Managing Arthritis Pain.
Last updated Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Counseling and other supportHealth care team Any major disturbance in your life--such as illness or chronic
pain--may make you feel anxious, depressed, angry, or even hopeless.
This is your first place to turn for help. The team includes your
doctor and a nurse. It may also include an occupational therapist or a
physical therapist, a social worker, counselor, psychologist, and a
pharmacist.
Talk to the members of the team about ways to cope with pain. They
may be able to help you find services in your area. Don't be afraid to
suggest to your doctor a pain management idea of your own, or one from
this program. You know yourself and your pain better than anyone. Counseling Many people become depressed when they have severe pain. Some people
feel so bad they cannot sleep or eat. In these cases, therapy or
counseling may help.
Some people are afraid to admit they need help. They believe that
others will think they are crazy if they talk to a professional about
their problems. But it's smart to get help when you need it. If you
have the symptoms of depression--poor sleep, changes in appetite,
crying, sad thoughts--talk with your doctor.
Some psychologists or counselors are specially trained to work with
the emotional side of chronic health problems like arthritis. These
people can also teach you how to manage stress.
Pain is stressful. If you have increased stress, you may feel more
pain. So, learning to manage stress can also help you manage your pain. Support groups Sharing your feelings and experiences with a group can make living
with arthritis easier. The basic goal of a support group is to give you
a way to share and learn about arthritis. A group also helps you to
feel understood, and can give you new ideas to help cope with problems.
It can also help you feel good about yourself because you'll be helping
others in the group.
Groups may be run by professionals or they may be self-help groups
led by people with arthritis. Some groups focus on pain control. Others
have no certain topic but work with people who have different types of
problems. Ask your doctor about local groups for people with arthritis
or people with pain. Sometimes you can help yourself with the help of
others like you. Pain clinics Pain clinics specialize in treating pain. They may be located in a
hospital or may operate independently. Some clinics treat all types of
pain. Others specialize in treating certain types of pain. And some
clinics specialize in certain types of treatments. The clinics can't
cure your health condition, but they may help you to learn better pain
management skills. Ask your doctor about pain clinics in your area.
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