HOMECARE CAN HELP WITH CHRONIC PAIN

Do you often feel as though no one believes you are in pain? It can be easy to feel misunderstood and isolated when you are not taken seriously, or friends and family have no empathy.  Very often an injury has begun to heal and you look fine on the outside, but are anything but fine on the inside. Insurance companies hurry the healing process, loved ones become impatient, and often employers are not tolerant when a family member has missed work to care for you.

Chronic pain is more than just physical discomfort, it physically changes the brain. It is an emotional ordeal as well, which folks who don’t have chronic pain will never understand. Pain leads to fear and vulnerability. Fear increases the perception of pain and makes it hard to focus on anything else. No wonder someone in constant pain begins to withdraw.

The CDC reports that there are over 50 million people in the U.S. living with chronic pain. Web MD puts the figure at more like 100 million. There are certain realities that those in chronic pain are quick to realize:

• Pain medication, while helpful, does not always provide complete relief of pain. It may reduce but not eliminate your pain.
• Most people don’t have patience for your pain or understand that pain can linger even though your injury or surgery was sometime ago, or your chronic condition is being treated.
• Your body doesn’t work the way it used to, but you are still expected to do all the things you used to do, the way you used to do them.
• Often weakness will manifest itself while attempting to do the simplest task, or it hurts so bad, so you just decide not to do anything.
• Pain is not controllable, it often picks the worst time and day to appear, especially on an occasion when you need to be at your best.
• Depression comes easy. You try to endure and overcome the pain, but it is an emotional roller coaster.

If you or a loved are experiencing chronic pain due to an injury or chronic condition, have seen a physician, and exhausted therapy as well as other medical and medicinal options, we suggest the following might be helpful mentally and emotionally, and thus offer some relief from what you are feeling physically:

• Getting outdoors and remaining socially engaged with friends can help with the depression that often accompanies chronic pain. It also increases physical activity and serves as a distraction.
• Join a support group with people in a similar situation as yourself, perhaps recovering from the same injury or surgery, or suffering from the same chronic ailments that are causing your pain.
• Start a simple exercise routine and a healthy diet to address chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and arthritis, which can all cause pain.
• Distract yourself from the pain by re-immersing yourself in your hobbies and interests. Get involved in a positive activity, like volunteering, that brings meaning and purpose.
• Cut down on caffeine, smoking, and alcohol, which enhance pain.
• Reconnect with family even if they are far away. Talk to your grandchildren!
• If your pain medication isn’t working, or you have stopped taking it due to unwanted side effects, ask your doctor for another or an alternative treatment.
• Consider the benefit of seeing a psychologist who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy. It has been shown to enable those in chronic pain to train their brain to better control their reaction to pain, and the resulting emotions and behaviors.

Research has shown that managing chronic pain mandates a shift in perspective. Reducing the suffering that accompanies the pain can actually help manage the chronic pain. The target is good quality of life while keeping the pain level tolerable. What if you or your loved one had help throughout the day to assist with those daily tasks that were so painful? Your quality of life would improve. If you didn’t worry about experiencing pain you might be better able to stay active and socially engaged.

Visiting Angels companions and caregivers are compassionate and patient. They are also well trained and have years of experience working with Seniors with complex medical conditions and who suffer from various types of pain. They understand when pain might make it difficult for you to do something – they also know how and when to strike that delicate balance between your independence and dependence. They respect your ability to do things for yourself when you can, but are there for you when the simplest tasks become unbearable due to your pain. If you have days when it is difficult to get moving or get motivated, having the support of a caregiver or companion can make all the difference.

Let us help you develop a plan to manage pain your pain at home. As you regain your confidence and begin to reclaim your life again, your loved ones will benefit from peace of mind.

Till next time!

Irv Seldin, JD., Owner and CEO of Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches

*Article not intended as medical advice.