According to the CDC, chronic pain affects up to 24.3% of adults in the United States. That's about a quarter of all people over 18, which is a frightening number.
Chronic pain can affect every aspect of life, from school to work, and even social outings. Living with someone who has chronic pain is also tricky, especially when you don't know what to do for them.
September is Pain Awareness Month, an annual global campaign aimed at raising awareness of issues related to pain and effective pain management.
At Pinnacle Health Chiropractic, Dr. Jason Ablett and his team provide noninvasive treatments and holistic care for chronic pain. Whether you or a loved one is living with back pain, fibromyalgia, or chronic headaches, we have a treatment that works.
Chronic pain is any pain that persists for more than three months, despite home care and treatment. It can come and go or remain constant, but it often affects every aspect of life.
Usually, pain is a sign that something is wrong – but it usually goes away with treatment. But chronic pain persists for weeks, months, or even years, affecting your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Chronic pain affects any part of the body and comes in many forms and conditions. There are various types of chronic pain, including arthritis, neuropathic pain, and pain in the neck or back.
Unfortunately, chronic pain can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms and other conditions. Anxiety, depression, and insomnia are all conditions that go hand-in-hand with chronic pain.
Watching a loved one live with chronic pain is defeating. It's hard to watch them deal with pain that persists, knowing there's not much you can do – but you can support them in various ways.
Being a support person for your loved one is one of the best ways to show them you care. We offer the following tips to help you support your loved one through chronic pain, and they include:
It's crucial to educate yourself about your loved one's condition so that you can provide better support. Learn their triggers, symptoms, and possible treatments to be fully prepared to help them through every stage of pain.
Be sure to be empathetic towards your loved one's pain, but avoid pitying or feeling bad for them. It's essential to be patient with them and know that chronic pain often leads to periods of anger and frustration.
Small amounts of help with daily activities make a big difference for someone with chronic pain. Offering to help with household chores, shopping, or cooking is a great way to support your loved one.
Chronic pain is emotionally draining for anyone living with it and causes sadness and depression. Just being there to provide a shoulder to cry on or listening during periods of frustration are great ways to provide emotional support.
It's essential to respect your loved one's limits. Understand that they may need to rest and avoid overexertion if they aren't able to.
Sadness from chronic pain may prohibit your loved one from doing what they love – but you can give them a little push. Encourage them to participate in activities that they love that don't exacerbate their pain.
Chronic pain often means various doctor's visits and medical tests – and it's nice to have someone to help. Being there for them for testing or checkups is a great way to show your support and help them navigate chronic pain treatments.
To learn more about our chronic pain treatments, call our office in Kirkland, Washington, today or request a consultation with Dr. Ablett on our website.
