If you are unlucky enough to live with chronic (persistent, ongoing) pain, why not make 2018 the year you resolve to do something about it?
Maybe you’ve resigned yourself to a constant pain in your joints, muscles or tendons, believing there is nothing you can do about it.
However, talking to an orthopaedic specialist could identify a range of possible treatments that could make a difference. And that difference could have a far bigger impact than you think.
Why get used to being in pain?
If you’ve never stopped to think about the effect of living with constant pain, it might surprise you to discover that the pain itself is actually just a small part of the problem.
People who are in pain are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and low mood.
It’s completely logical. Being in pain is draining, it affects your quality of life and can have a psychological impact, which impacts not just you but those around you as well… families, friends and co-workers.
If it is not properly managed, chronic pain can lead to:
- sleep problems
- exhaustion
- stress
- relationship problems, and
- work issues
Sometimes the pain itself can be overtaken by the resultant psychological difficulties. It can become a downward spiral that is difficult to break.
Lifestyle changes
There are some lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting some exercise and finding ways to relax are all important for maintaining a good quality of life and improving psychological wellbeing.
Meditation or relaxation exercises can help to reduce muscle tension, which can help to lessen the pain, and may help you to sleep better. Also, learning how to manage unhelpful thoughts and beliefs can improve your quality of life.
Aside from taking steps to help yourself, a consultation with an orthopaedic specialist can help you to come up with a strategy for managing chronic pain so its impact on your life is lessened.
What is actually causing the pain?
Initially, it is vital to build a good understanding of what is causing the pain, so you feel better informed and more in control.
Accurate diagnosis is the first step to being able to consider how you can reduce or eliminate the pain you are experiencing.
Whether you are suffering from a sports related injury, or a longer-term condition such as osteoarthritis, you will likely find there are options available for you.
Reduce your pain in 2018
There are state of the art technologies which could help to bring relief for chronic pain sufferers.
If you have been living with pain for a while now, make this the year you take action to improve your quality of life and your physical and psychological wellbeing.
