How Do I Manage Living with Chronic Pain?

When you have chronic pain, you suffer from multiple symptoms that can last for months or years after the initial injury or surgery. In some cases, a medical condition can cause ongoing pain. Some of the symptoms of chronic pain include pain in the joints, muscles, or spinal column. You may also experience fatigue, hypersomnia, insomnia, loss of mobility, or anxiety & depression.

Living with chronic pain does not mean that you have to endure severe pain all of the time. There are several ways you can reduce your discomfort and lead a healthier life.

Seek Treatment from Pain Management Services

The best way to address your soreness is to get help from a medical clinic like BackFit Health and Spine for pain management services. There are a range of treatments that can contribute to pain management such as:

• Interventional Pain Management
• Chiropractic care
• Medical Care
• Physical Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Spinal Decompression
• Preventative Care

If you are recovering from addiction to opioids or benzodiazepines and need an alternative to medication-assisted treatment, a pain management center can provide relief from chronic pain. It is a healthier choice that can produce long-term results.

Stay Active

Chronic pain can kill your motivation to go to work, engage in activities, or even get out of bed. However, in spite of the agony, you may be feeling, exercise, and physical activity provide numerous benefits. Exercise can promote proper joint function, strengthen your muscles, and reduce your anxiety or depression.

Physical activity also helps you maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity. You don’t have to engage in strenuous exercise to be healthy. A physical therapy program can put you on a regular exercise plan that is attainable and enjoyable. Talk with your therapist about what options are available to you at a pain management center.

Eat Healthy and Watch Your Diet

When you suffer from chronic pain, your immune system may go into overdrive to compensate. As a result, your body produces too many white blood cells. This leads to inflammation. The inflammation leads to increased pain. It turns into a vicious cycle that causes discomfort.

A healthy diet can reduce inflammation that is associated with chronic pain. Eating a nutritious meal can support your immune system and keep it regulated so that there is less inflammation. A balanced diet should include:

• Lots of fruits and vegetables – mix it up and eat a variety
• Oils such as Omega 3s, canola oil, or olive oil
• Fish and poultry (reduce your red meat and pork intake)
• Water (ideally, eight ounces per day)

Reduce Your Stress

Chronic pain can lead to severe anxiety and depression. Likewise, anxiety can cause an array of physical problems such as back, neck, knee & shoulder pain, muscle tensions, heart problems, fibromyalgia, headaches, tendonitis, foot pain, and myofascial pain. So, if you are going to manage your chronic pain, you need to reduce stress and anxiety in your life.

There are several ways to manage stress. First, quit smoking and cut back on caffeine and alcohol. Also, you should exercise, get enough sleep, manage your time, put your job into perspective, and learn to have fun. You may also want to consider seeking counseling or therapy for any mental health issues you have.

Contact One of Our BackFit Clinics Today

You don’t have to live with chronic for the rest of your life. Treatment is available for your pain at BackFit Health + Spine. We offer a variety of services including medical care, chiropractic care, and physical therapy for a wide range of medical conditions. To schedule a therapy session with a treatment specialist, call us at 1-877-BACKFIT or fill out the form on our contact page.