The holiday season is a fun time of year to make memories with the people you love. But, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, it can be hard to attend events or cook a big meal for the family if you are experiencing chronic pain. How much is this pain impacting your life and holding you back from the activities that you enjoy? It’s time to implement some pain relief strategies.
Unfortunately, some people dread the holidays because of the pain flare-ups that tend to happen as a result. Even if you are careful about your condition, food preparation, house cleaning, or gift wrapping might be the final task that puts you over the edge.
If you have been living with chronic pain for a while, then it’s time to treat yourself to the gift that keeps on giving: a consultation with a pain management specialist. Our goal is to help you feel good through the holiday season and beyond.
Tips for Getting Through the Holiday Season
As you are looking through your holiday to-do list, you probably feel anxious that these activities will aggravate your chronic pain: shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and more. Unfortunately, living with chronic pain can make it challenging to perform things that seem like simple functions and chores.
Here are a few practical tips to help you get through the holiday season with ease this year:
- Get a Head Start: Don’t wait until the last minute before getting started with your holiday to-do list. Having too much to do and not enough time is a recipe for overexertion, which can put you out of commission by the time the party starts. Instead, plan ahead so you can get things done as early as possible, allowing you to enjoy the holiday festivities.
- Take it Easy: Pay attention to your pain levels and other symptoms that you are experiencing. If you have a flare-up, then permit yourself to take a break. Make sure you are getting enough sleep at night and schedule time to relax so you can recover from the extensive activities that are happening.
- Keep it Simple: While it’s fun to go all-out with your holiday decorations, why not go easy on yourself and keep it simple with basic décor this year? Review your regular holiday to-do list and identify the things that you can let go of this year. Prioritize convenience in the little ways, such as buying paper plates instead of washing the family china for a nice meal.
- Enlist Help from Family: You don’t have to do it all by yourself. If you have friends or family nearby, then ask them to lend a hand when needed. Sometimes, these group activities can turn into fun memories that last a lifetime. For example, you might enjoy the interaction of setting up and decorating the Christmas tree together. Or, plan a potluck meal instead of cooking everything on your own.
- Prioritize YOU: Even though the holiday season is about giving and service, don’t neglect yourself in the hectic nature of the season. Instead, look for ways to improve your self-care this season. For example, you might schedule a massage or two, prioritize good nutrition, and make sure you stay consistent with the things that help you feel good.
Choosing the Ideal Specialist for Pain Relief
When you have chronic pain, then it’s likely that you’ve tried talking to multiple medical providers – only to experience subpar results. What specialist will be able to provide the results that you are seeking?
Most general healthcare providers will recommend conservative treatments in the beginning, such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, and core strengthening. But the treatments might not take the pain away, leaving you to look for other solutions.
The truth is that you need a specialist who understands the deeper causes of pain. Then, using a thorough diagnostic process, a pain management specialist can get to the root problems. Finally, a personalized treatment plan can help you move forward and feel great in the future.
Personalized Treatment Plan
Each patient is unique, which is why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all pain relief treatment plan that works for every person. For example, you might be able to reduce the pain using medications, but ultimately you want to address the issues that continue to cause you problems.
As we are designing your treatment plan, we take a holistic approach and consider all factors that could be contributing to your pain. Your pain management doctor will ask about:
- Family Medical History: Do you have family members with a history of pain or surgeries? Some conditions are genetic, which means you have a higher risk of pain if your loved ones also have similar conditions.
- Location of the Pain: It’s essential to identify the location where the pain is starting and how it might be radiating to other parts of the body. The pain location can offer insights into the underlying causes that need to be addressed.
- Previous Surgeries or Treatments: What types of treatments, surgeries, or other medical interventions have been done in an attempt to alleviate the pain? The treatment plan might need to be adjusted if you’ve been through different procedures. Share your full medical history with your pain specialist doctor.
- Physical Examination: Working with a doctor in person is an important step so the doctor can feel the muscles and look at other structural signs that are affecting your pain levels. Even if you’ve had a physical examination with another doctor, we always take the time to complete a new examination. In addition, our doctors are specialists, so they might identify details that general medical providers previously overlooked.
- Diagnostics and Testing: We always use the best tools to gain confidence in the diagnosis. Digital imaging and other forms of testing provide the insights we need to get accurate information about your health condition.
Schedule a Consultation with a Pain Management Specialist
Are you living with chronic pain? Then give yourself the gift of a better lifestyle this season. Schedule an appointment with a pain management doctor here at Texas Partners Healthcare Group. We offer comprehensive services to help patients with many types of chronic pain conditions.
