Did you know that around 20% of Americans live with chronic pain?

If you’re among this big crowd that has to deal with troubling symptoms, then you might be wondering what you can do to restore the quality of your life. The good news is that there are tons of different ways you can get your pain under control.

Are you ready to wake up feeling like your healthiest self each day? Keep reading to learn about 6 common chronic pain management mistakes so you’ll know what to avoid.

1. Not Maintaining an Active Lifestyle

As counterintuitive as it may seem, exercise is one of the most effective chronic pain treatments out there. Even if you feel crummy when you start, you’ll notice that your body and mood both feel better after you’ve been moving around for a bit. Gentle exercises like walking and yoga are perfect for those low-energy days.

2. Eating Foods That Trigger More Inflammation

Lots of people forget to add nutritious foods to their pain management strategy. As it turns out, there are plenty of foods like refined carbs, processed oils, and sugar that can trigger inflammation. This will make you experience more pain.

3. Not Visiting a Pain Management Doctor

Since there are many unique causes of chronic pain and ways you can treat it, it’s essential to visit a pain management center. These professionals will listen to your concerns and come up with a customized treatment plan for you. In addition, they’ll check in with you over time and adjust your plan if things don’t improve.

4. Not Taking Chronic Pain Medications

Pain medications can work wonders for fighting inflammation and giving you relief. This is why you shouldn’t be afraid to discuss medication options with your doctor. Just be sure to follow the exact dosages so you don’t do more harm than good.

5. Forgetting About Your Mental Health

Pain can cause you stress and stress can cause more pain. You can try to break this vicious cycle by prioritizing your mental health as well. Socializing with supportive loved ones, meditating, journaling, and doing a craft are a few examples of stress-busting activities.

6. Putting Off Sleep

Sleeping is a period of time when your body can hit a reset button and work on repairing itself. If you don’t strive to get a restful amount of sleep every night, then you’re depriving yourself of healing. While experts recommend getting around 8 hours each night, a healthy range is between 7 and 9 hours.

You Don’t Want to Make These Chronic Pain Management Mistakes

Chronic pain is already bad enough, so you don’t want to adopt any habits that could be making your condition worse. Now that you know the most common chronic pain management mistakes, you can give your body the care it deserves.

Maintaining a mindful lifestyle is crucial for your overall wellness. If you’re interested in learning new ways you can feel better, then our articles are here to help. Check out more of our blog so you can access handy tips.