If you’re a chronic pain sufferer or you know someone battling a chronic pain condition, you may have heard about spoon theory or the phrase “counting your spoons.” Spoon theory is widely accepted in the chronic pain community as a way to help others understand and empathize with how a chronic condition can affect a person. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at spoon theory and how it applies to the chronic pain community.

Counting Your Spoons

Spoon theory is the idea that a person with chronic pain has a certain number of spoons that they start out with every morning. Each spoon represents the energy required to complete a certain task, and some tasks require more spoons than others. For example, because of your chronic pain condition, you may only start the day with a few spoons. One spoon may represent the energy it takes to get ready in the morning, a trip to the doctor may take a couple of spoons, and by the time a person gets home at the end of the day, they may have no more spoons left for other pursuits.

Oftentimes someone explaining spoon theory has physical spoons in their hands that they dole out based on the activities that each day presents. This way, you can actually see where your energy is being applied, and it makes sense to others how you may not have the energy or ability to follow through on certain activities, because you’re simply out of spoons.

But spoon theory isn’t just helpful in explaining to others how a chronic pain condition can drain your energy, it can also make it easier for a chronic pain sufferer to plan their day accordingly. Of course, you may not know how many “spoons” you will start the day with, but if you start to get in the habit of understanding the toll certain activities have on your body and your mind, you cans find ways to get more done each day. You can avoid wasting spoons on non-critical pursuits, or better yet, you can look to find ways to increase your spoon count. For example, while daily exercise may require some spoons each day, if this type of beneficial physical activity can keep symptoms at bay, help you destress and increase your energy levels, you may find that you have more spoons to start with every day.

Spoon theory is really about prioritization, and that can be extremely beneficial when it comes to chronic pain treatment. You need to prioritize the activities and choices that will help you overcome your chronic pain condition. Conversely, if you spend your spoons on things that help treat your chronic pain condition, or worse, actively sabotage your long-term prospects, you can find yourself with fewer spoons each day.

If you’re interested in taking small steps to find more spoons each day and work to overcome your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today. We understand that chronic pain is different for every person and that unique solutions are often required, but we’re confident we can find ways for you to fight back against your pain. Give our team a call today at (952) 738-4580 and soon your spoon count may be on the rise!