chronic pain holidays

Managing Chronic Pain During The Holidays

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic Pain HolidaysThe holidays can be a wonderful time of year, but they can also be a time of stress, especially if you have to deal with chronic pain. Whether your pain is in the form of low back pain, arthritis or pulsing headaches, pain can make the holidays nearly unbearable. However, you can make the pain a little more manageable if you keep a few tips in mind. Today, we’re going to share four tips for keeping chronic pain under control during the holiday season.

Chronic Pain and The Holidays

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as the holidays approach.

1. Share Duties – No matter what you’re doing, be it wrapping presents, shoveling the driveway or cooking a Christmas feast, always recruit some helpers to take the burden off your body. Standing on your feet or over stressing your back can all cause inflammation to flare up, making pain worse. Always see if some friends or family are willing to lend a hand when you have a lot on your plate.

2. Travel Comfort – Whether you’re driving home from college or flying across the country to meet up with loved ones, if you aren’t prepared to travel, chronic pain can be exacerbated by the extended period in one spot. Consider these tips when attempting to keep chronic pain at bay when traveling:

  • Stand up and stretch during stops or when allowed to move about the cabin.
  • Pack a pillow to help you get comfortable in your seat.
  • Request a seat that will give you the best chance to get comfortable (aisle, captain seat, etc.).
  • Leave early so you can hit rest stops if need be.

3. Exercise – Exercise can not only help us relieve stress during the holiday season, but it can also prevent chronic pain from bubbling to the surface. Exercise helps oxygenated blood circulate through our bodies, which helps keep them in good working order, and exercise can release endorphins in your brain, which can impact our mindset and push away chronic pain triggers. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the holidays, jump on the treadmill for a quick run.

4. Eat Right – This is one especially difficult to do during the holidays when gingerbread cookies and candy canes are bountiful. As we’ve stated on the blog before, junk foods, especially foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar, can trigger inflammation in our joints. Coupled with the cold weather, these inflammatory flare ups can trigger the onset of chronic pain. We’re not saying you can’t indulge here and there, but work in some fruits and vegetables between snacks to ensure your body is getting the right amount of vitamins and nutrients.

5 Tips For Dealing With Chronic Pain During The Holidays

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic Pain HolidaysChronic pain is never fun to deal with, but it can be especially difficult to manage during the holidays. Your diet, sleep schedule and travel plans can get your body out of whack, so today I’m sharing some tips to help you control your chronic pain during the holidays.

1. Travel Tips – If you’re dealing with chronic back or neck pain, being crammed on a plane or in a car for hours on end can be painful. That said, there’s still some ways to make yourself more comfort while traveling. If you’re traveling on a plane, see if you can get an aisle seat. That way you can stand up and stretch if needed without waking up any sleeping patrons in your aisle. If you’re in a car, leave earlier so you have time to stop at a rest stop and move around if your joints start to get stiff.

2. Eat Right – The holidays are a time when our waistbands can expand to Santa’s size, so be cognizant of what you eat. Eating junk food can aid to your chronic pain, make you more lethargic, and as a result, keep you from exercising, which is beneficial in chronic pain management. If you have to travel, pack a healthy option so you’re not gorging on fast food during your travels.

3. Keep Exercising – As I’ve said in earlier posts, regular exercise is crucial in controlling and preventing chronic pain symptoms. Getting your regular workout in during the holidays is no easy task, but don’t use the company party or a family visit as a reason to skip your exercise. Wake up early or carve out some time – even if it’s only 15 minutes – to exercise. Getting out of a routine makes it easier to stay out of your exercise routine, so don’t let the holidays slow you down.

4. Medication Management – Most people who take medications to help with their chronic pain have a pretty set schedule for managing their meds, but as this post suggests, the holidays can throw your routine out of whack. Double check to make sure you have all your medications for a long stay, but also be aware of where you store them so young nieces and nephews can’t accidentally access your medications. If you’re going to run out of a prescription while out of town, contact your doctor before you leave instead of having to jump through hoops from afar.

5. Rest Up – Sleep is a restorative process where your mind and body relax and rejuvenate, so try not to skimp on sleep this holiday season. It may be easier said than done, but it’s important nonetheless. That means no staying up in the wee hours of the night trying to catch Santa Claus!

Follow these tips to have a pain free (or at least a little less painful) holiday break! If you have any tips on how you manage chronic pain during the holidays, please share in the comments section.