I have lived with chronic pain now for seven years, and one thing I am certain of is that I am more susceptible to flare ups and bad pain days before and after surgery, This can be related to pre-surgery stress, and the physical and mental trauma after surgery. Whether it’s my back in agony from the limp in my step, the left ankle stabbing in pain after a walk, or the majority of my joints aching from an extremely arthritic day, my chronic pain can happen suddenly and take over for hours, a day, or even multiple days. As an individual living with chronic pain for many years, I have gained ways to aid my pain and manage pain levels overtime. Of course there is no miracle cure, and often pain levels get out of control making no strategy or technique helpful. However, working toward managing your pain level everyday, especially before and after surgery, is essential to the quality of life when living with chronic pain. Here are some of my tips and tricks to hopefully help you manage your pain levels.
Some Tips That May Help With Chronic Pain
Get Moving
Sometimes this sounds contradictory, as our pain can be so debilitating that even walking out the door is too painful; however, if you are capable, moving your body can aid inflammation and relieve some of your pain. Try stretching, yoga, going for a walk, or light swimming.
Heat and Ice
Use the benefits of heat and ice as often as possible. This can come in the form of a hot bath, followed by an ice bath or cold shower, or a heating pad or water bottle, followed by an ice pack in the desired areas.
Non-Narcotic Pain Remedies
Explore natural remedies for pain relief. There are many herbs, supplements, oils and topical creams/gels that are extremely calming and aid muscle pain.
Don’t Forget About Proper Nutrition
Ensure to get your daily water intake, as well as eat proper, nutrient-rich meals. Explore certain diets/recipes that are focused.
Sleep Works Wonders
Get on a good sleep schedule. Sleep is a significant part of our bodies healing process, so having a good amount of hours of sleep each night is crucial.
Communicate With Your Doctor About the Options
Talk to your doctor about prescription medication. While these medications may not be ideal, they may be what gets your pain levels managed in order to improve the quality of your life for the time being. These medications are created to help individuals like myself, so when used safely and properly, they can be of great help. My doctor and I have a strong and open form of communication in regards to narcotics. This helps us both be accountable in regards to my narcotic intake. I also keep a log in my calendar, where I write down the dosage I took that day. At the end of the week I am able to see the total dosage, and compare to other weeks (this is especially helpful for post-surgery). When taking prescription medication, a support group is extremely helpful. This can be in the form of friends, family, or a therapist to talk to.
Daily Self-Care
Include self-care into your daily routine. This can look like taking a bath, watching a show, reading a book, having a lay down, making a nice meal, or whatever it is that makes you happy and brings you some peace.
Forgive Yourself
Go easy on yourself. If you can’t make an appointment, plans with a friend, or even get outside for a walk one day, that’s okay. Your body needs rest and to reset, in order to have better days.
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Maia Vezina is a 26 year old educator from Nelson, British Columbia, who lives with life-long physical, mental and emotional injuries from a head-on collision in 2013. While her life was drastically changed by one drunk driver's decision, Maia has found much joy in her new journey towards healing. Maia strives to support and be an advocate for those who have experienced trauma and live with chronic illness through sharing her story, and continues to follow her passion for teaching and life-long learning, while working towards rehabilitation.
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