Chronic Pain – How to Take Control Back
Chronic Pain – How to Take Control Back
In days gone by, the remedy for chronic back pain would be to have bed rest for weeks or months on end. Like everything, advice has evolved in response to research and best practice approaches being shared among practitioners. It is now considered that bed rest worsens chronic pain, and exercise and movement are the keys to aid recovery.
Remaining in bed for long periods of time can lengthen the time that the pain lasts. Inactivity causes your body to stiffen, your muscles and bones get weaker through lack of use. You can also begin to feel lonely and depressed. If you fall into this trap of physical and mental despair, you will find it harder and harder to get going again.
You need to make sure that the choices you are making are the best for your body. You have to be as healthy as possible to help you overcome chronic pain. Do you need to lose weight? Review your diet and choose natural fat burners, whatever it takes to shift those pounds. Do you need to stop smoking? Today is a good day to do that. You need to feel more in control. Follow the points below for chronic pain – how to take control back.
Exercise
You do not have to sign up for a marathon. Exercises can be anything from armchair yoga to a gentle stroll – the point is to get the blood flowing around your body so that it heals at a better rate. The endorphins released from taking any exercise are a natural anti-depressant, so you will benefit mentally too. Do not restrict your exercises to days when you are feeling good, you need to do them when you are feeling lousy too, and you will soon find that the number of bad days is dwarfed by the good. Swimming is the ideal exercise for people who suffer from chronic pain, as it’s low impact on your body, but the benefits are wonderful. You can also see an increase in muscle, increased lung capacity, and a chance to socialize too.
Keep up your daily routine
Now that you are incorporating exercise into every day, you now have the structure for a routine. Although one of the key benefits of retirement is that you don’t have to have a routine, by having one, your body will soon get into sync and prepare for the activities it knows are coming. A routine will distract you from your pain, and set you a daily goal to achieve. Remember: baby steps are fine, as long as they are going in the right direction. Do not oversubscribe your schedule – you want it all to be achievable
Physical therapy
A short course of physical therapy will help relieve your pain so that daily tasks and activities are so much easier. Physical therapy can involve stretching and pain relief exercises and is usually delivered by an osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor West Byfleet. Do not be afraid of trying more alternative therapies– the majority, such as acupuncture, are based on ancient traditions that have withstood the test of time.
