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How to Manage Chronic Pain and Depression

Looking for how to manage chronic pain and depression? Pain on any level is tough to deal with. Whether it’s the type of pain you experience from a headache or paper cut or pain experienced from a sprained ankle or broken bone, it messes with you both physically and mentally. Though in most instances, the pain goes away with time (and perhaps medication), there are those who suffer from medical conditions in which the pain never goes away. 

From arthritis to fibromyalgia, those diagnosed with these life-altering medical conditions must learn how to live despite the discomfort.

Unfortunately, some become so inundated with pain that they turn to prescription painkillers for relief.

While it provides temporary satisfaction, the body begins to develop a tolerance resulting in the need for more and more of these very addictive substances.

Essentially, they end up developing an addiction that requires IOP addiction treatment to overcome. 

How to Manage Chronic Pain and Depression

1. Finding Relief:

It’s natural to want to turn to prescribed solutions provided by your doctor for relief. In most cases, when used as directed, prescription pain medications can ease the pain.

Be that as it may, overusing these substances or even using them for too long can have negative consequences including stomach and liver problems along with addiction.

That is why it is highly recommended that patients struggling with chronic pain learn alternative solutions to cope. Here are some remedies listed below: 

2. Meditate:

it may sound strange, but meditation for pain relief has proven to work. The idea is to focus your energy and attention on your breathing and the environment around you.

In doing so, you help to relieve any stress and tension which can significantly reduce the pain you’re experiencing.

Try making meditation a regular part of your day for at least 5-10 minutes. 

3. Massage :

When you start to feel the pain coming on, applying pressure to the affected areas can provide you some relief. Deep-tissue massages, in particular, are ideal for soothing pain.

They help to increase the circulation of blood, loosen tense muscles, and reduce inflammation.

No worries if you can’t afford to hit a massage parlor, you can always give yourself a massage or purchase massage devices to assist. 

4. Turmeric:

Turmeric is a powerful spice that can be used to help you relieve pain. Not only is it packed with antioxidants but it also has anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for relieving chronic pain.

You can use turmeric in your dishes when cooking, drink it in a tea, or apply it topically to the skin for daily pain relief. 

5. Hot and Cold Therapy:

Though this may seem like an old-school approach to relieving pain, using hot and cold compresses really does work wonders for relieving pain.

Use a heating pad on the area hurting the most to increase the blood flow and loosen tight muscles and joints.

After a few minutes, switch to a cold compress to help reduce inflammation and numb nerve-endings. 

6. Herbs:

Believe it or not, there are some natural herbs with painkilling attributes that could work well to help you get relief from your chronic pain.

This includes white willow bark, Boswellia, Devil’s Claw, and Ginger. These herbs are best consumed in teas but can also be purchased in supplement form for digestion.

Be sure to discuss the use of herbs for pain relief with your doctor to ensure it’s safe. 

7. Talk-Therapy:

Talking is likely the last thing you would think of when it comes to managing chronic pain, but it has helped many patients.

What you may not know is that pain is often exacerbated by high levels of stress. Naturally, you’re stressed because of your medical condition, the pain, and the many changes it has brought to your life.

Talking to a therapist can help you to relieve your stress, let go of the frustration, and learn how to adapt to your new normal.

If a therapist isn’t your thing, joining a support group or talking with trusted friends and family can also help you to relieve stress and, therefore, ease your pain. 

Conclusion

Living with chronic pain is no joke. You never know when you’re going to experience an episode that makes it complicated for you to get through the day. Naturally, you want immediate relief and so you turn to solutions provided to you by your doctor.

Though prescription painkillers can be of some assistance, keep in mind, however, that prolonged use can have serious consequences.

It would, therefore, be ideal to learn suitable solutions such as those described above to help you find relief. 

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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