When you’re dealing with a medical condition that causes chronic pain, it can be difficult to stay positive and motivated to feel better. However, there are many things you can do outside of medications and physical therapy to alleviate persistent, disabling pain.
Dr. Rachel Rosen can offer a customized treatment plan to address your health needs and alleviate pain. She strongly encourages your full participation in the management of your condition and offers her support in making the necessary changes to your life to relieve pain.
Lifestyle Choices to Help Chronic Pain
While everyone handles pain differently, the following tips can help you make better choices to ease pain and improve your overall health.
Eat better
There’s a reason that experts say you are what you eat. Making changes to your existing diet should involve the addition of more fresh produce and less processed and packaged foods.
By improving your diet, you can lose weight that may be contributing to your ongoing pain issues. You can also reduce inflammation in the body triggered by unhealthy foods.
Drink enough water
Your body needs water to function optimally. If you’re constantly dehydrated or filling up with sugary drinks, your body is always under stress, which can lead to chronic pain, fatigue, and mood swings.
Hydrating your body with fresh, clean water helps to flush out toxins and keep your organs functioning properly. Typically, 8 glasses of water a day are enough to provide your body what it needs to work well.
Prepare for sleep
During sleep, your body can recharge and refresh itself to prepare for another day. If you’re not getting consistent, high-quality sleep every night, you’ll pay the consequences every day.
Create a bedtime routine that involves going to bed at the same time each night and ensuring you get 8-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Keep lights low and the room cool. Don’t watch television or use electronics at least one hour before bedtime to allow your brain needed time to unwind and prepare for sleep.
Quit the bad habits
If you’re a smoker, drink alcohol regularly, or use recreational drugs, you may be contributing to your own pain. Quitting bad habits takes willpower, but the results will ensure you live a healthier, happier life.
Dr. Rosen offers effective resources to help you kick bad habits for good, especially those that interfere with your natural ability to heal and worsen your chronic pain.
Learn how to relax
Living in a constant state of stress isn’t good for your physical or mental health. Take time to make relaxation a priority and learn what activities help you de-stress.
Whether you can find relaxation benefits in long walks or guided meditation, seek out what works best for you. You may also find regular massages, yoga classes, or exercises to be an effective way to relieve excess stress and energy that contributes to your chronic pain.
Make a point to unplug
In today’s world, technology has us hooked. As a result, we spend too much time on phones and computers, often practicing poor posture and allowing the internet to drain our brains.
Cutting down screen time can go a long way to reducing chronic pain. Not only will you have more time and energy to enjoy physical activities, but you can also reconnect with yourself and others to relieve stress and feel supported.
In addition to turning off electronics at least an hour before bed, schedule several days a month to completely unplug from technology and relax.
These tips can go a long way to helping you manage chronic pain, while also improving your general health and well-being.
For more guidance on managing chronic pain, schedule an appointment at Elkins Park Family Medicine online or by phone today.