If your loved one suffers from chronic pain, he is not alone. According to the CDC, about 20% of adults live with chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain that has lasted for at least 12 weeks. It can be a sharp pain, a dull ache, or a burning or aching sensation. Chronic pain increases with age and is highest among adults who are 65 years or older.
Chronic pain can be caused by several things. It can be residual pain from an injury or trauma that doesn’t go away even after the injury has healed. Or sometimes it can appear almost out of nowhere and an underlying cause is hard to pinpoint. It might be linked to an underlying health issue such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease just to name a few.
Chronic pain is often difficult to manage and frustrating because on the outside the person looks fine, and others sometimes doubt the pain that they are in. Your loved one has probably struggled with these frustrations and the difficulty in getting a diagnosis.
There are some lifestyle remedies that your loved one can incorporate into her daily or weekly life to help her manage her pain better. Some of these may work great, some may not work at all. Patience and persistence is the key as your loved one tries to find ways to manage her chronic pain.
- Tai Chi. Tai chi is a martial art from China. Your loved one will learn to use gentle, slow movements along with controlled breathing. It has been known to reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain that often comes with fibromyalgia and arthritis. Your loved one should seek a professional teacher to learn the proper techniques. Then once she knows them well, she can practice tai chi at home with the help of her companion care at home provider.
- Physical Therapy. Having a companion care at home provider who knows which kind of physical therapy will help your loved one reduce her pain can be a big help in managing her chronic pain.
- Stay Active. Even though sometimes it might seem difficult for your loved one to think about going for a walk or swimming, low-impact exercise can help her manage her pain. This will keep her muscles strong and reduce flare-ups.
- Use hot or cold treatments. If your loved one has swelling with her pain, cold treatments may help reduce the swelling and the pain associated with it. Heat can help relax muscles and increase circulation. Her companion care at home provider can assist when the area that needs attention is beyond her reach or ability to apply the heat or cold directly.
- Reduce stress levels. Stress often exasperates pain. Finding good ways to reduce stress will help your loved one manage her pain better. She can try talk therapy, yoga, or even pet therapy.
While it may not be possible for your loved one to completely eliminate her pain, discovering ways to reduce it can provide her with better days ahead.
Source
Products – Data Briefs – Number 390 – November 2020
If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Arlington, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call (817) 631-7710.
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Parker County, Tarrant County, Johnson County, Hood County, Somervell County, Erath County, Bosque County and Hamilton County in Texas.
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