Helping A Loved One Who Suffers From Chronic Pain

Without first-hand experience of chronic pain, the impact it has on someone’s life can be hard to comprehend. This often makes it difficult for friends and family to provide substantial support to those who have painful chronic health conditions such as arthritis (joint pain), fibromyalgia (all-body muscle aches) and neurogenic pain from nerve damage.

Find useful tips in this guide to helping a loved one who suffers from chronic pain which covers giving emotional support and how to provide physical assistance.

Establish a routine

Chronic pain can be worsened by specific triggers and movements, and soothed by holistic treatments. Help your loved one establish a routine that works for their condition and avoids accidental flare-ups.

Begin by discussing triggers and treatments with your loved one to identify healthy habits and put together a list of things that exacerbate their pain. This information will help you to build a routine that’s beneficial to them and tailored to their unique needs.

Offer Support

Your friend or family member may have trouble asking for assistance when they need it, especially if they take pride in being independent or their condition diagnosis was recent. Chronic pain sufferers often feel as if they are a burden and guilty about seeking help.

Freely offer support without waiting to be asked. Suggest ways that you can make yourself useful such as accompanying them to appointments with healthcare professionals, running errands and cooking or making renovations in the home.

Know The Impact

Remember that what you see of your loved one’s suffering is just a small glimpse of what it’s like to live with a chronic pain condition. Understanding the physical and mental ramifications of their condition is essential so you know the impact it has on their emotional well-being and lifestyle.

Ask your friend or family member questions about their condition and how it affects them. Encourage open conversation so you can assess their mental wellness and check for dangerous feelings such as depression. Talking generally about living with the condition will also help you to spot potential avenues for enhancing your loved one’s daily life.

Those who are suffering from the consequences of avoidable harm such as surgical error will likely be feeling shocked and angry as they learn to live with a chronic pain condition. It might be beneficial to their mental health to pursue a claim through medical negligence solicitors for compensation to fund necessary treatments and changes.

Support Their Treatment

Finally, do what you can to support their treatment for their chronic pain condition. This could be joining them for exercise sessions, assisting with physiotherapy activities or accompanying them to prescribed therapy sessions.

Some sufferers might be resistant to certain ways to manage chronic pain conditions. Do what you can to help your loved one take advantage of all recommended treatments while respecting their wishes as to how involved they would like you to be.