This is the New Year and with it comes all its aspirations in achieving those hard-fought resolutions! Losing weight, exercising, cleaning out the garage, saving money, and finally taking that cruise are all excellent goals. However, for many people, this year may just feel like another entire twelve long months of coping with the same old, same old – especially if you’ve been suffering from chronic pain. Yet, this significant change in the calendar can bring a significant change in mind, attitude, and wellness to many sufferers. Right now is a great time to talk about executing some new lifestyle changes.
Better Sleep
Getting a restful night’s sleep is imperative for overall good health. Not enough rest means that you could be tired all day and unable to manage your pain effectively. This year, start developing a regular sleep routine. Helpful examples include:
- Get ready for bed while your body is telling you it is time to relax.
- Keep your bedroom tidy. A calming room promotes more restful sleep.
- Avoid bright lights. Don’t use your phone, tablet, or computer in bed. The light on these devices can cause insomnia.
- Avoid excess caffeine, large meals right before bed, alcohol and smoking.
Eat a Healthy Diet
While eating healthier can be a common New Year’s resolution for many, Chronic pain sufferers looking to ease pain can benefit from eating healthier as well. Lighten the heavy stress on your joints and move easier by losing weight with adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Some foods, such as dairy, wheat and processed foods, increase inflammation in the body and can trigger headaches or migraines. A healthier diet also increases your energy level and improves your overall feeling of well-being.
Hydration
Water. It’s one of the most essential, yet one of the most forgotten nutrients we can easily consume every day. The benefits of drinking the recommended eight glasses of water each day are overwhelming. Some people actually water their houseplants more efficiently than themselves.
Drinking enough water aids in flushing out toxins in the body, improves your overall mood, relieves fatigue, and mitigates headaches and migraines.
Electronic Devices
Hunching over your computer for hours on end can’t be good for anyone, let alone someone coping with back pain. Give it a rest. Speaking of rest, turning off your devices at a set time every night will help you relax before bed and give your mind and body a much-needed rest.
Exercise
Massage?
Yes, a massage. Think about how relieving the stress and tension in your muscles will feel. A good massage focuses on soothing your pain away.
Contact Michigan Pain Consultants Today
Talk with the professionals at Michigan Pain Consultants today about starting your brand-new New Year’s resolutions to combat your everyday pain. We can help you with various exercise, dietary, and other wellness programs to fit your lifestyle.
Make an appointment for a new patient consultation with one of our board certified pain physicians. All of Michigan Pain Consultant’s physicians are Board Certified in Anesthesiology or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and have advanced training and experience in Pain Medicine. You can begin first by visiting online at MyLifeBeyondPain.com, MichiganPain.com, or by calling them at (800)281-3237.
With six locations throughout West Michigan, Michigan Pain Consultants comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to pain care offers patients and providers renewed hope for relief from chronic pain. Chronic pain should be treated like other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or congestive heart failure. Chronic pain requires chronic treatment. The goal of the treatment is to optimize the management of the pain, as opposed to curing the pain.