Yoga for Pain Management
Yoga is about gentle stretching and mind-body techniques that can help with daily discomforts like sore backs, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. Through studies, regular yoga has been shown to
· ease pain,
· increase function,
· improve mood, and
· reduce the need for medication.
Avoid Lengthy Bed Rest
In the old days, people treated their suffering with rest. While a little rest is reasonable with a new injury, such as an ankle sprain, Now, doctors say that while a little rest is OK after a new injury — like an ankle sprain — it won’t help with chronic pain.
You hurt more, not less, when lying on the couch for too long. Too much rest can also weaken muscles. Try to stay active instead.
Physical, Occupational Therapy for CPS
Both physical and occupational therapy can help ease chronic pain.
Physical therapy dates back to ancient times, when exercise, massage, heat, and cold would be applied to treat a variety of conditions. Today, physical therapy aims to teach you exercises and offer treatments that help build strength and increase mobility.
From buttoning buttons to cooking dinner, occupational therapy aims to help you work around chronic pain syndrome by teaching you new ways to do things.
Talk Therapy Can Help
Some people are embarrassed to get help from a counselor or therapist for chronic pain. They feel it’s an admission that the suffering is not real and that the suffering is “all in their heads.” That’s simply not true. Therapists can help you cope with the physical suffering and discomfort in your life – and work through practical solutions to the problems you face daily.
Use OTC Painkillers Moderately
If you find yourself relying very often on over-the-counter painkillers to ease your chronic pain, you may be doing yourself more harm than good. OTC (over the counter) painkillers such as
· acetaminophen,
· aspirin, and
· ibuprofen
are good for occasional aches and soreness, but they may be risky if you take them in high doses or for a long period of time without the advice of a healthcare professional. Remember to always follow medication instructions and don’t use OTC painkillers for more than 10 days in a row unless instructed and supervised by a doctor.
Seeing a Pain Specialist
If you’re in chronic pain, you may benefit by seeing an expert. Pain specialists focus on one thing: getting rid of their patients’ discomfort. Many of these experts work at specialty pain centers. Patients can get all sorts of treatment from medication to massage. If you want to find a center for chronic pain syndrome, ask your doctor for a referral or call local medical centers.
How to Describe Your Pain
Before your doctor’s visit, it’s a good idea to prepare by thinking about how your suffering feels and how it affects you. By answering these questions, you can help your doctor pinpoint the root cause of a patient’s, as well as recommend effective treatments.
· Where is it located? Is it in one spot, or spread out?
· How severe is it? If you put it on a scale from 0-10, how would you rank it?
· How long have you been feeling these symptoms?
· Is it constant? Or does it come and go? If it comes and goes, how often does it occur, and how long does it last?
· What are you doing when the symptoms feel worse, and when they feels better?
· What do your symptoms prevent you from doing?
· What triggers your symptoms?
