Ten Commandments For People With Chronic Pain

Today's post from paincommunity.org (see link below) gives tips for people living with chronic pain (of course including neuropathy patients). It does tend to be a little cliched and 'touchy feely' but the intentions are good and there are some very useful tips which you may not have thought about. It can't do any harm to browse through these suggestions; sometimes things like this can trigger a change in your attitudes to your problems and help you deal with the pain better.

Ten Commandments for Persons with Pain
Posted by Dionetta Hudzinski, RN, MN | January 29, 2014


1. Thou shalt communicate with thy health care providers
Tell them the location and intensity of your pain
Describe what impact your pain has on your overall quality of life and everyday functioning: quality of sleep, activities of daily living, household chores, job related activities, recreation and socializing with others especially your loved ones. 

2. Thou shalt remember that pain relief is like a 3-legged stool (Mind + Body + Spirit) and you must have all three for balance.

3. Thou shalt be willing to trial pain relief treatment options for about a month (or more) before abandoning them.
Seek a combination of treatment options that treat ALL of you.
Some treatment options have a “building up” effect meaning they work better over time.
Some treatment interventions require upward/downward adjustments (tweaking) to reach the most benefit. 

4. Thou shalt set goals that inspire you—ones you can reach over time.
What are your dreams and wishes for improved activity, therapy, and life? 

5. Thou shalt work to improve your emotional well-being, behavior and coping skills.
Remember, recognizing and asking for help, such as counseling or coaching is a sign of strength and courage.
Recognize that your thoughts shape your experience. Your brain believes what you tell it!
Practice self-compassion and give yourself a break!

6. Thou shalt protect and respect the quality of thy sleep whenever possible.
Quality sleep is healing and helps lessen pain; knowing when to take a rest break, a nap or retire at the end of your day is golden. 

7. Thou shalt remember that pain is a personal and individual experience thus unique to you as well as to others, who live with pain,
Since the pain experience (how it feels, where it is located, how it reacts to treatment) is different, what may work well for you may or may not help your friend, family member or acquaintance. The reverse is also true.

8. Thou shalt take your medications exactly as prescribed and NOT change the dose (take more or less) without asking your health care provider who prescribed the medication first.

9. Thou shalt keep your pain medications in a safe, secured place—out of reach from children, pets, and those who may steal them (this could be friends, family members or workers in your home).

10. Thou shalt keep thy neighbor safe and not share thy prescription pain medications (or any prescribed medication) with them.
What has been prescribed for you for your specific pain or other health issues may be dangerous for another person even if their symptoms seem to be the same as yours.

http://paincommunity.org/ten-commandments-for-persons-with-pain/