Arizona Pain Specialists

Taking Responsibility For Your Pain

Those who suffer from chronic pain often begin to lose hope and feel as though they will never be “normal” again.  They often feel as though no physician can help their pain, and might feel like “giving-up.”  It may take multiple office visits and multiple physicians for a chronic pain patient to receive a diagnosis, and this can feel discouraging.

Patients are seeking 100% pain relief – and while some find it – many only experience partial pain relief.  It can be disheartening to think that while you may have reduced pain, you won’t have complete pain relief.  Setting realistic goals about pain relief and daily functioning are important for most patients.  A reasonable goal that many patients set for themselves is to have enough pain relief to be able to carry out their lives and regain a sense of normalcy.

Chronic pain patient Jennifer Laman puts it well, “Pain is something I will probably always deal with on some level. But, after treatment at an interventional pain management clinic, it is way better than it was before, and the best part is that I can live my life again.”

Arizona Pain Specialists offers a wide array of treatment modalities available to help patients with any chronic pain condition. While we are on the cutting edge of medicine and technology, we have seen even more dramatic success with patients who keep a positive outlook and take an active role in their pain management.

When a patient takes responsibility for their healing, success is often seen. By understanding your condition and the factors that trigger it, you can become empowered to take the steps necessary to find pain relief.

Biofeedback is a method by which a patient learns how to control involuntary responses such as heartbeat, respiration rate, body temperature and other factors.  By learning to control these responses, you can learn to correct the negative responses your body produces when confronted by pain.

Yoga, aqua therapy, and targeted exercises are proven to help clear the mind, relax the body, and relieve tension.  Even those with severe pain conditions often find their mood elevated – and their pain reduced – by taking a simple daily walk.

Meditation and prayer are powerful tools for many who suffer.  Some find that these modalities help to take the focus off “their condition” and allow them to focus on blessings that they do have.

Keeping a pain journal is another tool that empowers you to be able to work that much more efficiently with your pain physicians. You will be able to identify factors such as foods, stresses, activities, and/or body positions that worsen or improve your pain.  These findings can then be reported to your pain physician, and you will be able to take a more active role in monitoring your painful condition.

One of the most important factors for a chronic pain patient is to try to keep a positive attitude, and try to go about your planned activities for the day. Many people in pain find if they “continue-on” despite the pain, and complete necessary tasks for the day, they end up feeling better and experience less pain than they would have expected.

We hope these ideas inspire you and give you hope.  Be encouraged.  Pain is difficult, but you must live your life to the fullest.  Please email us and let us know what activities help you to manage your pain:  
Newsletter@ArizonaPain.com

“When pain is to be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.”        -C. S. Lewis
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