How Do I Manage Chronic Pain?

First, know your diagnosis. How can you treat a problem that has not been diagnosed? You will not know your traditional or alternative medical treatment options unless you have a specific diagnosis. Whether the condition is fibromyalgia, arthritis or cancer, there are treatment options available for you. Without a diagnosis, you will not receive adequate treatment. So pursue finding the answer for why you have chronic pain, which gives you the opportunity to accept the truth about your body. In that case, you can learn to live and thrive despite a painful diagnosis.

Second, know your body. You must identify the specific activities and movements that increase and decrease your pain and symptoms. You should be able to readily list your aggravating and relieving factors. That is helpful first for your physician, therapist or other healthcare practitioner as they develop your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Third, modify your lifestyle based on your list from #2 (aggravating and relieving factors). Here are some examples. 

a. Lie down on on your back for 10 minutes without a pillow and place ice on the painful area. This may give enough pain relief to get you through the afternoon of chores.

b. Avoid the chair that causes your back to hurt. Find another chair. Or if sitting in that chair for 1 hour causes your back to hurt, stand up and stretch every 30 minutes.

c. Sit in the back row of church so that you can stand up as frequently as needed. This may be the modification that enables you to get back to church again.

d. Do a specific exercise that decreases your pain, and repeat it every hour.

e. Consistently walk for 30 minutes per day because that keeps your pain better controlled.

f. The next time you buy a car, get one that is higher off the ground because getting in and out of a low car always aggravates your pain.

g. Cook for 15 minutes at a time if standing too long aggravates your pain.

Fourth, take medication as prescribed for a time period. If it is ineffective, follow up with your doctor to see what other medicine may be appropriate. Some medicine is most effective when taken consistently, so do not skip doses or days.

Fifth, comply with doctor's orders. This includes lifting restrictions, activity restrictions, lifestyle modifications, prescriptions and other medical treatments (such as Physical Therapy or chiropractic care). If you truly want to get better, what are you doing to make that happen? Are you doing the home exercise program from your PT?

Sixth, be sure you have exhausted your treatment options. Have you tried Physical Therapy, Aquatic Therapy, Chiropractor, Accupuncture, Massage Therapy, Exercise, Weight Loss, Medication, Natural Remedies, Vitamins/Supplements, Topical Rubs/Creams, Ice/Heat, Over-the-counter treatments, Injections, Diet changes, etc? 

Lastly, do your own research and be your own advocate. If you know the answer to #1, then find support groups, websites, books and articles on your diagnosis. Find out the best local or national specialists in your area of chronic pain.

Chronic pain is very difficult to live with, but you ARE still alive! God has blessed you with this life, so learn to best manage your pain so that you can fulfill your purpose for living!

Dealing With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life, but it does not have to take over your life. Here are some practical tips to help you deal with chronic pain.

1. Know your treatment options. What treatments have you tried (medicines, therapies, surgeries, injections)? What doctors/specialists have you seen so far? Do not be afraid to get a second and third opinion, especially if you have unanswered questions about the diagnosis and treatment options for your condition. Be sure to ask your healthcare providers all your questions about your symptoms, concerns and needs. 

2. Exercise! Find a form of exercise that is most tolerable and do it frequently. Exercise produces natural feel-good hormones in your body called endorphins! There are countless exercise benefits for your heart, lungs, muscles, metabolism, digestion, mind and every system of your body, so do not stop exercising or moving because of chronic pain. More than likely, exercise will make you feel better and lack of exercise will make you feel worse.

3. Modify your postures. Look at your posture and find ways to improve it. Use upright chairs, lumbar support rolls, extra pillows, etc to improve and maintain good posture. Start standing and walking with upright posture. Use assistive devices (cane, walker, crutches, braces) as needed to help improve your posture and balance.

4. Modify positioning. Do you sit all day in your recliner chair or sofa? Are there certain positions that aggravate your symptoms for an extended time that you can avoid? Change positions frequently. Stand up and walk around often, even if it is only for a few minutes at a time. You may need to avoid certain chairs, beds, or couches. Be picky about where you choose to sit when you are in public. 

5. Find a hobby. Give yourself something to wake up for every day. Choose something that promotes activity and movement, such as gardening, yoga, or cooking. Having an active hobby will benefit you both physically and mentally.

6. Stay social. Do not isolate yourself because of your pain. Spend time doing activities with your family and friends. Or find ways/places to make friends. Find a local support group for individuals with your condition. 

7. Do not neglect the power of prayer. Jesus performed miraculous healings, and God still does miracles today!

Back Pain Referred From Other Medical Conditions

If you have back pain without a known cause, it may be referred from another body part or medical problem. Here are some medical conditions that can cause pain in the back in addition to their other symptoms.

Metabolic-related:
Cancer or malignant tumor: Your back pain is worse at night, it wakes you up, no position decreases the pain, you may have had cancer before, you are likely over age 50, you may have rapid, unexplained weight loss.

Osteoporosis: You are likely an older woman, may have sharp pain in the mid-back or pelvis, may have dull pain which decreases when you lie down, you may have fallen recently.


Blood-related:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: You are likely over 50 years old, have abdominal pain in addition to back pain, and you can feel a lump in your abdomen.


Stomach-intestine:
Pancreatitis or cancer: You have stomach pain which spreads to the back, you have fever, nausea/vomitting, have lost weight and notice fat in your stool.

Penetrating or perforated duodenal ulcer: You have stomach pain which spreads around to your back.


Rhematologic:
Fibromyalgia: You are likely a young or middle-aged woman, you have pain throughout your body, you have difficulty sleeping, you feel continually tired.

Scoliosis: Your spine curves toward one side, you may feel like one shoulder is much lower, your back does not look symmetrical.


Urinary:
Nephrolithiasis: You may have abdominal pain which spreads around to your back, you may have groin pain, you have bloody urine.

Pyelonephritis: You have pain to the touch on one side of your low back, you have a fever, and you have difficulty urinating.


Men's Issues:
Prostatitis: You are likely over age 30, you have difficulty urinating, you have back pain and perineal pain.


Women's Issues:
Endometriosis: You are a young or middle-aged woman, you have pain in the pelvis and back.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: You are a young woman, you are sexually active, you have a fever and difficulty urinating.

Ectopic pregnancy: You have pain in your back and abdomen, you had a positive pregnancy test.




Reference:
Brotzman SB, Wilk KE. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, 2nd ed. Mosby: 2003. Page 562. Table 9-2: "Conditions That May Mimic Musculoskeletal or Mechanical Back Pain."