Chronic pain is defined as “pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment” (NHS Inform). Approximately 8 million Canadians suffer with chronic pain, according to Pain Canada, with the pain affecting both physical and mental health. Those who suffer with this illness often have negative impacts throughout their life. From inability to sleep, to difficulty maintaining relationships, the effects of chronic pain are more than just physical.
Tips to Help Manage Chronic Pain
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Reduce Stress
Stress can cause a flare up of pain. It is important to establish a way to reduce or remove it from your day-to-day life. Avoiding high pressure situations is a keyway to do this, but this isn’t always possible. Stressful situations always arise, so knowing how to manage this is key. Meditation and deep breathing or calming music are great ways to destress.
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Low Intensity Exercise
Chronic pain often inhibits intense exercise. Partaking in slow, low intensity movement can be highly beneficial to those suffering. By doing this, you are releasing feel good endorphins that boost your mood!
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Optimum Sleep
Making sure you are rested and rejuvenated is important for managing the physical and mental symptoms of chronic pain. Proper sleep allows you to work through obstacles easier and gives your body the proper rest to help heal from pain. Important ways to ensure that you get the best sleep are avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and reducing nighttime distractions.
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Track Activities and Pain Level
One method for managing your symptoms is understanding what causes flare ups in your pain. Keeping track of the different activities that you are taking part in or carrying out each day, such as walks or household cleaning, is a great way to avoid additional pain.
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Massage
A deep tissue massage helps to relieve chronic pain symptoms. Whether it’s full body, back and shoulders, or a head massage – the tension being worked out of your body helps to ease the discomfort.
It is important to reach out to your doctor or caregiver before adding anything to or changing your routine.
How a Beachcomber Hot Tub Can Help
A Beachcomber Hot Tub is the perfect addition to your home when you are suffering with chronic pain. As little as 15 minutes in your hot tub can provide relief from the aches.
- The soothing water is the perfect place to practice stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.
- If the pain you experience prevents exercise, submerging in water takes the pressure off your muscles and joints and allows for slow, low intense movement in your hot tub.
- Soaking in a hot tub can result in deeper sleep – the boost in melatonin production after leaving the warm water makes falling asleep easier. This allows your body to heal throughout the night.
- The FlexJets of a Beachcomber Hot Tub can be personalised to target problem areas. This is a great way to incorporate massage into your pain treatment and makes a hot tub soak invaluable.
Adding a Beachcomber Hot Tub to your daily health routine can ease your aches without having to leave your home. Learn more about how to enhance your health here!
