With COVID-19 still not showing signs of slowing down, it appears that most of us who are already facing difficulty will continue to do so for an indefinite period of time. The current situation is undeniably more complicated if you are a person who experiences chronic pain.
Access to healthcare is severely limited, and pain medication might not be as easy to come by these days. Add to this the emotional stress of being sequestered at home for an extended time, and you have yourself a problem that might seem impossible to overcome.
The good news, however, is that this is not the case. Chronic pain can still be managed in light of the current crisis. It will just take newer approaches and the right frame of mind to get through it. To help you with this, we’ve outlined a few ways you can stay on top of your pain management during this time.
Take advantage of telemedicine
If you weren’t already aware of what it can do, technology allows for real-time communication with healthcare professionals over the Internet. You’ll be able to speak to your doctor as if they were right next to you, and it saves them time and effort needed to physically travel to their location. You’ll be able to continue to seek care while staying in full compliance with social distancing requirements, allowing you to rest assured that healthcare is always within reach.
Make changes to your diet
Many types of food can cause inflammation within the body, which could mean that your diet could be further aggravating your pain. Now might be a good time to consider seeing a dietician or nutritionist, as they can evaluate your current diet and see if there are any foods that could be hurting you. You can do this from the comfort and safety of your own home as well, as many practitioners are providing online consultations as well.
Continue to stay active
Just because you’re forced to stay at home doesn’t mean that you can be complacent about your physical fitness. In fact, staying idle might be contributing to your pain. Because you are not using your body to a significant degree, your muscles could weaken due and your joints could lose mobility.
To combat this, engage in some type of physical activity on a regular basis. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an exercise routine, as simply doing chores or enjoying some type of hobby can give your body the stimulus it needs to stay strong.
Seek the support of others
It’s surprising how having others’ support can make any difficult situation easier to bear, and that is no different for managing chronic pain. There are numerous support groups on the Internet that are dedicated to people going through a similar situation as you are, and being able to exchange stories and advice with one another could go a long way towards your treatment.
Conclusion
Use the techniques listed above in conjunction with one another. By applying them in your life, you’ll be able to build yourself a home environment that makes it possible for you to take control of the situation.
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