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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffOne of the more frustrating aspects of chronic pain is that it can have a strong impact on your daily life. When pain strikes, you may have trouble sleeping, exercising or performing physical tasks, and you may withdraw from social situations because of the pain.
Self-care measures to bolster your emotional and mental health may ease your discomfort:
- Emotional support. Chronic pain can trigger some intense, negative emotions, such as pain, grief and anger, which can affect your self-esteem and your relationships with others. Admit your feelings to yourself and others — to supportive family members and friends, as well as to your doctor. Acknowledging and talking about your feelings is the first step toward improved emotional health. Keep your family in the loop on the nature of your problem, what treatments might be advised and what to expect down the road.
- Stress management. Becoming too anxious or stressed over certain situations may exacerbate chronic pain. Effective stress management techniques not only help reduce your stress levels, but may also have the indirect effect of easing stress-triggered pain.
- Chronic pelvic pain. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/gynecologic/033.html. Accessed Jan. 8, 2009.
- Chronic pelvic pain. International Pain Society. http://www.pelvicpain.org/pdf/Patients/CPP_Pt_Ed_Booklet.pdf. Accessed Jan. 8, 2009.
- Pelvic pain. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp099.cfm. Accessed Jan. 8, 2009.
- Howard F. Evaluation of chronic pelvic pain in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 8, 2009.
- Chronic pelvic pain. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=10940&nbr=5720&string=. Accessed Jan. 8, 2009.
- Howard F. Treatment of chronic pelvic pain in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 8, 2009.
- Gallenberg MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 16, 2009.
