According to a recent study, between one-third and one-half of the UK population – roughly 28 million adults – suffer from chronic pain, with nearly 15% of experiences falling somewhere between ‘moderate’ pain and ‘severely disabling’ pain. As a result of this, chronic pain – and how to deal with it – remains one of the most pressing topics in the health industry, with clinical and anecdotal solutions discussed regularly. With this in mind, we wanted to take a moment to discuss five tips for living with it.
Your Body is the Boss
Living with chronic pain is, in many ways, more mentally challenging than anything else. For many people, things that they used to be able to do feel so much more difficult, and for that reason, they ignore their bodies and try to push through as a way of rebellion.
Let’s say you used to play tennis for an hour every Sunday, but since chronic pain has become an issue, you can only play comfortably for half an hour. The wrong thing to do in this scenario is to push to reach that hour, continuing the game when you’re uncomfortable and your body is telling you to stop. It’s easy to want to do that – this is where the frustration and rebellion come into play – but it’s crucial that you learn to listen to your body and accept what it’s telling you.
If your body is saying you need to rest, then you need to rest. If your body is telling you to take a break, then take that break. Chronic pain often comes with a sense of loss, but pushing beyond your limits can only lead to further discomfort and, ultimately, further frustration.
CBD Flower Could Ease Your Symptoms
In 2021, a survey was carried out on a significant portion of people with chronic pain, and 60% of them reported that CBD products helped their symptoms – with a further 67.6% saying it allowed them to reduce their pain medications.
Whichever way you look at it, the CBD flower is recognised as a significant weapon in the fight against chronic pain. Much of the time, CBD can be used alongside other treatments and preventative measures, although it is vital you speak with your GP before making any changes to your pain management approach.
If you’re already using CBD to combat your chronic pain, but the effects aren’t as effective as you’d hoped, there is another option. HHC. While both CBD and HHC are derived from the same hemp plant, they have distinct properties and effects that make them different.
For instance, while CBD is said to ease anxiety and inflammation, HHC is said to provide a more intense sense of relaxation, which some people find more helpful for managing heavy pain and discomfort. Similar to THC, HHC has a slight psychoactive effect, albeit milder, so that’s something to be aware of. But if your current CBD regimen isn’t offering the relief you need, HHC might offer a new level of comfort that’s worth looking into.
Slow and Steady Wins the Day
It’s also important to note that your rhythm is going to be affected. By that, we mean, we all have our own way of moving through the day and getting from A to B. If you’re in your thirties or forties, this is probably quite fast – faster than you think – and as a result, the symptoms of your chronic pain can worsen without you realising it.
With this in mind, try to go about your day with a more gentle movement routine, slowing down and being more mindful of your body’s needs as you go from one task to the other. Whether it’s walking, doing yoga, or incorporating light stretching into your routine, slowing it down can be a great way to keep your muscles loose and avoid any increased strain or flare-up. It’s also pretty great from a mental point of view. You don’t need to rush everywhere! Slow it down and achieve your daily goals in a more relaxed, calm manner!
Sleep Is A Fancy Word for ‘Recharge’
You’ve probably heard it plenty of times before, but sleep really is one of the best cures for chronic pain. Having a full, uninterrupted sleep isn’t easy for everyone, there’s no doubt about that, but if you take the time to create a calming bedtime routine – including limiting screen time and using relaxation tools like CBD or herbal teas – there’s every chance you can avoid it.
Essentially, this is all about taking a step back and recharging your body. Let’s go back to that hypothetical tennis game for a moment. If you really want to get to the hour mark without feeling discomfort, the chances are, you won’t be able to do so if your previous night’s sleep was poor. On the other hand, if you had a good sleep that was uninterrupted, your body is going to find it far easier to do so, as you’ve given it time to repair, recover, and rejuvenate.
Last But Not Least, Journal Your Pain
Our last tip involves paying attention to your body and actually tracking when you’re feeling the most pain. It might sound simple, but by noting down your symptoms, triggers, and what brings you relief, it becomes far easier to spot the patterns of your chronic pain and regain a sense of control.
We mentioned before, for instance, that CBD might not be working for you. But have you taken into account when you’re using it? Similarly, have you noted down exactly when your pain is at its worst?
By keeping a pain journal, you’re documenting important data that can help you manage your symptoms far more effectively, whether that’s by taking a warm bath at a certain time in the evening or using CBD oil on the worst afflicted area. In other words, you’ll be regaining control of your body and drawing up the perfect battle plan to fight back, and that can be the key difference between coping with chronic pain, and living with it happily and confidently.