25th July 2008 at 10:38 BST by Dr.C.A.Jenner MB BS, FRCA. Permalink.
Article on Planning for Flare-Ups
Pain flare-ups typically refer to those times when the chronic pain is more intense than usual.
From a statistical viewpoint, if pain is being measured on a 0 to 10 pain intensity scale, with the zero level implying no pain, a flare-up will mean episodes in which the pain is at level 7 or higher.
Chronic pain flare-ups usually last for varying periods of time, ranging from a few seconds to several hours. Such flare-ups are usually felts in various forms, including muscle spasms, electricity jolts, sharp and jabbing sensations, cramps and the like.
Experts strongly recommend devising a plan for the management of flare-ups. Planning for a flare-up basically instills confidence in the individual suffering from chonic pain.
Pain can be such a debilitating and tiresome experience in itself that if the individual concerned lacks confidence and develops self-defeating emotions, the situation can worsen all the more.
In addition, planning for flare-ups in advance minimizes the chances of the failure of any remedial steps taken. For instance, preparing a plan would let you note whether any particular emergency medicine gives you an unsuitable side effect later.
Preparing a plan for flare-ups requires a careful consideration of various factors including individual circumstances and health condition, nature of the disease and pattern of earlier flare-ups.
In this section we list all the important aspects of preparing a comprehensive plan in such situations.
These include:
The first and most important step in preparing a plan is to learn to accept the existence of the flare-up and face upto it. It is crucial that you develop a constructive attitude towards the flare-up and take charge of yourself, so that you are in a better position to handle the situation.
Secondly, learn to focus on your condition and the changes your body is going through. It is quite helpful to practice techniques like deep, diaphragmatic breathing that helps you to relax and focus on your symptoms.
It is equally important that you learn to stay positive. Consciously learn to bar any negative thoughts from your mind and learn to say positive and affirmative things to yourself.
For instance, you can use statements like,
There are a vast variety of techniques that can help you stay relaxed. To plan properly, first make a list of such techniques and collect your supplies in advance. For instance, music, books, magazines, hobbies etc.
It is important that you educate yourself on your condition, its symptoms, causes and treatment options. There are a number of ways in which you can do this. These include reading books, doing research on the internet, meeting individuals with similar conditions, joining support groups and discussing with your healthcare provider.
Develop a support network for yourself. Know which friends or relatives will be able to understand your situation better and provide you with enough support.
Lastly, never hesitate to seek help. Accept to yourself that you have a difficult situation to handle and speak out for help.
In this section, we have included a brief checklist of the notes you can make in advance as a part of the planning for flare-ups.
‘Planning for Flare-Ups ’ was posted by Dr.C.A.Jenner MB BS, FRCA on 25th July 2008 at 10:38 BST and filed under self management techniques.
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