The Fourth of July is only a few days away, and that means many people will soon be celebrating the holiday near one of Minnesota’s more than 10,000 lakes. Spending time by the water can be a great way to enjoy summer, but the lake can also cause issues if you’re dealing with an underlying chronic pain condition. We don’t want a chronic pain condition to cause problems for your Fourth of July holiday, so in today’s blog, we’re going to share some tips for managing your chronic pain condition if you’ll be on the lake this weekend.

Managing Chronic Pain On The Lake

Chronic pain is highly individualized, so there’s no guarantee that the following tips will be appropriate for your situation. That said, if you keep these tips in mind and are proactive in your approach, we’re confident that you’ll be able to keep your pain condition for causing problems at the lake.

1. Stay Hydrated – Dehydration can make movements harder for our muscles or joints, which can trigger an underlying pain condition. It’s easier to become dehydrated during the hot summer months, so always be sure to have drinkable water nearby. Also be sure to mix in plenty of water if you’re consuming alcoholic beverages, as alcohol can make it easier to become dehydrated.

2. Find The Shade – Overheating can also make a chronic pain condition more uncomfortable, so dress for the weather and find a shady spot to set up camp when you’re outside. Your body needs to appropriately regular its temperature, so stick to the shade, jump in the lake or head back into the air conditioning for a little bit if you’re starting to get hot and achy.

3. Don’t Be Afraid To Head Inside For A Bit – We understand that you want to be outside when the weather is nice, but the hot weather and the air pollutants from the Canadian wildfires can cause problems for sensitive groups. If your allergies are kicking up or you just feel like the hot weather is getting to you, don’t be afraid to head to an air conditioned room for a bit to help your body relax.

4. Get Healthy Sleep – You may want to stay up until nightfall to catch a fireworks show, but make sure that you get plenty of healthy, restful sleep. Regular sleep is essential for helping keep chronic pain at bay, and holiday weekends can throw off your sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each night, even over the 4th of July holiday stretch.

5. Use Sunscreen – Use plenty of sunscreen throughout the summer, because sunburn can make life a lot more uncomfortable, especially if this sensitivity triggers a flareup. Patients with CRPS and other conditions that can be triggered by skin irritation would be wise to be extra mindful about preventing sunburn.

6. Stay Active – Staying active can help improve your circulation and keep muscles functioning as they should. We know that you may want to kick back and relax over the Fourth, but don’t spend too much time sitting in a lawn chair by the lake. Still find time to exercise or at least be upright and active, and you can help to keep chronic pain symptoms at bay.

We hope that you have a wonderful time celebrating the Fourth of July, and we know that you can keep chronic pain at bay by staying hydrated, getting healthy sleep and begin cognizant of the sun and heat! For help with an individual chronic pain issue, or for answers to any questions you have, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.