Managing Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a pain that persists for months or even years, unlike acute pain which usually lasts for less than 12 weeks. It may have started from an illness or injury from which you recovered from however the pain has remained, or stem from conditions such as arthritis or cancer.

 

Top tips for managing chronic pain;

1.    Acceptance, it’s important to acknowledge the difficulty of living with persistent pain

2.    Open communication, build a support network around you

3.    Pacing, little and often is better than burnout!

4.    Prioritising, plan out your day by prioritising your activities

5.    Setting goals, be realistic in what you can achieve

6.    Be patient, nothing worth having comes easy!

7.    Relaxation, practice unwinding and taking time for yourself

8.    Meaningful movement, exercise little and often

9.    Track progress, keep track on what is helping or hindering you

10.  Daily practice and resilience, take things one day at a time and use all the tools you’ve learned to build resilience

Effects of Chronic pain

Chronic pain affects us in many different ways, I have broken them down into four categories; physical, financial, social and mental.

 

Physical; The physical pain itself Fatigue Increase heart rate and blood pressure Cause other symptoms like headaches or gut issues Poor concentration and cognitive issues Weakens the immune system Decreased mobility and stiffness due to a lack of exercise	Financial; Unable to work/take time out of work due to illness Needing extra support with day to day living e.g. hiring carers, cleaners, taxis instead of public transport Paying for petrol/parking for hospital appointments or treatments Many pay for private treatment to decrease wait time or treatment unavailable via NHS Mobility aids Paying to adapt the home to increase accessibility
Social; Withdraw from social activities Increased isolation Feelings of loneliness	Mental; Significantly higher risk of suffering with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Sleep impairment Lack of focus Loss of identity or purpose

 

 

Managing chronic pain

 Pain management involves various strategies to alleviate discomfort and improve quality of life. Key approaches include;

 

• Medical management in the form of prescriptions

• Physical and occupational therapy

• Injection therapies such as steroids

• Hot/cold therapy

• Gentle exercise to prevent stiffness

• TENS machine

• Emotional and psychological support to help manage the effects of pain

• Alternative medicine and therapy treatments

• Medical management in the form of prescriptions e.g. anti-inflammatory, steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anticonvulsants, antidepressants, muscle relaxers, or opioids

• Physical and occupational therapy

• Injection therapies

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