Coping with Chronic Pain
Coping with Chronic PainIf you’re living with chronic pain, it’s not just about swelling, achiness, throbbing or other physical symptoms. Thechallenge of day-in, day-out pain that lasts longer than 3 months can keep you awake at night and cause a lot ofstress.“We certainly know that depression and anxiety both make pain worse and pain then also makes depressionand anxiety worse. So, again that's kind of a vicious cycle that we work with patients to break.”- Dr. SarahEndrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical Director“Being 35 and getting diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis was pretty scary. Because, you know, you hear ofarthritis just in in old people you know 60s, 70s my grandmother had it.”-Sue, PatientSue Schneeberg is learning to cope with the arthritis that, some days, makes it hard to get out of bed.“My 5- year-old has helped me take off my shirt to get ready for bed because I can't lift my arms because myshoulders are so sore. It's, it can be depressing but I try not to let it depress me because I know it could just, thatwould just be, it would just make it even worse.”-Sue, PatientLike many who suffer with chronic pain, Sue relies on family and friends to support her. But she also finds chattingonline with other arthritis sufferers helps, too.“I'm actually a member of a couple different Facebook groups that I found for rheumatoid arthritis and we'll chatback and forth, but even just reading what people are posting and just knowing that that supportʼs out therehelps a lot.”-Sue, Patient“It’s real people, talking about what’s going on in their lives.”-Cee Cee, PatientOnline support groups also help Cee Cee Ceman cope with the chronic muscle and bone pain of Fibromyalgia.“So, I can just like scroll through and just listen to people and see what's going on. And then you connect withsomeone and you have the same kind of thing going on.”-Cee Cee, PatientSome people find medications that treat depression or anxiety can also help them cope with the challenges of livingwith chronic pain.“A lot of those same chemicals that are involved in depression in the brain are also involved in the painpathways. And so that's why those medications work for both chronic pain and for depression and anxiety.”- Dr.Sarah Endrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical DirectorPage 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5321898 EN CopingWithChronicPain.pdf© The Wellness NetworkCoping with Chronic PainStill others find different ways to cope. John Zemler, who has a host of injuries with lingering pain, loses himselfin his artwork.“If I'm holding a pencil in a way that you would if you're writing, that pain will persist and can actually shutdown my arm. And so, I have really limited use of what I can do with that arm. But once in a while you canget lost in a drawing and you're not there.”-John, PatientJohn admits the chronic pain that, at times, makes it difficult to work to even leave the house had him thinkabout suicide a few times. But his artwork is a good form of therapy.“If I had chosen to harm myself I would not have drawn that. And I would not have brought joy to someoneelse. And so, there are still some drawings out there in my future. I hope that elicit joy from somebody.”John, Patient“Everybody's got a problem whether it's fibro or mental disease or a hiccup, you know. It's how you chooseto live with it and deal with it. What's the alternative? So, I choose to wake up. And keep on keeping on, asbest I can.”-Cee Cee, PatientIf you find yourself anxious or depressed about living in chronic pain, reach out and find the support you need.Your healthcare provider can recommend therapy, support groups or medications that can help.Page 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5321898 EN CopingWithChronicPain.pdf© The Wellness Network
© The Wellness Network
