Guest-Blog by Sheila Olson
There’s no denying it: Americans are in pain. According to the latest estimates, more than 25 million Americans are living with chronic pain.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
Many things can result in chronic pain—everything from bad posture and too much time in front of the computer, to health conditions like fibromyalgia or migraines. Pain symptoms interfere with our daily lives, dampen our moods, and make us feel hopeless and helpless in our own bodies
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are living with chronic pain and its related conditions, don’t despair. Luckily, there are many things you can do to boost your health and wellness and minimize your pain.
Reduce the Causes
Chronic pain can be a mysterious condition. Sometimes, the causes are not apparent. However, if you’re living with chronic pain, there’s a good chance you’ll start to notice certain things which either trigger your pain or make it worse. Do bright lights, and loud noises cause you to feel a migraine coming on? Does sitting in front of a computer screen for hours at a time trigger radiating pain through your neck, shoulders, and back? If these scenarios sound familiar, the good news is you’ve pinpointed a pain trigger. Now let’s explore a few things you can do about it.
Start by reducing any triggers or other common causes of your pain. Avoid bright, glaring lights. Maintain a calm, quiet home environment and try to keep stress levels to a minimum. Invest in a more ergonomic desk or office setup. If your job requires you to work on a computer for long hours at a time, then a solution can be to set a timer to remind yourself to get up and stretch every 15 to 30 minutes. Whatever your pain triggers might be, finding ways to reduce them can play a crucial role in also decreasing your pain.
Try-At-Home Remedies
When you’re living with chronic pain, you often don’t feel like leaving your bed—much less the house! Luckily, there are many things you can do to ease your symptoms from the comfort of your own home.
First, you might take up a daily yoga and meditation practice. Believe it or not, yoga and meditation can help counteract your pain symptoms. According to Psychology Today, this is because these gentle practices have “the opposite effect on your brain as chronic pain.” There are even “chair yoga” videos available on YouTube if your pain restricts your movement. And you can find meditation apps for your phone or tablet if you need help getting started.
Another thing you might consider is getting a pet, such as a dog or a cat. Pets have been shown to help soothe their owners’ minds. You could even invest in a specially trained service animal or therapy dog to help you manage your symptoms.
Dog ownership also provides an excellent excuse for you to get outdoors and go for a short walk with your favorite four-legged companion. Of course, you’ll want to practice proper technique while walking your dog. Invest in a quality no-pull leash and harness and take care when walking your dog in bad weather. If all else fails, consider hiring a professional dog walker, if needed.
Seek Professional Care
When living with chronic pain, it’s important to seek medical advice. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are effective ways to help reduce pain. For instance, studies have shown that building abdominal muscles and exercising the core can help reduce symptoms in those living with chronic lower-back pain.
Cleveland Clinic reports that simply moving your body can be one of the best ways to reduce or prevent pain symptoms. It might sound counterintuitive to move when you are in pain, but bigger problems can occur when avoiding movement–which can do your body more harm than good.
“Consistent movement is as important as an exercise program,” says Cleveland Clinic’s Family Health Team, “and it’s a good first step if exercising feels too overwhelming for you.” By gradually gaining strength throughout your body, physical therapy can help reduce your symptoms. When combined with the pain-reduction techniques listed above, you’ll be on track to living a healthier, happier life despite your chronic pain diagnosis.
About the Author:
Sheila Olson has been a personal trainer for over five years. She believes the best way to achieve physical fitness and good health is to set and tackle small goals. Sheila encourages her clients to stay positive by incorporating mindfulness practices into her sessions. She finds this helps clients reduce the internal, negative self-talk.
She created FitSheila.com to spread the word about her fitness philosophy. She has a brilliant and balanced view of fitness. She’s all about, “…a balance between ‘holistic fitness’ and the obsessed and guilt-driven ‘fitness lifestyle’.”