We have all had to deal with some sort of pain at some point. Whether it is lower back pain or foot pain from plantar fasciitis and other common foot problems, pain can prevent you from living life to the fullest and doing even the most basic things. That being said, this is nothing compared to people who have to deal with chronic pain, which is the type of pain that needs to be managed throughout your entire life.
Chronic pain can make it difficult to do simple household chores, play with your kids or even exercising to attain your physical fitness goals. But, all hope is not lost, as there are some simple ways of walking through the pain for a more fulfilling and healthy life.
Learn to Relax
It is hard to relax or stay calm if you have chronic pain in the ball of your foot, lower back pain, joint pain and any other form of body pain. That being said, it’s important to not give up. Meditation and deep breathing are some of the best ways to relax the body when trying to deal with chronic pain.
Although you can learn meditation on your own, it’s much better to take a few classes, as classes typically help you to learn more quickly and come with added benefits of meeting new people and learning from the instructor in-person. When it comes to deep breathing, all it takes is an understanding of the basic techniques, and then finding a quiet pace to do it. If you combine the two and do them often enough, you will always have an effective remedy to help ease your mind when you become anxious or stressed.
Keep Active
Even simple things, like walking around the neighborhood, can be a tall order when you have chronic pain. And so the notion of remaining active as a way of dealing with the pain might seem far-fetched. In fact, for most people, it seems like the perfect way to make the problem worse. But this could not be the farther from the truth, because in reality, the more active you are, the less likely you are to feel the pain.
Exercise releases natural endorphins, which not only help to block out pain signals, but also aid in improving your moods, which are just what you need to go through the day when you live with chronic pain. Also, working out and keeping an active life will help to strengthen the muscles and this, in turn, will help prevent re-injury and more pain.
Before starting any new exercise regime, please consult with your primary care doctor.
Keep Stress in Check
The fact that your chronic pain is stopping you from doing the things that you love is reason enough to be stressed. However, letting the stress get the better of you only makes your chronic pain worse. As experts will tell you, negative feelings like stress, anxiety and depression can increase your sensitivity to pain significantly. Hence learning how to keep your stress in check can be very helpful.
Relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga can be very useful when it comes to dealing with stress. Other specially designed relaxation techniques, like the mental imagery or guided imagery relaxation, can also help you feel more peaceful.
Share with Others
You will be amazed at the statistic of the adults suffering from various forms of chronic pain. Knowing that you are not alone should give you some hope and encouragement. And to make things even better, consider joining a group of people that live with chronic pain in your local area.
With a support group, you will not only engage with people that understand what you are going through, but also get some real help on the different ways to deal or cope with the pain. Different people have various ways of dealing with chronic pain, and the more ideas you get, the more likely you are to find one that works well for you.
The Bottom Line
Living with chronic pain is one of the most challenging things that any person can ever go through. But, regardless of the severity of the pain or its cause, it should never stop you from living your life to the fullest. While it is still important to find a permanent solution to the underlying problem, finding ways of living through the pain is vital. You might not be able to avoid the pain, but you can take full control of your life and all the joys and pleasures that come with it.
Author Bio: I am Patrick Greer, a blogger of https://fixyourwalk.com. I’d love to share tips and treatments for anyone suffering from a foot injury. You can find me on Twitter and Facebook.
