When you have a chronic illness, pain management can be crucial to managing your illness. While you may not be able to totally eliminate pain, there are several things you can do to reduce and manage your pain.
According to The Arthritis Foundation, the following will assist in lessening the pain which accompanies arthritis:
Sleep and rest
The Arthritis Foundation stated, “Sleep restores your energy so that you can better manage pain. It also rests your joints to reduce pain and swelling.”
Protect your joints
“Using your joints wisely means doing everyday tasks in ways that reduce the stress on painful joints,” revealed the Foundation’s website.
Exercise regularly
An article in the recent issue of USA Weekend claimed that “exercise can help ease rheumatoid arthritis."
According to the article, a new report showed that more than 40 percent of patients are inactive and about half didn’t think exercise would benefit them.
Experts encourage physical activity to help reduce the joint pain, stiffness and swelling that come with rheumatoid arthritis. Walking and water aerobics are excellent forms of exercise for those with suffering from arthritis.
Keep a positive attitude
At times, it will be extremely difficult to keep yourself positive. However, a health and positive attitude is one of the best things to fight your pain.
Here are some tactics you can try to keep your spirits up:
o Surround yourself with positive people.
o Think positive thoughts and practice positive self-talk (see below).
o Have a sense of humor.
o Watch a funny movie or read a joke book.
o Enjoying activities with family and friends. Invite friends or family over and order Chinese food.
Practice positive self-talk
The Foundation recommends the following approach. “Changing negative self-talk to positive self-talk can be a challenge. At first it may seem awkward, but you'll soon discover what a difference it can make."
o Change each negative statement to a positive one. For example, "I'm tired and don't feel like attending my support group tonight, but if I don't go I might miss out on some good tips like the ones I learned last month. I can always leave the meeting a little early."
o Make a list of your negative self-talk statements.
In an interview with USA Today, Carol Ryff, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been studying whether or not high levels of psychological well-being benefit physical health.
"There is a science that is emerging that says a positive attitude isn't just a state of mind," she said. "It also has linkages to what's going on in the brain and in the body."
Many medical expert agree, there is definitely an invisible and intensive power behind positive attitudes and positive self-talk.
References:
Arthritis Foundation | Managing Arthritis Pain | Arthritis Pain | Arthritis Pain Management Tips. Arthritis Foundation | Symptoms Treatments | Prevention Tips | Pain Relief Advice. Retrieved May 16, 2012, from http://www.arthritis.org/manage-pain.php
Important info for millions who suffer. (2012, May 11). USA Weekend, p. 8. Print.
http://www.usaweekend.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012305110006
Preventing Pain. Arthritis Foundation | Symptoms Treatments | Prevention Tips | Pain Relief Advice. Retrieved May 16, 2012, from http://www.arthritis.org/preventing-arthritis-pain.php
Tips for Managing Pain. Arthritis Foundation | Symptoms Treatments | Prevention Tips | Pain Relief Advice. Retrieved May 16, 2012, from
http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-pain-management-tips.php
USATODAY.com - Power of a super attitude. News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Retrieved May 16, 2012, from
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-10-12-mind-body_x.htm
Reviewed May 16, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith