September is Pain Awareness Month: Identifying & managing chronic pain

pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3771115

The Nearly 100 million Americans experience chronic pain, more than those who have diabetes, heart
disease, and cancer combined. Pain is your body’s alarm system. Pain tells you something is wrong and
needs attention. Living with chronic pain can be debilitating and adversely affect everyday life.

Understanding more about your underlying causes of pain can help improve treatments and alleviate
suffering. Adams County Regional Medical Center’s Restorative Pain Care provides the latest advances in
pain treatment with a care plan specific to your needs.

The goal of chronic pain management is to help you have the best function and quality of life possible.
Together, you and your providers can develop a plan that places you in control. Putting yourself in
charge helps you manage chronic pain better.

Here are techniques that when used consistently and together, may help manage chronic pain.

  1. Stretch, practice good posture and move gently. Try full body stretches or gentle yoga for
    about 10 to 15 minutes daily.
  2.  Stay active. An activity routine, as recommended by your health care provider, can strengthen
    muscles, improve mood, and distract from pain.
  3. Reduce stress and practice relaxation techniques. This can include the use of relaxed
    breathing, muscle relaxation, or mindfulness. Smartphone applications that focus on relaxation
    and mindfulness can be useful for this.
  4. Pace yourself. Doing too much or too little can increase pain. Daily planning with a balance of
    daily tasks, recreation, and other responsibilities can help with structure and routine. Taking
    breaks before the pain level is too high can decrease the frustration that may happen with a
    pain flare.
  5. Maintain a positive outlook by scheduling enjoyable activities. Managing pain often means
    creating opportunities to be positive. Taking part in enjoyable activities has been shown to
    decrease the effects of pain signals in the body.
  6. Stay connected with others. Spending time with friends and family, in-person or via video chat,
    can decrease focus on pain.
  7. Get the sleep you need. Poor sleep often can worsen pain. Good sleep hygiene, relaxation techniques, and a calming nighttime routine can improve sleep.

These tools along with the team from the Adams County Regional Medical Center’s Restorative Pain
Care can help ease your pain and allow you to live in as much comfort as possible. Ask your physician
for a referral today.

To learn more or schedule an appointment at ACRMC Restorative Pain Care, please call 937-386-3099.

About Adams County Regional Medical Center

Adams County Regional Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital located near Seaman, Ohio, just 60 miles east of Cincinnati. Adams County Regional Medical Center is a viable and growing state-of-the-art health care facility meeting the needs of Adams County and the surrounding communities, providing a full range of services, including inpatient and outpatient amenities. Adams County Regional Medical Center is Joint Commission certified, focusing on the importance of patient care and organized functions that are essential to providing safe, high-quality care.