Chronic pain is a common condition affecting up to 25% of adults in the United States and one of the tops reason why people seek medical care. Besides physical discomfort, chronic pain interferes with various aspects of your life, such as work and relationships with others. As a result, one may develop problems like anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping; this worsens the pain and creates a never-ending cycle. There is no cure for chronic pain New Brunswick, but a combination of strategies such as medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes may help. Below are four major lifestyle adjustments that can help minimize chronic pain.
Manage your stress
Whenever you are stressed, angry, anxious, or depressed, your body’s sensitivity to pain increases, worsening chronic pain. Learning to control your stress and other negative feelings can help you find some relief. You can reduce stress and promote relaxation using several techniques, including listening to soothing music. Music can uplift your mood and make it more bearable to live with chronic pain. It also works as a distraction that helps you focus on something else rather than the pain. Guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation are other techniques that help relax your mind and body.
Exercise regularly
Exercise can help ease chronic pain since it triggers the release of endorphins, which have pain-relieving properties. Being active also strengthens your muscles, which makes it less likely for you to get an injury and worsen the pain. Simple activities like walking and stretching are more helpful than staying in bed the whole day. It is easy to forgo physical activity when in pain, but being inactive can worsen the pain. Besides encouraging the release of endorphins, exercise help keep your weight down, control your blood sugar levels, and minimize the risk of heart disease.
Although exercise is important, consult your doctor to get the right routine. You will need to be careful about your activities if you have certain health conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy. Your healthcare provider will suggest the best workout routine that won’t worsen your condition.
Eat healthy foods
It is important to eat healthy foods all the time to improve your overall well-being. However, if you have chronic pain, you want to be especially careful with the foods you eat since foods such as red meat and refined carbohydrates can cause inflammation. Instead, your healthcare provider may suggest a low-fat and low-sodium diet; this includes whole grain cereals, cooked dried beans, lean meats, and low-fat cheese and milk. Besides helping manage chronic pain, a healthy diet controls your weight, reduces your risk of heart disease, and improves your blood sugar levels.
Join a support group.
It helps to spend time with people with the same problem as you. They easily relate to your struggle, making it easier for you to share your challenges and vice versa. Additionally, you will learn about different ways they use to cope with the pain. Talking with others is also an effective way to manage stress and avoid negative feelings like anxiety and depression, which can worsen your pain.
Meeting with a mental health professional is also important since anyone living with chronic pain can develop depression. But with counseling, you can avoid negative thoughts that worsen the pain and learn to cope better.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor at Pain & Anesthesia Care for a personalized treatment plan to improve your quality of life.
