Hurting Today? Managing Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a condition no one wants. Unfortunately, millions live each day with pain that won’t go away. Are there ways to cope with chronic pain? Research has shown that managing chronic pain is possible, separating the reality of pain from the suffering from pain. Suffering can be reduced by skills of coping mentally and physically. In this episode, I’ll share some practical ways to better manage this difficult condition. You can become your best pain manager for well-being.

Resource:

Dennis Turk and Frits Winter, "The Pain Survival Guide." American Psychological Association, 2006

Cover photo by engin akyurt on unsplash.com

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Chapters

• 4:08 Three Skills for Managing Chronic Pain

Transcript

Ed winced as he moved slowly into the kitchen. Patti cocked an eyebrow toward him with an unspoken question. 

“Okay, yes. I’m hurting today,” he replied. “No worse, I guess, but…”

“The new medicine isn’t helping?”

“Maybe it will soon. The doctor said it might take a few days.”

“I’m sorry you don’t feel better.” She stroked the back of his neck. “Fighting this pain everyday sucks.”

                Hi friends. I’m Larry Payne, the host of Tracks for the Journey, a Network dedicated to your well-being. In this episode, let’s talk about how to cope with chronic pain. I’ll share some practical ways to better manage this difficult condition.

Reality of Chronic Pain

How can we cope with chronic pain?

Millions move through each day with pain that won’t go away. For some, it’s merely an inconvenience. For others, every day brings incessant, debilitating suffering. It redefines and degrades the quality of life once enjoyed. A heavy toll on emotional well-being can come with depressed moods and anger. Some experience spiritual distress as expectations of God’s work or help seem unfulfilled. Social connections can be frayed when people that once were close withdraw or lose patience when we don’t “get better” according to their expectations.

Lisa’s voice was plaintive as she talked to Mom. “I didn’t call Dad this week. It just seems like there’s nothing to talk about since he can’t do anything.”

Medicines and Remedies Help

Ancient societies faced the problem with herbal applications. Opium poppy, willow bark, and cannabis brought relief in effective ways. In 1899 the Bayer company produced a revolutionary substance developed by chemist Felix Hoffman called Aspirin. Hoffman was motivated for the work to help his father who suffered greatly from rheumatoid arthritis. Today, hundreds of medications help billions ease the pains of life. This is a modern miracle making life better for us.

Please be cautious with social media recommendations, though. Consult your Board-certified medical professional for effective pain relief.

Powers of Mind and Body

Beyond medications and physical treatments, what more can be done to cope with chronic pain? Psychologists have found ways to manage pain which can be learned by anyone. In conjunction with medical treatments, the power of the mind and body can improve our quality of life. 

Psychologists Dennis Turk and Frits Winter clarify the issue. “The critical question is, ‘What can I do to manage my pain so that I can get on with my life? Become your own pain management expert.”[1]

Three processes of addressing pain have helped clients I’ve worked with improve their quality of life.

Deep relaxation is a foundation for managing pain. This technique begins with learning the skill of controlled breathing that engages the diaphragm in slow, rhythmic patterns, such as four counts in, four counts hold, and four counts exhale. During the breath work, focusing attention on a single muscle group helps relax the tension from the pain. Don’t rush the learning curve. It will take practice to create the neural pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system that reduces the pain signals.

Correcting negative interpretations of events diminishes negative physical responses. Every event that we perceive is interpreted by the mind, which directs the response we make. How one thinks about the pain will create the emotions and behaviors that follow. For example, if I interpret my headache as too much to bear so I will not be able to meet friends for lunch, my coping will be eroded by concentrating awareness of the pain and losing the support from my friends. In contrast, deciding the pain is real but lunch will be a good distraction effectively diminishes the awareness of the pain and activates positive neurochemicals by interactions with friends. Our quality of life is not determined by the events that occur but the way those events are interpreted.

Spirituality can make a positive contribution to this work. Judeo-Christian theologians have stressed that God suffers with those who suffer. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”[2] The stories of Jesus highlight his compassion for lepers, blind, and disabled persons who had experienced severe social and physical suffering. Spiritual resources grounded in these teachings can promote positive interpretations for painful periods of life.

I cover these three vital processes in my podcast episode Reframing Ideas for More Success available on Apple, Spotify, or my host Buzzsprout at https://www.buzzsprout.com/907723/episodes/16825027

Managing Pain is Possible

Chronic pain is a condition no one wants. Managing chronic pain is a response that everyone can achieve. Research has demonstrated that pain and suffering are not the same. Suffering can be reduced by choosing interpretations of the pain and behaviors which manage chronic pain. 

“I’m not going to let my pain keep me from meeting our friends. Give me a few minutes to refocus. I will define this pain rather than letting the pain define me.” 

 You can become your best pain manager for well-being.

[1] Dennis C. Turk and Frits Winter, The Pain Survival Guide: How to Reclaim Your Life. American Psychological Association, 2006
[2] Psalm 34:18 NRSVUE