The Best Ways To Cope With & Manage Physical Pain

Being in physical pain is distressing and can affect your life mentally, physically and emotionally. The most frustrating part is that you may not always have a culprit for what caused the pain or a way to make it go away permanently. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to learn the most ideal ways to cope and manage physical pain so you can continue to live your life. Wishing your situation was different or disregarding your aches and discomfort isn’t going to make it go away. You have to be proactive and willing to work hard to keep your pain in control as you try to figure out solutions for minimizing it.

Find Ways to Minimize the Pain in Your Everyday Life

You may have to make some adjustments to how you’ve been living so you can reduce the amount of pain you’re in. For example, purchase a shower transfer bench if you have difficulty getting in and out of the shower each day. Also, stop going out for runs and walk instead if you find your pain is the most noticeable when you’re pounding your legs on hard pavement. It’s all about you pinpointing what’s causing you the most soreness and then making modifications in your everyday life.

Work with A Physical Therapist

Physical therapy is an excellent way to cope with and manage any physical pain you’re experiencing. These professionals know exactly what exercises to do to help you feel better so you don’t have to be completely immobile. Be forthcoming with them about what hurts the most so they can advise you on what movements you should be working on in your downtime. Give it a chance to work and some time to pass before you should expect to start feeling the results.

Meditate & Practice Yoga

Your brain also plays a role in the physical pain you’re experiencing so it’s important to attend to your mental health too. Two activities that will help you better cope with and manage your discomfort are to meditate and perform yoga. These sorts of practices will allow you to work on your deep breathing skills and gain better control over your body. You can also use this time to switch your mind to focus on the parts of your body that are pain free to bring yourself some temporary relief.

Do More of what Feels Good

While it may not happen a lot, there will likely be moments when you may feel no pain. Enjoy these stretches and keep a journal of what you were doing differently that could have helped you out. For instance, maybe you got a massage or acupuncture and were able to have a few good days where you weren’t in as much pain. The key is to do more of what feels good and less of what hurts you or makes you feel worse.

Conclusion

While living in pain isn’t desirable, it can happen to you when you least expect it. These strategies will help you cope with and manage your physical pain, so you’re not bedridden. Be kind to yourself and continue to try to get to the bottom of what’s going on as you muddle through.