5 Ways To Manage Pain Flare-Ups
Many people live with chronic pain. The most important thing to learn is how to manage it effectively. Pain flare-ups are unpredictable and can interfere with your everyday life. The intensity gradually increases as a result of an underlying condition. Although it is dramatic, the pain is not new. It is just an exacerbation of an already existing problem.
Startling pain flare-ups can be unsettling. Furthermore, they may prompt you to think there is a new issue. This causes many people to seek help for a new diagnosis. However, as you spend time addressing a “new” problem, the pain can become unbearable. If you live with chronic pain, flare-ups will happen. And it’s important to know how to properly manage them.
There are cases when pain flare-ups just happen without a cause.
Common Causes:
Physical activity. Certain movements trigger pain. In fact, it can be as simple as sitting in a car for too long
Stress. Emotional and physical stress activates a flight-or-fight response. This appears to target the weakest parts of the body. Attention is drawn to where you are already hurting the most.
Poor sleep. A lack of sleep has been proven to correlate with more pain and more sensitivity.
Overdoing it. Trying to do too much or being active for too long can exacerbate pain and trigger flare-ups.
Poor diet. Eating the wrong foods can trigger inflammation, dehydration, and fluid retention. Likewise, these conditions can aggravate an existing pain problem.
Illness. A viral infection like the cold or flu can leave your muscles aching. This contributes to an overall feeling of pain through the body.
Underlying Common Back Pain Conditions:
- Spinal Stenosis
- Herniated Disc
- Arthritis or Osteoarthritis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Kyphosis
- Pinched Nerve
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Whatever the trigger for your pain flare-up is, it is best approached as a communication error. There has been a simple disconnect between the nervous system and your musculoskeletal system. Therefore, your brain and nerves are telling your body to react to pain and tense up. However, it’s important to prevent things from getting out of hand. A pain management program is a great way to address these communication errors.
Tips for Fighting Pain Flare-ups Include:
- Pacing: Pace your activities and learn to slow down. Overdoing it causes you to overexert your systems and leaves you aching for days. When you pace yourself, you can get more done in the long run as you no longer need to crash and recover. Break up tasks into smaller jobs instead of doing everything at once.
- Don’t shut down: Resting is a key component to good health and recovery, but avoiding activity completely is dangerous. Find a balance between activity and resting so you don’t aggravate pain.
- Move: The right movement can help alleviate pain and prevent stiffness. Learn stretches that release tight muscles and consider exercise. For instance, yoga can help move the body in healthy ways. Furthermore, a nice walk and gentle cardio can also stretch the muscles and keep them activated, which will reduce pain.
- Pamper yourself: Getting a massage or visiting a pain management physician can help when you have a chronic condition. Having an outside support team makes it easier to effectively manage pain.
- Don’t panic: An intense flare-up can cause panic and alarm. However, this is not a healthy mindset to have. Learn strategies to calm the nervous system so you do not overreact to pain.
If your flare-ups are interfering with your everyday life, call us at 888-409-8006. No one should have to live in pain. Pain management specialists & orthopedics available.