subject: Practical Pain Management For Everyday Life [print this page] Regardless of the root cause, chronic pain can feel as though it will bring your whole life to a grinding halt. Unfortunately, however, most of us cannot afford to let it do so. Living with a chronic pain condition is a serious challenge, but it is possible to seek practical solutions to help you get through each day. Let me clue you in on just a few of them.
It is important to become attuned to which natural relief methods your body responds best. Most muscular aches are dulled by heat, so having a warm wrap or patch applied to the affected area throughout the day can ease stiffness and pain. On the other hand, some people find their condition improved by the application of cold, so cold packs or ice packs can be discreetly applied while you are seated, such as during time in the office or your commute.
If you are unable or unwilling to use patches or packs during your day, that's okay. You should instead purchase an electric heating pad, which can be plugged into an adapter that fits right into your car's cigarette lighter. But remember to keep its protective cover on at all times, and turn it off and stow it away safely before exiting the vehicle.
If you are on prescription medications, it is vital for you to learn the public transportation in your area and/or be aware of carpools to and from your regular destinations. I say this because particularly in the early stages of taking prescription drugs, your judgment can be impaired, rendering you unable to drive.
Many people have gotten behind the wheel despite this impairment because they needed to get somewhere and felt they had no other choice but to drive themselves. At the very least, you can receive a DUI; at the worst, you could injure or kill yourself and/or others.
Make regular appointments at a pain management facility such as a wellness spa or chiropractor's office. You might feel like you don't have time or money for these therapeutic treatments, but holistic treatments are being proven effective time and again, and they can be more cost-effective than repeated visits to a doctor or specialist.
Start small if you need to. For example, you could have a deep-tissue or Swedish therapeutic massage once every month. Record how you feel both before and after, and that will speak volumes about the effectiveness of such treatments.
Chronic pain is certainly not easy to deal with. But it is manageable. Don't give up!
