Living with chronic pain can make life much more challenging than it is for the average person. People may not see it, but you struggle day in and day out. It’s tough, and while there might not be an absolute cure for your chronic pain, there are still ways to make life a little easier for you. Even simple self-care tips can help shape a less painful and more comfortable daily routine.
Self-care comes in all shapes and sizes. Some forms of self-care will be directly about your condition, whereas others will focus more on making your life more enjoyable and stress-free. Whatever chronic pain you experience, here are seven self-care tips to help you feel more at ease.
1: Join a Chronic Pain Support Group
When you’re dealing with chronic pain, you can feel completely alone. You might see everyone else in your life enjoying their time without worrying about needing to sit down or having to go home. The truth is, many other people are going through similar situations to your own – you just have to find them. Joining a chronic pain support group will help you feel seen, heard, and understood. You’ll build firm friendships while being able to talk through all the difficulties that come from living with chronic pain. So, look to see if there are any chronic pain groups in your area. You can usually find online support groups if that’s easier for you.
2: Seek Other Medical Treatments
One huge part of self-care is looking after your body, and, as someone with chronic pain, that means seeing a professional. Have you spoken to your doctor lately? Even if you have tried specific treatments before, it’s still worth seeking new and alternative medical treatments to minimize pain or address the root cause.
One option you may or may not have previously considered is medical cannabis. While there is limited evidence to suggest cannabis reduces pain, many patients still find it useful. It’s not for everyone, but many find it helps them manage their condition and fall asleep at night. If you’re interested in this type of medicine, consider getting a prescription from Releaf Medical Cannabis, which offers online treatment via doctors and pharmacies. It’s completely legal when you have a prescription, and you’d even get a medical card to prove that you can legally hold and consume the cannabis.
3: Track Your Pain
Chronic pain can seem like the most confusing condition in the world, especially if you and your doctor are still unsure about the cause of it. One way to feel more in control and learn about your condition is to track your pain. You could do this on an app or simply by writing down your pain levels each day in a notebook. The more you learn about the pain, the better your chance of understanding the triggers and, hopefully, reducing it over time.
4: Find an Exercise You Enjoy
Some people with chronic pain find exercise too much of an uphill battle, especially if they have little mobility. The truth is that activity looks different for everyone. You might be able to run miles every morning, or you may struggle to even get out of the front door every day. Finding an exercise you can accomplish – and enjoy – is critical here. Many people with chronic pain find swimming and other pool exercises to be beneficial, as the water supports your body with less impact on your joints.
5: Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet can go a long way toward making you feel good in your body. While it might not eliminate any pain, it can help you feel more energetic and even happier.
If you struggle to eat nutritious meals every day, consider getting into meal prepping. Spending one day a week planning and prepping meals can mean you have healthy, vitamin and nutrient-rich meals to enjoy every day of the week with minimal effort.
6: Reduce Stress
Stress can make pain worse. If you want to reduce chronic pain, you must also focus on reducing the stressors in your life. That might mean making changes to your personal life, perhaps in your relationships. Or, it might mean setting stronger barriers at work. Remember, it’s important to put yourself and your health first.
7: Don’t Overdo it
When you think of self-care, you might think about long spa days or adventures to your favorite places. The truth is, for those living with chronic pain, these “stress-free” experiences can actually bring on more stress. You don’t have to do much to enjoy some self-care. Sometimes, letting yourself relax is more than enough, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
Conclusion
Self-care can look different for everyone. Even some minor changes, such as adding healthier foods to your diet or walking each day, can enormously impact your physical health and confidence over time. Try some of these tips, and see how they can transform your routine.