Lifestyle changes and coping with pain

Changes to our health can result in changes to our lifestyle. Being in pain can seriously affect your quality of life and therefore it’s normal to find it difficult to cope at times. Your GP can help if you are struggling.

You could also speak to your healthcare team at the hospital for advice about how to manage your pain. They may be able to refer you to an occupational therapy or physiotherapy service. Some quick tips for managing pain include:

Try out a breath work exercise – breathe slowly and deeply to feel more in control and keep you relaxed.
Shift your attention on to something else so the pain is not the only thing on your mind. Get stuck into an activity that you enjoy or find stimulating.
Talk to someone – sharing your thoughts around your pain with someone else may help lift the burden of coping alone.
Get a good night’s sleep – sleep deprivation can make pain worse or more uncomfortable.
Try gentle exercise if you are able – exercise is a great natural pain reliever.
Relax and keep positive – there are many relaxation techniques you can try from breathing exercises, mindfulness or even meditation.

If pain and mobility problems mean you’re struggling with daily tasks, like washing and dressing, or they affect how you’re able to use your home, you could ask your local council to organise a care needs assessment or an occupational therapy assessment.

WISE offer a ‘Living with Persistent Pain Self-Management course’. This helps adults living with chronic pain to maintain and improve their quality of life through self-management. For more information go to Wise CTM

Useful Resources

NHS information on pain: Pain - NHS

Information on sleep and tiredness: Sleep and tiredness - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

WISE - Wise CTM