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About Pain Management
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If you are looking at
this site because you are searching for a miracle cure for your
chronic pain, you have come to the wrong place! There are no
magic wands to be waved here, just straightforward
help/suggestions/guidance on how to effectively manage pain.
Please click here
for details of Southern Derbyshire Pain Management Service
A person who is managing chronic pain is in charge of the pain. Such people have acknowledged pain, and as such do not let the pain dictate their every move and rule their lives. Pain need not necessarily cause distress, depression and disability. Pain management can be defined as the combination of various psychological techniques and practical strategies designed to optimize physical function, quality of life and to reduce emotional distress for people suffering with the effects of chronic pain. In short, Pain management is about getting back to normal life.
Unfortunately there are many people who are unable or unwilling to effectively manage their pain, and such people are the first to reach for the pill bottle. By their very nature, i.e. tolerance, dependence and side effects, analgesics should never be considered as the only way of dealing with pain. As a nurse, I have lost count of the number of times I have heard people say,
Without intending to sound blasé, is one answer,
Acceptance of
the situation is the first
step on the road to self help. As anyone who suffers will tell you, chronic pain affects the ability to achieve things. Subsequently many activities such as work, leisure, sleep and household tasks can easily become limited. Pain management encourages people to gradually return to activities that they have been avoiding or finding difficult. This is done partly by a process of goal planning - by identifying the goals to which chronic pain sufferers wish to return, and by setting targets. Levels
of activity can be improved by using pacing techniques and learning
tolerance levels Pacing involves gradually increasing the tolerance for a particular task. People suffering with the effects of chronic pain should learn to apply pacing techniques to everyday activities. It is vital to learn about your own body and what it is telling you, i.e. not standing or walking for so long that the pain rises to an intense level. Using a watch, time your tolerance levels at standing / walking / sitting etc. Then apply this to your activities, and plan 'rest breaks' - breaking activities into manageable parts. If possible, devise a weekly timetable if necessary so that jobs can be carefully planned ahead and so you do not get over-tired on any one day. By doing this you are staying in control of your life. It is equally important not to let others push you into doing things you know are unwise. Stay in control of your own physical limitations. A simple problem solving process of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation can be effective for people learning to effectively manage pain. By setting short term and long term goals, chronic pain sufferers can go a long way towards managing their pain. This includes rewarding themselves for achievements, large or small. Identifying and tackling unhelpful patterns of thinking can be challenging, but ultimately rewarding. As people learn to look at difficult situations in a more balanced way, they tend to feel less distressed by their pain. A goal-planning care-plan template which can easily be copied and printed on word is available here Please click for details of other strategies for effectively managing pain such as learning to relax, managing sleep, and the practical benefits of exercise. |