Top 10 Don’ts When Suffering from Chronic Pain

Sharon Moore August 06, 2013

Every day, around 10 million people in the UK suffer from chronic pain, resulting in a major impact on their quality of life and more days off work, according to the British Pain Society. Chronic pain can be mild or excruciating, episodic or continuous, and sometimes, totally incapacitating.

You probably have heard about the Dos in managing, treating and preventing chronic pain. What about the DONTs? Here they are.

Don’t make it more painful. Be kind to yourself.

Your head is pounding so you weren’t able to get up on time. Now you’re stuck in the traffic and late for work again. In times like this, it’s easy to be harsh to ourselves. But never call yourself names or speak unkindly to yourself – things you would never do to other people. This won’t do you any good, rather, will aggravate your condition. Speak to yourself in a way you would speak to a loved one who is in pain.

Don’t just sit there. Do something!

Many chronic pain sufferers tend to ignore their condition, thinking it will go away soon. But pain is a sign that something is not right within your body. You could be experiencing high levels of stress or some other illness – you’ll never know until you get your health checked. If the pain has been going on for weeks now, talk to your GP.

Don’t say “yes” to an activity when your body is saying “no”.

Chronic pain can be incapacitating, affecting all areas of your life. You don’t have to always push yourself to the limit, especially if you are not feeling well. If you are worried about the unfinished paperwork, think about how many more tasks you won’t be able to do on time if your condition worsens. Give yourself a break and let your body recuperate.

Don’t eat too much processed foods.

Instead, eat more of those that have anti-inflammatory properties like fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil. You can also take anti-inflammatory supplements and herbs like curcumin (the ingredient in turmeric) and ginger to combat pain-causing inflammation.

Don’t try a treatment just because it worked for someone else.

Just because a friend recovered from back pain taking some medications doesn’t mean you will be healed too. It’s always best to do your own research. Consult a professional therapist. Know your options and choose which one is most suitable for you.

Don’t skip your H20.

If you are dehydrated, you will have more muscle spasms and cramps so make sure you drink enough water each day. Aim for 1.5-2 litres of water daily.

Don’t rush.

Create a schedule for your daily activities so you don’t have to end up rushing things. When you are in a hurry, your stress hormones will rise. And that is something you don’t want to happen when you’re suffering from chronic pain. A trick would be to double the amount of time you think it would take to finish a task and of course, schedule your activities earlier.

Don’t depend on painkillers.

Medications could provide you instant relief from pain, that’s true. But they don’t cure your illness, they only mask the symptoms. Not only that. Artificial painkillers have side effects. According to the NHS, common side effects of ibuprofen include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and indigestion. Taking high doses of this drug for extended periods could also put you at risk of heart disease, stroke and heart attack, and infertility in women. Look for a treatment that targets the root cause of your pain and at the same time, does not compromise your health.

Don’t wear uncomfortable clothes.

Your aim is to make yourself feel as relaxed as possible to reduce the pain. Your body is already struggling so why make it struggle more by wearing tight jeans, high heels, and the like?

Don’t be negative.

Being pessimistic does nothing but prolong your agony. Instead of thinking about the things you could no longer do now that you’re ill, think of those that you CAN do. If your doctor told you not to engage in high-intensity exercises like you always did, try Tai chi or yoga. These are low-impact exercises that are not just good for your body but also your mind. Remember, the way you think has a huge impact on the way you feel. Think and believe that your pain will go away, because it will.

Living with chronic pain can really knock you flat. One day the pain is manageable and you can carry on with your usual tasks. The next day it’s unbearable and all you want to do is lie down. But there are things you can do to ease the pain. Hope this “not-to-do” list would help you deal with chronic pain.

Dear Readers,

Do you know of some natural therapies that can help treat chronic pain? Share your comment below.