How to Live With Chronic Pain

When a person has been diagnosed with pain causing illness such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus or Fibromyalgia, life can get very difficult. Read on to learn how to improve the quality of life for these people.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Make regular visits to a doctor or pain management specialist.

2. Write down your concerns before you head to the doctor's office, including the principle areas of pain, the times of day it's most severe, and the daily schedule of activities you can or cannot do.

3. Have resource contacts. Chronic pain sufferers tend to become depressed and feel useless. Talk to someone!

4. Try to engage in some sort of exercise most days, swimming is excellent.

5. In cold climate, dress in layers and keep your feet warm and dry.

6. Get involved in a hobby or something you always wanted to try. Join a church group. Or, you could volunteer! Call your local Chamber of Commerce to find out about when help is needed. There's always something everyone can do.

7. If you are diagnosed with a pain causing illness, check to see if there are organizations for them. Such as the Arthritis Foundation. Call them even just to talk to someone. You are not alone!

Tips & Warnings

• For swimming, contact a local hotel or YMCA that has a pool and spa to see if you can use the facilities. Bring them a slip from your doctor stating the need.
• Hands tend to suffer a lot of swelling and stiffness. Delve into your creative side and draw, paint, or write stories or poems. These activities will also help with depression.
• Try to keep your weight at a healthy level. This decreases extra strain on joints.
• Consult doctor to make sure your medicines. Don't react in a negative way.

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[rocketman]

on 1/21/2008 i feel for you,though i don't have chronic pain i did suffer from i mild stoke a week before last thanksgiving and also am unable to work.i also haven't had any luck with financial assistance through regular resources,any ideas would be a great help! rocketman

[Lieb]

on 1/21/2008 Great Article. I wanted to recommend a few things that have helped me. I have MS and Chronic Pain, and few other things. I have included Meditation, Starting or joining a support group, Acupuncture however with acupuncture it works best for me to do 2-3 months of it and then take few months off. And one other thing with the Swimming I joined a Senior Citizen Arthritis swim group(I am only 41) and since it is designed for seniors it is easy for me to keep up and not to ware myself out, and mentally it is a great to hang around them. Again great article.