Chronic pain is a debilitating affliction that can prevent you from working, socializing, or even performing adequate self-care.

At Share Lawyers, we understand how your pain may be different from someone else’s. In addition to consulting with your healthcare professional, here are some suggestions for day-to-day pain management:

Deep breathing or meditation

Deep breathing and meditation can be used to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Keep these tools in your pain prevention toolkit to bring down your blood pressure, ease muscle tension, and calm your mind.

Get moving

Although you may feel like physical activity will aggravate your pain, there are benefits to getting up and getting active.

Your body releases natural endorphins when you exercise, which improves your mood and blocks pain signals. Consistent exercise will increase your strength, flexibility, and energy.

Whether it’s getting into your local community centre’s pool, practicing yoga, or going for a walk, moving your body can help alleviate your pain.

Acupuncture and massage

Speak with your healthcare professional about potential complementary therapies for managing your pain.

Alternative therapies have specific benefits for controlling and alleviating pain - do some research to find the best fit for you. Figuring out what’s right for you and your pain is the first step when consulting with an acupuncturist or RMT.

Join a support group for chronic pain

You don’t have to experience pain alone. Sharing your experiences and talking about your pain are great ways to reduce stress, calm fears, and have a sense of community.

Discussing your pain is a tactic used in psychotherapies like cognitive behavioural therapy, which may not cure your pain but is a great tool for managing it.

Being around others with a shared experience has many other benefits as well. Support groups offer the opportunity to hear how others with a similar situation manage their pain, stress, and the day-to-day. Perhaps someone with the same condition might have a strategy that’s effective for your pain management.

Eat healthy and stay hydrated

Focusing on health from the inside out makes all the difference when managing pain.

Incorporating the essential nutrients and vitamins your body needs to function is a great way to ensure you’re giving your body what it needs to process and relieve pain.

Consult with a nutritionist about the best course of action when it comes to your diet. In many cases, they may advise you to select foods that have specific anti-inflammatory properties such as leafy greens, low sugar fruits (cherries, cranberries, plums), and omega-3 fatty acids.

Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydration can worsen chronic pain symptoms like headaches and muscle pain. Water is the wisest choice because it does not include any caffeine, sugar, or extra calories.

Avoid alcohol or smoking cigarettes

Alcohol affects sleep, which can add to your fatigue if you’re already experiencing pain. Try to cut back or eliminate alcohol consumption completely.

Smoking cigarettes is even riskier, as it intensifies painful circulation problems and increases your chances of heart disease or cancer.

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