The number one goal I hear from patients coming into my office is, “to decrease pain and resume my normal activities”. Being in pain and unable to perform our normal activities makes us feel out of control and out of balance. This is particularly true when the pain lasts for weeks, months, and becomes chronic. Certainly you will have “difficult days”. How do you maintain control when you have such a day, when you’re dealing with chronic pain? The best advice to stay in control is to follow the “Break your Pain” strategies. To avoid setbacks, here are some ways to stay in control:
1. Follow through on your goals. Select your areas of greatest concern then set some specific, measurable, goals to help you deal with those issues. Maybe you’re concerned about keeping up with your exercise program. Create a checklist, and put and X by each goal you reach.
2. Monitor your progress. Seeing your accomplishments can motivate you to continue your goals. Use charts or some other way to display your progress.
3. Plan your day. When you specifically schedule time for something, such as exercise or reading, you’re more likely to do it. Also use “to-do” lists or notes on a calendar to remind you of your priorities.
4. Keep your surroundings healthful. Look around your house and get rid of things that might lure you back into unhealthful habits. When you walk around your house, you want to see evidence of a person who lives a happy and active life.
5. Stay positive. Keep a success journal of positive gains and improvements. When you’re discouraged or in danger of slipping back into some of your old patterns of unhealthful behavior, review the positive things you’ve done. If you do have a relapse, accept that it happens, and move on, positively.
The first step to controlling your pain is to take action today, so if you are currently suffering from neck pain, headaches, or low back pain give my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA a call (703) 912-7822.
