Living with chronic pain isn’t easy. Some people are awarded full or partial disability, but for many people, those benefits eventually run out or their claim is denied altogether. Because of this, many people are forced to work, even with debilitating chronic pain. Today, we share some tips for getting through the work day with chronic pain.
1. Move Around
You might think you’re making your pain problem worse by moving around, but staying sedentary for long periods can actually trigger chronic pain. For example, if you’re dealing with chronic back pain, staying seated in one position can actually put more strain on your back. Moving around helps build muscle and helps regulate blood flow to affected areas. Try to get up and walk around for five minutes every hour. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to take a break every 60 minutes – just find an excuse to walk around. Deliver those memos to accounting by hand or walk around while you’re talking on the phone.
2. Don’t Overdo It
While you want to move around, you don’t want to overdo it at work. It may sound obvious, but a lot of workers want to prove to themselves and their coworkers that their pain condition won’t hold them back at work. Lifting heavy boxes or equipment can exacerbate a previous pain condition. Talk to your boss about your condition so there are no surprises when you return to work. If you can’t preform all the typical duties, talk with your boss or your coworkers about other ways you can contribute. For example, instead of loading boxes onto the truck every Friday, maybe you can compile the weekly productivity reports. Being open and honest about your limitations means there will be no confusion about your job duties.
3. Tell Your Boss
As we mentioned above, it’s important to talk to your work superiors about any limitations you might have because of your chronic pain. Lying or trying to hide your pain can be extremely problematic. First, it can affect your disability benefits. If you tell your insurance company that your injury is preventing you from completing all your tasks, but you attempt to push through the pain and complete them anyway, your insurance can deny your claim. On the other hand, if you don’t open up about your condition to your boss, he or she might not be as open to hearing why you didn’t finish a certain task.
4. Adjust Your Schedule
This one again goes hand in hand with the above point. If possible, try to adjust your schedule to accommodate your pain. For example, if you are supposed to take water therapy classes to alleviate your back pain, and the classes are only offered at 8am on weekdays, but you normally work 8am-5pm, ask your boss if you can work from 9am-6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays so you can get to your treatment. If you can’t adjust your work schedule, do your best to adjust your personal schedule so you can best manage your pain condition.