Letting Your Pain Be Known

By Donna Stark

Living with chronic pain is tough. It can impact every aspect of your life and the unpredictability of your pain can make the management of it feel overwhelming. From feeling great one day to being stuck in bed the next, you never know what you may be up against. But the thing that exacerbates it all, is that nobody else can see what you are going through. Your pain issue is invisible to them and that can make it even harder to deal with.

Shining a Light on Your Pain

Have others dismissed your pain? Have they failed to understand how difficult and uncomfortable your life has become? It would be so much easier if you could bandage your pain or wear a brace so that others could immediately see there was a problem, but unfortunately, that isn't always possible and you may need to express yourself in other ways. Here are some helpful tips on how to do so.

• Find the right doctor - If you aren't happy with the treatment or results you get from a doctor, shop around until you find one you like. Make a list of questions and concerns to take to your visits, ask for referrals, and read their reviews online. Approach your visit like an interview because, after all, they have the most important job to do ... help you feel better!
• Speak up - Nobody knows, as well as you do, what is going on in your body, so be sure to speak up and be direct. Tell your doctor everything you are experiencing and don't leave the appointment without having your questions answered! You are paying for that visit so make sure you are using it wisely. It's also important to tell your loved ones and doctor what your needs are. A great saying to remember is, "a closed mouth won't get fed."
• Find your support - There is nothing like a strong support system to have your back and get you through those really tough days, so take the time to build one. Let your friends, family, and coworkers know what your days are like and share your struggles with them all. You'll never know the type of help they could provide or if anyone else is in a similar boat unless you do. You can also find online support groups that may be able to offer tips, suggestions, and tools on how to manage your pain better.

Advocating for Yourself

This may be the most uncomfortable thing you need to do, but if you don't advocate for yourself, nobody else will either. So make your invisible issue visible to those around you and see how much of a difference it can make in your life.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Citrus Heights, Calif.