5 Strategies to Manage Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can leave you feeling uncomfortable for weeks, months, or even years. Regardless of its cause, chronic pain can take a serious toll on your daily activities and mental health. The good news is that there are several strategies that can help you manage chronic pain and improve your overall quality of life. We recommend the following five strategies for keeping your chronic pain under control.
1. Deep Breathing or Meditation
Deep breathing and meditation can help your body relax and alleviate your pain. When you are meditating, make sure your sole focus is on breathing. If you’ve never meditated before, it’s a good idea to take a meditation class to learn about the basics of meditation. Deep breathing involves sitting or lying down in a comfortable position and blocking out distracting thoughts while slowly filling your stomach with air and letting it out.
2. Minimize Stress
Although it’s easier said than done, reducing your stress levels is essential for managing chronic pain. The less stressed you are, the more likely you are to find relief from your discomfort. Listening to soothing music, taking a warm bath, creating calming images in your mind, and participating in hobbies you enjoy can all help keep your stress under control.
3. Join a Support Group
Understand that you are not the only one coping with chronic pain. It is a common issue that many people from all walks of life face. Consider joining a support group in your area to connect with others who know exactly what you’re going through. They may offer helpful coping strategies and eventually become the people you call when you need some hope on particularly difficult days.
4. Stay Busy
Focusing on pain can make you feel worse, rather than better. Instead of thinking about how uncomfortable you feel, stay busy and active. This will allow you to things about things and keep pain from controlling your life. Make it a priority to fill your schedule up with activities you enjoy.
5. Stick to a Healthy Diet
Adhering to a nutritious, well-balanced diet full of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins is important for everyone, including those with chronic pain. A healthy diet can help keep your weight under control, improve your blood sugar levels, and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Contact NorthStar Pain Management
If you are living with pain and looking for relief, contact us today to learn more about our pain management services. We look forward to hearing from you!