Living with chronic pain can turn things that used to be really simple into a massive chore. When you’re dealing with constant discomfort it drains your energy and makes things hard. It is completely normal to feel frustrated when you can’t do things at the same pace you used to, or when a bad day forces you to change your plans and stay home. There’s other things to consider too, when you’re having to take a step back from things you enjoy to fit around your health it can be challenging mentally, here are some things that can help.
Pace yourself
When you have a good day with less pain it’s so tempting to run around and catch up on everything you’ve missed out on the next day. But overdoing it usually just leads to feeling much worse the next day and you can end up much worse off. Break your jobs down and spread them out over the week instead. If you need to rest after doing a load of washing that’s absolutely fine. It can be so frustrating having to plan to do the simple things that you once did without giving a second thought to, but when you’re living with chronic pain you’re living a different reality to people that don’t have it. Get to know your body and what you can and can’t do and dont be afraid to pace yourself and not push things too far.
Make things easier at home
If things like moving around or bending down causes you pain then you should definitely rearrange your rooms to do yourself a favour. Keep the things you use every single day at waist or chest height so you aren’t constantly reaching or stooping down to get them. If standing for long periods hurts then doing something like popping a stool in the kitchen so you can sit down while chopping veg or washing up can make a big difference to how well you can manage. If you have a disability then having your home adapted can be a good move, look to see what kinds of funding you can get for this. If your chronic pain started because of an accident or an injury that was not your fault, always worth looking into whether you are eligible to make a claim for chronic pain compensation to help.
Get Support
Living with chronic pain is really hard, and unfortunately not everyone will understand, even if they try to. It can be upsetting to know that people you care about don’t fully understand what you’re dealing with and can leave you feeling alone and unheard. There are all kinds of forums, groups and support lines you can contact to get in touch with other people in the same boat who understand what it’s like, supporting each other can be a big comfort. If you want professional therapy then speak with your GP, they can put you on a waiting list to get help for your mental health which will often struggle when your physical health isnt its best.
