There are many things I could talk about when it comes to managing pain. Unfortunately, there is not enough room to cover everything. Instead, I will share with you my top takeaways.
Although I was good at managing my pain, I was not very good. My husband and I were young moms raising two children. He was a tremendous help to our children and us. He was there for us during those difficult years.
If you are a parent, you will understand my point of view. It was challenging to be present and active in my children’s lives. It was so debilitating that I couldn’t focus on anything and everyone else. I was constantly thinking about pain.
I was a full-time mom who worked in great pain.
My coworkers didn’t know how much pain I was in. My priority was to be recognized as a team player. Being a positive person. You would have seen me constantly working at my desk and trying to manage many tasks.
Dr. Jordan Sudberg would be hard to believe that I was battling a lot of anger and frustration. Because of my swelling knees, it was hard to get out of my chair and walk to the photocopier. It was embarrassing to move around in the office.
If I could take a break, my favourite thing to do was go outside and sit on a bench. Then, I would close my eyes. This helped me to relax and calm my mind.
I could rely on my family and friends on the worst days for support. However, I felt that no one understood what it was like being in constant pain 24/7 unless they had experienced it themselves.
I saw ankylosing syndrome in a different light after my second hip replacement. Ultimately, I began a journey of personal growth, which will continue for my entire life.
My journey has dramatically helped me with my pain management. It has also changed my perception of pain and how I think about it.
I believe that the best way to manage emotional and physical pain is in your head.
I continue to read blogs, articles, and medical reviews to understand the connection between pain and the brain.
I have been able to see the link between sugar and high inflammation levels through a variety of research studies.
So that I can better understand the mental and physical challenges of those who have suffered from chronic pain for a while, I will review the studies of participants.
Next, I am a massive advocate of experimentation in food. Certain foods can increase inflammation for people suffering from chronic pain.
That theory was tested when I tried it years ago under the guidance of a Naturopath.
It was difficult to eliminate almost everything from my diet. But I was determined to find out what triggers my painful flares.
You wouldn’t believe it, but I discovered that fresh tomatoes and I weren’t meant for each other. Fresh tomatoes were my favourite thing. They were delicious in turkey sandwiches, and I also loved adding diced tomatoes to my salads. Unfortunately, my romance ended abruptly when I ate them for 6 hours.
An elimination diet revealed which foods triggered my pain beyond the point where there was no return and which didn’t.
If you don’t have a food experimentation system, I encourage you to do so. Keep a food diary to track your feelings after eating. You can become a food detective by learning more about your body.
A second suggestion is to think about your body.
Do you try to push yourself to do things you didn’t do before? This is something I do more than I want to admit. You know what?
It is not worth it.
You feel stiffer, more rigid than usual, and you start to get frustrated with yourself and the world. You say things you wouldn’t say to your best friend.
Take a look at when your pain started.
Grab your magnifying glasses, take some time to yourself, get a journal and a pen, and light a candle. This is the first step.
Examine your past, mainly when you were a child. What was the first time you felt pain in your knees or back?
Dr. Jordan Sudberg reflections, meditations, journaling, and journaling have shown me that te roots of my health and well-being lie in the past.
Do not judge yourself for what you did and didn’t do. You did the best you could with the resources you had at the moment.
Take down all the information you find and then release it. As you go through this, you must be open, gentle, compassionate, and kind to yourself. It can be scary to dig into the past. The journey begins inside if your goal is to decrease chronic pain.