independence from chronic pain

Will I Ever Celebrate Independence From Chronic Pain?

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

indepedent painIndependence Day is right around the corner, and the holiday got us thinking about the notion that everyone hopes to eventually become independent from their chronic pain condition. But how can we break free from our chronic pain condition and find that independence? In today’s blog, we share some some tips for becoming independent of your chronic pain condition.

Chronic pain conditions are highly unique to the individual, so there’s no one-size-fits-all path to break free from chronic pain. That said, many people who have been able to overcome their chronic pain condition have been able to do so by following some similar techniques. Here’s a look at some helpful ways to work towards independence from your chronic pain condition.

Be Active – We know it’s easier said than done to say “be active” when pain can make movement uncomfortable, but movement is crucial for your total body health. Activity gets your heart pumping, which pushes healthy blood throughout your body, ensuring that structures get the nutrients and oxygen they need to thrive. Exercise and activity has also been shown to release endorphins in the brain that can act as natural pain relievers.

Tweak Your Diet – There’s no magical diet that can cure your of your chronic pain, but if you are smart about what you put in your body, your diet can play a positive role in chronic pain relief. High fiber vegetables, fatty fish and vitamin-packed fruits can all help your body get the nutrients it needs to thrive. On the flip side, foods that are high in fat or carbohydrates can contribute to inflammation onset, which can make joint movement more uncomfortable. Strive to improve your diet or create a food journal so that you can get a better idea of what’s working and what’s not when it comes to your diet.

Work With A Specialist – Don’t try to overcome a chronic pain condition on your own, because it can be extremely daunting. Instead, connect with a specialist who can help develop an individualized treatment plan based on your specific needs. Knowing you have an ally in your corner can go a long way in helping your mental health, which is imperative for overcoming chronic pain, because pain conditions aren’t just a physical issue. Let a professional help guide you to independence from chronic pain.

Stay Hydrated – Your joints and muscles work optimally when they are appropriately hydrated, so drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help your body function and reduce instances of chronic pain. Being appropriately hydrated improves your circulation and makes it easier on your heart to effectively pump this blood throughout your body. Being hydrated won’t solve your chronic pain by itself, but it can make it easier for your muscles to move effectively during exercise.

We hope you have a wonderful 4th of July, and if you want help becoming independent from your chronic pain condition, consider syncing up with Dr. Cohn and his team. For more information, or for help with your chronic pain issue, give Dr. Cohn’s office a call today at (952) 738-4580.

How To Gain Independence From Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

independence painIndependence Day is right around the corner. It’s a day when we all take time to celebrate America’s independence from Britain and spend time with friends and family. And while America was able to break free from something that was holding it back, chronic pain patients yearn for that same ability to be able to free themselves from their pain condition.

In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the things you can do to help you gain independence from your chronic pain condition.

Breaking Free From Chronic Pain

When it comes to gaining independence from a chronic pain condition, there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy that will be perfect for every patient. With that in mind, there are some general things you can do to help make it more likely that you can overcome your condition or help reduce symptoms. Here’s a look at some helpful ways to break free from your chronic pain condition.

1. Exercise and Movement – Exercise and daily movement are simple steps to help your body stay healthy, which should help with the expression of your pain condition. Exercise builds muscles so they can better support key structures, and it helps pump healthy blood throughout your body, which delivers vitamins and nutrients to vital areas that can help with pain control. You don’t have to go through a rigorous workout at the gym to achieve these benefits either. Go swimming or take the dog for a walk, anything that will get you moving.

2. Consult With An Expert – Dr. Cohn has helped treat people in all walks of life facing all sorts of different pain conditions, and he can do the same for you. You don’t need to fight this battle alone. Consult with an expert who is truly interested in figuring out what’s going on and how to best treat it. The first step in treating a problem is making sure that you know exactly what you’re dealing with, and a pain management specialist can do just that. They can also help you pivot to new treatments if your original plan isn’t producing results.

3. Count Your Small Wins – Everyone wants to be completely pain free, but that rarely happens overnight. Because of this, you need to acknowledge small victories and partial progress as it comes along. Celebrating your progress can help make it easier to stick to a care plan or with a physical therapy program, and that can make it more likely that you’ll eventually reach your end goal of being pain free.

4. Develop A Support System – Chronic pain can leave you feeling alone and isolated from the world, so it’s important that you have a support system to fall back on when things get tough. Whether that’s friends, family, an online support group or your medical team, make sure you have someone you can talk to or vent to when things aren’t going the greatest, or when you want to talk about the big strides you’re making. A simple Google search for “chronic pain online support group” should yield plenty of promising results.

5. Take Can Of Your Mental Health – Far too often we focus on the physical toll that chronic pain is taking on us, and we can ignore another important aspect of our health – our mental health. Poor mental health or feelings of anxiety and depression can make it much harder to get control over your chronic pain condition. It can also make it harder for us to find the motivation to do what needs to be done to combat chronic pain, which only makes it harder to break out of this cycle. Don’t ignore your mental health when you’re addressing your pain condition.

If you can do these five things, we’re confident that you’ll move closer to independence from your chronic pain condition. And for more information or for help with your pain issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.