Jun 21 2008
Helping a Loved One Cope
Do you know someone with a chronic pain condition and are unsure how to help them? Tired of the only thing you can think of to do is say that you are sorry they hurt? Well there are some very good things that you can do to help them. These tips don’t take any time, and they will work wonders on the chronic pain sufferers.
Make sure you are supportive but let them maintain their independence. In other words, resist the urge to do things for them. As time goes by the more that you and others do for them, the less they will see their control over their own lives. They can slip into a state of depression and become self conscious on what they can and can’t do.
Go with them to their doctor appointments and act as their intermediary. Many times the frustration of retelling their symptoms over and over again can be very draining. At times they can begin to wonder “what’s the point?” For someone to be an intermediary, that takes that away from them. You put yourself in the position to give that list of symptoms and items to the doctor and the patient gets relieved of that bit of frustration. They will also see that someone else does indeed care.
Give emotional and social support to the chronic pain sufferer. Notice that they are staying in more, are they giving the same excuses for bowing out of events? Drop by to say hello and see if they want to play cards, or any time of low stress event. Keeping them social will prevent their slip into isolation, thus cutting their chances for developing depression.
Make sure you try to keep them moving. Ask to see if they want to go for a walk, or include them on some plans that will include light workouts. The more they move and the less sedentary they become, the less that they will become fatigued easy and their muscles will waste. As much as 3% of muscles can waste away in a day of just sitting. Easy tricks you can use are to remember certain things that are in other rooms and ask to see them, making them get up and walk a bit. Perhaps you can ask for a beverage, or anything to keep them active. Most with chronic pain will refrain from exercise or movement because it hurts, but this ends up hurting them more from muscle waste and additional fatigue.
