Chronic pain is most commonly defined as lingering pain that lasts more than three months. Oftentimes, this type of pain is the result of an injury or developed condition and can be difficult to cope with.
The immediate thought is most likely: “how do we fix this?” In today’s world, we have a plethora of treatment modalities to address injuries and common aches and pains. However, chronic pain can often be difficult to treat.
If you have received the chronic pain diagnosis, chances are this may be a condition you will be dealing with for years to come. What it does not mean is that you have to place your life on hold and allow the pain to take over. While the pain may never go away completely, there are many tools and resources available to pain sufferers to help ease the condition and manage some of the more difficult or painful days.
A common, and basic tool used to help manage chronic pain is controlled breathing. The power of breath is truly magnificent. Learning to control your breath and use it to help calm the mind and body can significantly change the way you manage your pain. Practice slow, deep breathing for 15 minutes every day. This can promote whole body relaxation and help you prepare to tackle those painful days head-on.
There are a number of tools available to help you get started. Try following a mediation video online or join a yoga or Qi Gong class in your community. It may take time to master the art of controlled breathing, so it is recommended to practice a little bit every day.
Recovia utilizes both yoga and Qi Gong to help our patients develop long-lasting coping tools. These meditation programs teach our patients to build body and mind awareness while connecting breath to physical movement. Additionally, we utilize EmWave technology to teach HeartMath, which is a breathing tool that helps connect the heart to the mind through breath. These training tools are meant to help chronic pain suffers reduce stress and pain during the more painful days.
The advice and information provided herein is for educational purposes only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
