The process of living with chronic pain is mentally and emotionally draining and may pose a challenge to activities of daily living. One thing you wouldn’t like to do is flare up the pain. Pain control can be achieved by healthy lifestyle choices and following your doctor’s treatment plan. Pain management physicians also inform what not to do when living with chronic pain.
Things to Avoid that Aggravate Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain can be complicated, and some behaviors and choices can aggravate the pain or probably compromise the pain specialist’s interventional treatment plan without you knowing it. Knowing what can increase chronic pain will also help improve the quality of life. Here are nine things that you should never do when in chronic pain.
● Tuning Out Pain if Nothing Severe Is at Stake.
Chronic pain should not be ignored, hoping that whatever is causing the pain will heal itself. Doing so might worsen the presenting condition and fail to diagnose the potential underlying health problems appropriately and in good time. Chronic pain rarely heals, as it is often a serious medical issue that drags on for months or years. Such negligence might lead to dire consequences, ranging from health complications to unhealthy lifestyles The sooner a pain specialist doctor knows about the issue, the better it will be for the diagnosis and treatment plan.
● Self-Diagnosis
Self-diagnosing or treating oneself with off-the-shelf medications only leads to improper treatment, overdoses, or adverse drug/medication interactions. Just because medication is available as an over-the-counter drug does not mean it is safe for long-term use, nor should it be directly considered as a therapy for the source of your chronic pain.
● Do Not Forget Resting
Though tempting, when in pain, one feels that rest is the best option, but inactivity will worsen pain later, which means chronic problems like arthritis. It could cause stiff joints. Exercises, done right, help relieve pain by strengthening muscles and improving mobility, endurance, and strength. It also helps with your wellness program—keeping you in shape.
● Do Not Avoid Evidence-Based Alternative Therapies
Pain management is very individual. What may work for one person may simply not work for another. It is unwise to stick with one therapy without consideration for others if the aim is to get better. Your doctor will prepare a custom treatment plan for you centered on multiple therapies; the myriad effects can make pain management increasingly successful.
● Do Not Disregard Diet
Chronic pain relates to diet. Different biological mechanisms could be involved in initiating and propagating pain: inflammation, oxidative stress, and glucose metabolism. Some foods fix either or maintain these inflammation, oxidative stress, and glucose metabolism mechanisms, as mentioned above. Patients suffering from chronic pain should be on a slightly different diet from non-pain-associated persons. A nutritionist recommended by your doctor will work with you to create a dietary plan that addresses chronic pain and will teach you how nutrition plays a key role in pain management and how to eat healthily.
● Do Not Forget Pain Management Doctor’s Treatment Plan
Depending on the underlying cause of the pain, managing chronic pain may take months, years, or occasionally a lifetime. Sometimes, it seems too difficult to keep in touch with physical therapy sessions, not take medications as prescribed, or follow other such guidelines. Following the pain management specialist’s CA treatment plan is essential for any chronic pain management, and it does take working towards it with great discipline if treatment continues for a long time.
● Improving Quality of Life
Chronic pain might not always be preventable, but if chronic pain is caused by injury, disease, or any other medical condition, the aim is to prevent debilitating pain or reduce the pain burden in the afflicted person. Effective chronic pain management is more of an art than a science, with no single solution benefiting all patients. It involves integrated care planning through pain management, mental health support, physical activity, and lifestyle choices. By adopting such a broad-based approach, you regain the ability to address one’s pain and improve one’s quality of life.
In conclusion
A proactive approach, discipline, and a thorough treatment regimen are all important aspects of effective chronic pain management. Working not to do things that might worsen pain, engaging in healthy living, and following physicians’ orders can all greatly improve the quality of life. Sekiwala Pain Management Center offers individualized treatment regimens to manage chronic pain. With our assistance, you can gain better control over your pain and take the first steps toward a healthier and, hopefully, more satisfying life. Let us help you regain comfort and mobility.