Many people who experience pain alternate between “good days” and “bad days.” You could fall into this unfortunate “pattern” of exaggerating and overdoing it on “good days.” You might say to yourself, “I feel good today. I’m going to take advantage of this and clean the whole house, or collect all the leaves, shovel the hallway, or paint the living room. ”
But this way of thinking or behaving leads to “bad days,” during which your pain level intensifies, propelling you on the couch or in the bed trying to recover. You may feel guilty for not being able to do something on a “bad day,” and this can cause you to exaggerate again by doing it on another “good day.” In the long run, it means you can do less.
How can pain be managed?
Even if pain (acute or chronic) is an experience that varies from person to person, it goes without saying that pain is not welcome in our daily life. It is why pain management is an essential component of your health.
Exercise.
Regular physical activity can help relieve your pain and improve your overall health.
The 10% rule.
When you are used to a certain level of activity and want to do more, you should only increase your activity level by 10%.
Relaxation techniques.
Practice different relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation, etc. They can significantly help in getting rid of the pain. Make sure to practice them daily.
Targeted injections.
An interventional pain reliever is one of the possible approaches to treat chronic stubborn pain. They consist of injecting anti-inflammatory drugs or anesthetics in specific places and can be used. For example, neck pain, low back pain, or sciatica.
Electrical stimulation.
The electrical stimulator is a small portable device that sends pulses of weak intensity on the painful area using electrodes that are applied to the skin. The principle is simple. The brain first receives tingling sensations that mask the message of pain. This method is effective, often in addition to other treatments, mainly for neurogenic pain.
Self-hypnosis training.
Through relaxation instructions and suggestions, medical hypnosis teaches the patient to focus on feelings other than pain.
Group therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aims less at suppressing pain than at reducing its negative consequences on daily activities. This approach encompasses the psychological and relational dimensions of the problem.
Medication.
Pain-relieving medicines can be given. Nonopioids, weak opioids, combination opioids, and strong opioids are medications used in pain management. The choice of prescription depends on the type of pain and the likelihood of the harmful effects on that particular person.
Learn to manage your pain!
Chronic pain constitutes the greatest consumption of care. The most difficult is to make the patient understand that he will have to modify his long-standing functioning: this involves understanding the exhaustion of pain awareness and pain control mechanisms.
The patient will become aware of the exhaustion of his own analgesic mechanisms. Thus, he can initiate a change in his lifestyle, by adapting his diet, his social ties, and his new life goals more realistic and respectful of his body. Once the vicious circle is broken, the patient, who has become more independent, generally requests less medical care, and those around him notice a better feeling that the painful person will only experience very gradually.
By learning to manage your pain better, your goal should be more like what appears in this second graph. You will not eliminate your pain, but you will be able to make it more regular over time and, therefore, more predictable.