Chronic pain makes life incredibly difficult, and it affects a person in more ways than just having pain. But with the right lifestyle changes paired with effective treatment, you can find relief and still maintain a healthy lifestyle with chronic pain and illness.
Keep reading to learn some tips and techniques that may help you find relief from your symptoms.
How to live well with chronic pain and illness
You’re not alone.
Regardless of how healthy a person looks, it is always possible that they live with some sort of health problem. Everyone is suffering from something that others can only empathize with, and there are others out there who can help you during your time of need.
It’s not your fault.
Oftentimes, chronic pain is the result of an underlying medical condition. Chronic pain comes with a long list of symptoms, and it would not do you any good to add “self-blame” onto it.
Be kind to yourself.
We are oftentimes our own harshest critics. During the difficult times that your condition may put you into, you may add extra stress onto yourself with your criticism. It’s not as easy as just flipping an on/off switch, try to be kind and patient with yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Despite how your pain makes you feel, you don’t have to face everything on your own. There are treatment options and support groups that can help you find relief.
Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness meditation is a technique used to bring relaxation. Mindfulness is about accepting the present moment for what it is, and learning to be okay with that.
Remember that your feelings are valid.
You can’t choose the way you feel, especially with a chronic pain condition. Don’t hold it against yourself for feeling the symptoms of a condition you didn’t choose to have.
Avoid substance abuse.
It’s easy to fall back on substances like caffeine, drugs, or alcohol during especially stressful or painful times. However, these substances may only make your symptoms worse with prolonged use or time.
New treatments like ketamine infusions.
Ketamine was first approved by the FDA for use as an anesthetic, but it has also found significant use as a pain reliever in recent years, with many organizations now recommending it for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.
Research into ketamine infusions for treating pain is a constantly growing field, but it is generally believed that ketamine helps to foster connections between synapses and restore damaged nerve connections, essentially “rewiring” the brain. Ketamine infusions may be particularly effective at not only treating the pain symptoms of Chronic Pain Syndrome, but also the additional depression and anxiety symptoms.
The recent FDA approval of Spravato (a ketamine-based nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression), as well as the development of new psychedelics research centers by John Hopkins, may indicate a shift in the chronic pain treatment industry, providing innovative new options like ketamine infusion to those who experience persistent and treatment-resistant chronic pain.
If you would like to learn more about living well with chronic pain or illness contact us here at the Ketamine Clinic of South Florida.