If you are dealing with chronic pain, it is a tough position to be in. Chronic pain interferes with your daily activities and ability to socialize, and it can be unbearable at times. In some cases, the pain may progress if it is not detected early. However, chronic pain management dubuque techniques can provide the long-term pain relief you seek. Let’s discuss what to do when faced with debilitating chronic pain.

Try Yoga and Mediation

Yes, back to the basics. Subtle mind-body exercises such as yoga help manage chronic pain. Evidence-based research shows that integrative medicine techniques like yoga tap into the mind-body connection to relieve pain.

Practice about 15 minutes of mindful meditation interspersed with yoga stretches for the best results. You can do yoga at home with an online instructor or join a yoga class at a spa or medical center.

Yoga helps you cope with pain more effectively. You still need to supplement the pain management technique with the next alternative.

Get Moving

Exercise is a cost-effective way to manage chronic pain. Multiple studies show that low-intensity exercises increase pain resistance over time. The hurdle to using exercise as a pain management strategy is starting to exercise while in pain. We recommend you talk to a qualified physiotherapist to chart an exercise regimen.

Exercise increases blood flow to the aching areas, which speeds up the natural healing process. If your chronic pain is a result of a torn ligament, exercise can go a long way in helping you recover and manage pain. You can start exercising gradually by walking 5–10 blocks a day. If you are ambulatory, consider averaging 1 mile a day.

Visit a Therapist

Specific forms of therapy, such as counseling, physical therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, help you cope with chronic pain better. A cognitive behavioral therapist counsels you and helps you form new coping techniques. Occupational therapy, on the other hand, teaches you to perform daily tasks without experiencing debilitating pain.

While talking to a therapist, also consider whether acupuncture may be part of the treatment plan. The tiny needles tap into your nervous system and influence the relay of pain signals.

Get Epidural Steroid Injections

Some pain causes are too advanced for lifestyle adjustments like yoga. In such cases, you need medicine-based interventions such as epidural steroid injections. A doctor injects the steroid shot into the epidural space, where the pain originates. Epidural steroid injections suppress pain signals and also prevent the production of pain mediators.

These kinds of injections are useful for treating lower back pain and sciatica. However, epidural steroid injections can also manage other forms of mechanical or hormonal pain, including pain caused by herniated discs.

Get Quality Sleep

Sleep is a self-management strategy for various conditions. Getting quality sleep improves your body’s ability to process pain signals and boosts healing. You should aim to get at least 6 hours of quality sleep per day.

If you struggle with falling and staying asleep, visiting a sleep expert will help. Halving a calming nighttime technique also helps you fall asleep faster and get quality sleep for chronic pain management.

A blend of lifestyle and medical approaches to pain management helps deal with chronic pain. Pain management techniques’ efficacy varies from person to person. Speak to a qualified pain expert who will tailor an effective pain management plan to help you regain control of your life.