Time was when people went straight to painkillers to deal with chronic pain. But the opioid crisis changed all that. While painkillers are still widely used, more and more people are looking for chronic pain management solutions besides medication.
The good news is that there are a lot of ways to manage chronic pain without meds. The problem, though, is that there are also a lot of pitfalls. And when it comes to pain management, falling into a pitfall can mean a lot more of the pain you’re trying to manage. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Mistake #1: I don’t need to tell my doctor.
Because so many people think chronic pain is just another facet of life as an older adult, they don’t bother telling their doctor about it. That’s a mistake. Why? First of all, because if you’re in pain your doctor needs to know. Maybe the pain you’re experiencing is worse than the standard for your condition, and it’s an indication that something else is going on. Maybe there are medications you’re taking that need to be adjusted.
Even if your pain isn’t a sign of a medical red flag, your doctor can still help with prescription medication, referrals, and more. So be up front with your medical team. There’s no reason to manage chronic pain on your own.
Mistake #2: I can’t be social when I’m in pain.
The truth is, most of us don’t feel like being social when we’re in pain. We feel much more like being grouchy. But disengaging from social life is a big mistake.
Studies show that social interaction is a really powerful tool in any chronic pain management arsenal. When you’re with people you like, and doing an activity you enjoy, your brain is getting lots of endorphins and serotonin. Those “feel good” hormones making your brain happy. And when it’s happy, it doesn’t have the mental space to focus too much on pain.
So even though it’s hard, call up an old friend and go for coffee. Play a game with your spouse. Take your grandchild out for ice cream. If you live in an assisted living community, try to get to know someone new. The more people you have to care for and about in your life, the better you’ll feel – and the less the pain will bog you down.
Mistake #3: Chronic pain means I can’t be physically active.
It’s really hard to think about moving when we’re in a lot of pain. But avoiding all exercise is like avoiding social interaction: It’s difficult to do it when we’re feeling lousy, but if we don’t we’ll feel worse.
Keep in mind that “exercise” doesn’t mean you have to run a marathon, or even take a long walk. Go slow and steady. Walk around the block. Or just down the hall. You’d be amazed at what you can accomplish. There are even full cardio workouts you can do in your chair. Keeping your body as active as possible is crucial to keeping your pain levels down. The more you exercise, the better equipped your mind and body will be to deal with pain.
One important thing, though: If you’ve been sedentary for a long time, consult your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program.
Mistake #4: I don’t need a chronic pain management support group.
If you’re in constant contact with friends and family, you might think a support group has nothing to offer you. But unless your friends are going through the same kind of pain you are (and we hope they’re not), a good support group can offer…well, support.
Chronic pain is something that’s hard to understand for people who haven’t experienced it. When you attend a support group, you’re with people who know what you’re talking about. There’s nothing like peers who are in the same trenches you are to offer advice, a listening ear, a sympathetic heart and a lot of motivation.
Mistake #5: Cigarettes calm me down and help me feel better.
If you smoke to calm your nerves, it might work in the short term. But in the long term, smoking as a method of pain management is a really bad idea.
Let’s forget for a moment all the well-known hazards of cigarette smoke. That’s a huge problem. But another, just as huge problem is that smoking is totally counterproductive when it comes to reducing pain. It delays wound healing, causes painful diseases (think emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis), and slows down your circulation – all of which are going to bring you a lot more pain, not less.