat pain, either with overuse of prescription medication or reliance on other types of substances, and treatment centers like Sunshine Behavioral Health can help if this becomes a risk. Otherwise, it’s important to talk to the doctor about alternative methods of dealing with pain, too.
The risk of inactivity
Often unaddressed amongst people experiencing chronic pain, physical inactivity is a real risk. Getting active can become a lot harder when you’re experiencing pain whenever you move, but you might be able to talk to your doctor about exercises that are still safe for you to do. For people who have pain in their back or joints, for instance, then low-impact exercises such as swimming or using exercise bikes can help you avoid shocking those areas that are prone to pain and inflammation, so there is likely to be some solution you can turn to.
A chronic illness, including chronic pain, is going to be difficult to manage, no matter what. But with vigilance and the help of a strong medical support team, you can make sure that you don’t fall into some of the worst pitfalls of those who simply want some relief.
What are your thoughts? Please share in the comments below. I really would love to know.
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Experiencing chronic pain can definitely be something that can wreak a lot of havoc in your day to day life. It is important to be mindful of these things for sure.
I have had back issues since I was a child, involved in an accident, and it does make me really grumpy when my body hurts. It is so important to know how it really effects you.
I feel having a hidden chronic pain can be devastating to the person and family hence so important to identify it and find a support team to help overcome it
You cannot ignore the signs and signals. Thanks for raising awareness on this topic!
I think mostly, it’s the mental health aspect for me. It’s something that I struggle with.