“You don’t seem sick” “You are such a charming soul, how can you be sick” “People who are sick are low on energy” “Stop being so stressed and eat healthy” Do you hear such phrases often?

For many people living with chronic pain, this is a reality. They may not look like they are sick but they deal with intense bouts of pain throughout the day. Chronic conditions such as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis are not easily treated. Living with chronic conditions can be frustrating and exhausting. However, it is possible to limit the severity of your pain with chronic pain management at home.

Try the following strategies to limit the severity of pain and the effect chronic conditions have on you.

• Try Different Pain Management Techniques

There is no one-size-fits-all pain management technique that works for everyone. Thus, you should be open to trying different pain management techniques to manage and diminish your pain.

Choosing chronic pain management at home will help you keep the pain at the lowest level possible which will, in turn, make it easy to stay active and minimize the chronic pain further. Managing pain also decreases the stress often associated with chronic pain.

Some of the pain management techniques you can use include:

  • Heat therapy
  • Cold therapy
  • Healthy exercise regimen (water exercise)
  • Prescribed pain medications

Apart from the above stated techniques, some people often choose alternative treatment options such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy. To find out what works best for you, try various combination of pain management techniques. It may take some time to find the right combination of techniques, so be patient initially.

• Support Network of Friends and Family

Dealing with chronic pains can be an isolating experience. You may be saying no to social gathering often, you love to spend the weekend in bed rather than going out with friends, and you may not be as active as you were once.

Once you become isolated, the intensity of your chronic pain may increase as you have less stimulation to distract you from pain. Moreover, staying in and avoiding people increases the risk of developing mental health issues such as depression.

So if you are suffering from chronic pain, it is important to find a support network in friends and family. Having a supportive network of friends and family who are emphatic will help you distract from the pain.

• Practice Mindfulness

Our mind plays a powerful role in reducing the perception of pain. So, if you are suffering from chronic pain, regularly practice imagery control technique and mindfulness. Here’s how you can do it.

  • Start by focusing your attention on a body part that is not paining.
  • Alter the sensation in the focused body part. For instance – you can image your hands becoming cold or warm.
  • Hold the imaginary sensation for several minutes and you will experience the chronic pain will get less.

If chronic pain management at home does not help to reduce your pain, you can get in touch with Utah Doctors at Home.

We provide you with comprehensive medical care from the comfort of your own home. Our mobile medical team is made up of skilled physicians, nurse practitioners and an experienced team of health professionals. Call for admission details (385) 247-0050.