10 Ways To Manage Chronic Pain
Researchers have spent a lot of time understanding what causes chronic pain and how to get relief. Typical origins of chronic pain include sports injuries and auto accidents. Health issues that cause chronic pain include arthritis, cancer, diabetes or migraines. For those living with chronic pain, there are a variety of ways you can manage chronic pain. Getting help when you need it, relaxing the body and mind, exercise and what you eat are all part of the contributing factors to best managing your chronic pain. Here are some of the main ways to manage your chronic pain.
10. Exercise
While it may seem like the last thing you want to do when you’re in pain, exercise is one of the best ways to manage chronic pain. When exercising regularly, you raise the endorphins in your brain which are chemicals that boost your mood. These endorphins also block pain signals so you aren’t constantly getting the chemical message that you’re in pain.
Exercise also strengthens the muscles so you have more possibility of preventing re-injury. Exercising of course has many other benefits for your body. Keeping weight down and heart disease and a natural control of blood sugar levels are a few of the additional benefits you can expect. Your doctor should be able to let you know what your limitations are.
9. Biofeedback
Biofeedback is the practice of consciously control the many functions of your body. Evidence states that this technique has been effective for patients with chronic pain. Through the process that has been created, it’s easy for patients to master.
During a session, you’d wear sensors which will allow you to either see or hear certain functions in your body. This could include your pulse, digestion, tension of your muscles or your body temperature. Squiggly lines on the monitors give you insight on what’s happening in your body. Now, you’re taught how to control the squiggles and response appropriately to alleviate your chronic pain. It takes a few session until your mind trains the biological system to respond.
