Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain Ruined My Life
“Chronic pain ruined my life.” If you are reading this, chances are you have been affected by chronic pain at some stage in your life. 1 in 8 people in the UK is currently suffering from chronic pain. As a result, if it is not affecting you personally, it may be someone close to you.
Chronic pain impacts nearly every aspect of daily life. It can cause severe disability, dependence on opiates, high rates of anxiety or depression, and insomnia.
It is not the same as normal pain
Many people are shocked at these statistics. Why? Well, there is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding chronic pain. People are less willing to talk about it, assuming they should “get over it” and carry on as usual.
Paul M., of Birmingham, has fibromyalgia and has suffered from chronic pain most of his adult life. “It is not the same as normal pain. People think they understand because everyone has felt some ache or pain, but they do not get it. It is all day, every day. The only thing I can compare it to is a toothache, but with no relief. Chronic pain ruined my life.”
Sensible solutions to managing chronic pain
Here at UK Cannabis News, we recommend people do research on medical cannabis for chronic pain. Many private clinics can now offer this treatment, and trials are looking to inform doctors to prescribe it on the NHS.
However, this may still be a long way off. We want to recommend some simple life changes you could make now to the amount of suffering you may be experiencing.
To help manage your pain, you might consider some of these simple steps:
- Plan your day – To help keep you on top of your pain, plan around it. Think ahead to where you might be and what you are doing and tell others what you might need to do differently.
- Pace yourself – Stop if you are feeling pain. You can always come back to things later. Never beat yourself up for needing a break.
- Learning to relax – Of course relaxing when in pain is difficult, but knowing what helps and being able to try out different things can make a big difference.
- Exercising regularly – We know how hard it can be to keep up a routine of exercise, even for people who aren’t in pain. However, strengthening your muscles and joints slowly over time can lead to better resistance.
- Medicate – We know opiates are not for everyone, but talk to your doctor and ask what is right for you and your pain. Consider research into medical cannabis treatments and find out what is available in your area.
- Talk – It is not shameful to suffer from pain. Your friends and family are there for you, and being able to articulate your pain can help you emotionally.
- Fun – Doing things you enjoy boosts dopamine levels. Dopamine is a natural painkiller. Do things you love and find happiness wherever you can.
