You can live with chronic pain

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Many adults experience chronic pain. Chronic pain is pain anywhere in your body that lasts longer than three months.

It might always be there, or it can come and go. Chronic pain differs from acute pain,  which happens after injuries but goes away quickly once your body is healed.

Chronic pain can come in many forms and have many different causes. Some common sources of pain include arthritis, previous injuries that never properly healed  and illnesses like cancer or diabetes.

Sometimes there isn’t an apparent cause of chronic pain, though. This type of pain may come from psychological factors like stress, anxiety or depression.

Fortunately, there are ways to manage chronic pain.

  • Talk to your primary care doctor about your pain. They can help to identify the source and potentially prescribe treatments plans, physical therapy or medications.
  • Start by managing your stress. Try meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, or journaling to work through your stressors.
  • Exercise every day. Stretching is a great way to reduce stiffness and warm up your muscles. Low-intensity exercises, such as walking or swimming, for 30 minutes every day can reduce pain levels by lowering inflammation and building muscle and flexibility.
  • Focus on your diet. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can reduce inflammation in your body. Staying hydrated also keeps your joints lubricated and prevents headaches.
  • Get enough sleep. Pain may prevent you from falling asleep easily, so try using heat or cold packs or using over-the-counter pain reducers as recommended by your doctor. Create a relaxing environment in your bedroom, and go to bed early enough to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

Chronic pain isn’t just unpleasant to deal with. It can impact other areas of your health, such as putting you at an increased risk of poor mental health, substance use disorders or worsening chronic diseases. Talk to your primary care provider about strategies for reducing chronic pain.

Natalie Peters is the community health educator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.

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