Managing pain can be difficult for everyone. However, for young adults, it can be even more frustrating. You don’t expect to have persistent pain at a young age, so you may not know what to do about it. However, while you might not be able to eliminate your pain entirely, there are ways to keep it from taking over your health and your life. Here are some tips that can help you with your persistent pain management so you can live your best life no matter your current physical condition.
Find the Cause
If you’re young and you have persistent pain, there is usually a cause for it. You should work with your doctor to figure out what is causing your pain and how to best treat it. Different treatments work better for different types of pain. For instance, 11 to 12 million American adults report pain in their temporomandibular joint. Treating facial pain like that will be much different from treating foot pain. If you and your doctor can figure out what is causing your pain, you can create a plan to manage it more effectively than you would if their diagnosis stayed very general. To support your doctor in getting to the root cause of your pain and making the correct diagnosis, try keeping a medical journal and be extremely specific in your descriptions of your symptoms. Your doctor should value clarity and understanding on your part over everything else as you explain your symptoms. Don’t neglect to inform your medical team of any new developments in your body as your chronic pain symptoms progress.
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Going to the doctor is an important part of managing your pain. However, you need to follow their directions when you leave the office as well. Your visits can help, but they won’t be nearly as effective if you don’t do your part in between appointments. For instance, you might have pain from an injury, and your doctor might send you to physical therapy for it. People who get physical therapy within two weeks of a knee, back, or neck injury have been seen to reduce their need for prescription pain medication. This can be extremely helpful as you manage your pain. But if you ignore your doctor and do not go to physical therapy, you won’t get these benefits. If you’re unsure about your doctor’s recommendations, get a second opinion and follow their instructions instead. Regardless of your injury, you’re going to need to do some work to manage your pain.
Stay Active
It is important that you stay as active as your health will allow you to in order to manage persistent pain. Exercise builds strength and stamina. It also promotes healthy circulation, which can help you heal from injuries faster than you otherwise would. So, while you may not be able to do your usual exercise routine during a pain flare-up, you should still try to move around. You might consider working with a chiropractor or trainer to help you find ways to improve your activity during these types of pain episodes. Over 20 million Americans seek chiropractic care each year, so you may benefit from this if you choose to do so as well. But regular movement of almost any kind should help with your pain levels.
Care For Your Mental Health
Persistent pain can take a toll on your mental health. If you are constantly dealing with it, you might end up with symptoms of depression or anxiety. Don’t neglect your mental health as you work on managing your pain. Poor mental health can increase your pain and discomfort, while better mental health can help you manage your pain more effectively. If you notice that you are struggling with your mental health, ask your doctor to help you find a therapist to work with. This can be an important part of your pain management plan.
Persistent pain in young people can be very difficult to deal with. It is often unexpected and can be the result of an illness or injury that won’t go away. If you’re dealing with persistent pain, there are ways to make it easier to manage. Apply these tips to your pain management plan and see what kind of difference they make.