Chronic pain, or sustained pain that lasts well after the end of acute pain, affects millions of people. From prescription medication to holistic remedies, or seeing a doctor to seeing a therapist – those living with chronic pain must find out what works for their specific situation. Everyone is different, and no two instances of chronic pain are exactly alike.
Having said that, there are some easy ways to organize your home life to help you deal with your chronic pain.
Focus on Exercise
The problem with exercise in chronic pain sufferers is that the pain limits their ability to exercise. Without that exercise, the pain gets worse. It’s a vicious circle. If you can break the circle and ease into some low-level to moderate exercise, you could see a boost to both your physical and mental health. Exercise taps the brain to produce hormones that have painkilling effects.
“Decreases in pain, depression, and anxiety following treatment in a pain rehabilitation program have been well documented, they add, but to date, no study has determined the immediate effects of brief exercise on these factors,” says a study quoted in Medscape Neurology & Neurosurgery.
“The brief exercise protocol also produced significant immediate antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. The research suggests that relatively modest exercise leads to improved mood and physical capacity … the review also suggests that brief exercise is a safe, cost-free, nonpharmacologic strategy for immediately reducing depression and anxiety.”
At home, you can simply take walks around the neighborhood or you can invest in low-impact equipment like ellipticals or stationary bikes – both of which are good for chronic pain sufferers.
Provide Yourself a Quiet Space for Mindfulness Activities
Mindfulness activities, which include but are not limited to meditation, guided breathing, and yoga, have been proven to help reduce the impact of and make living with chronic pain much easier. In your home, you may want to dedicate a special place for such activities, focusing on quiet, serene tranquility. Furnish and decorate the room in a way that will provide you with the calm you need.
“Yoga can help people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, low back pain, and many other types of chronic pain conditions. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that among 313 people with chronic low back pain, a weekly yoga class increased mobility more than standard medical care for the condition. Another study published at nearly the same time found that yoga was comparable to standard exercise therapy in relieving chronic low back pain,” says Harvard Health.
The benefits of these practices are multi-faceted. Not only do they seem to have the same effect as more aerobic exercise when it comes to managing pain, but they also have the added benefit of helping to rehabilitate your mind.
Reduce Some of Your Workload
It’s hard to keep a clean, organized house. It’s even harder when chronic pain prevents you from being able to work at your fullest. Those living with chronic pain can become extremely fatigued from simple household chores, and this unease snowballs into other aspects of their life.
One thing you can do is to accept help. Consider hiring professionals to help you maintain a clean, clutter-free house. Not only will you forgo the heavy lifting, but you’ll enjoy the benefits of reduced stress and anxiety – both of which can have devastating effects on both body and mind.
If you can tailor your home life to reduce the impact of your chronic pain, you’ll be setting yourself up for greater success in all aspects of your life.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Author: Jackie Waters
