Tips for Managing Chronic Pain

Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Nerves in the distressed area send signals to the pain receptors located in parts of your spinal cord. The pain receptors then send the signal along different tracks in the spinal cord to the brain. The brain then registers the message and pain is perceived. Every year millions of people suffer from acute and chronic pain conditions. Living with such pain is always a challenge and often debilitating. It may cause you to stop doing daily activities like working, walking, or even sleeping in your own bed. Managing chronic pain means not just reducing your pain, but regaining lost functions as well. Below are some tips to help you.

Tips for Managing Your Pain

• Plan each day
• Stay positive
• Exercise regularly
• Lose weight (only if necessary)
• Learn proper lifting, sitting, and standing techniques
• Set pain management goals
• Track your progress
• Seek and accept support
• Work as a team with your physicians and caregivers
• Prepare for difficult situations
• Reward yourself