support system

Where To Turn For Support If You Have Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

support systemA chronic pain condition can leave you feeling isolated from the rest of the world. Not only is pain incredibly specific to the individual, but it can be hard for others to truly understand what you’re going through, and that can lead to feelings of loneliness. Being isolated can also negatively impact your mental health, which can leave you feeling both mentally and physically exhausted from your illness. This makes the totality of your pain condition harder to treat.

That’s why it is so important to have a support system that you can lean on as you’re treating your chronic pain condition. They can provide an outlet for stress, they can listen to your issues or they can just help take your mind off your pain, all of which can help in the grand scheme of chronic condition treatment. But where should you turn for support? We talk about some support systems for chronic pain patients in today’s blog.

Chronic Pain Support Systems

Here’s a look at some places you can lean on for support if you’re dealing with a debilitating pain condition.

1. Friends and Family – The first place many people turn to for support is friends and family, and rightfully so. These groups tend to have your back no matter what, so this is a great place to turn to for support. However, not everyone is close to their family, and as we said above, it’s not always easy for others to empathize with your pain, so your friends might not “get it” so to speak. When that happens, you’ll have to look for other areas of support.

2. Your Medical Care Team – One group of individuals who will always have your back is your medical team. You can always lean on us if you have questions or concerns about your condition, and we’re an expert source of trustworthy information. We may not know exactly what you’re going through, but odds are we’ve helped patients who are dealing with the same condition in the past, so we have expert insight into the best things you can do for your health. Between your doctor, their staff and your physical therapy team, you have plenty of medical team members you can reach out to for help.

3. Online Support Groups – If you’re dealing with a highly unique condition, you may not know anyone in your area that is dealing with the same condition, and that can leave you feeling alone and misunderstood. However, odds are you’re not the only one in the word who is battling CRPS or Raynaud’s Disease. If you do a simple google search, you can find online communities or Facebook groups of people who are battling the same chronic condition. This can allow you to connect with others who are dealing with some of the same things you go through on a daily basis. Online support groups can do wonders for you mental health by showing you that you aren’t alone.

If you keep these three groups in mind, we’re confident that you’ll find a healthy support system to help you combat your chronic condition. And if you’re looking for a medical team to be part of your support system, look no further than Dr. Cohn and his experienced team. Reach out to them today.

The Importance Of A Support System When You Have Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

support systemWhether you’re off pursuing your dreams of being a musician in New York City or trying out for the varsity basketball team, everybody wants to have a strong support system that they can turn to in a time of need. Another group of people who need a strong support system in their life are those individuals with chronic pain, but those with a chronic condition know that a good support system can be hard to find. Today, we share some tips for finding and building a strong support system if you have chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Support System

All of the following tips may not apply to your situation, but we’re confident at least some of them will. Here’s how you can build and learn to rely on a support system if you’re dealing with a chronic illness.

1. Find A Few Close Friends – You probably have one or two really close friends or family members that you can rely on when things get tough, and it’s important to lean on them when you need help. Just because you have a large family or a large network of friends doesn’t mean they are all going to be sympathetic to your cause and be reliable in your time of need. Recognize that not everyone is going to be part of your support system, so focus on the really reliable members of your support system instead of trying to involve a larger network of people.

2. Online Support – The rise of the internet has made it much easier for people to connect with other individuals who are going through the same thing. You can find highly specialized support groups that can allow you to talk to people who know what you’re dealing with. Try a simple google search and see what groups are out there. Find one or two that seem supportive and consider joining.

3. Share Your Experiences – A number of people find it helpful to share their stories with others. Whether you’re talking to your best friend on the phone or writing out your daily struggle on an online forum, it can be extremely helpful to talk about your experiences. Find a place where you can vent or be vulnerable, and let your story be heard.

4. Support Yourself – It’s also important to remember that you are the most important member of your support group, and you need to take care of yourself. You need to be getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and partaking in activities that contribute to a healthy physical and emotional well-being. If you have self-destructive tendencies, your support group may fall apart because others may think “Why should I care about them if they don’t seem to care about themselves?” Be your biggest supporter.

5. Professional Help – Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional for help. Whether you need a chronic pain specialist to help you get a grip on your condition, or you want to talk to a mental health counselor about your feelings and your concerns, please reach out for help. We want to be part of your support team, but we can’t get you help unless you connect with our office. Let us help you.

For more tips on building and maintaining a healthy support system if you have chronic pain, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.