By Vivien Bergl, LCSW, CEAP
Solutions Employee Assistance Program Coordinator
As previously stated last week, experiencing chronic pain can be overwhelming.
When not properly managed, pain can seem to take over your life. Chronic pain can be either continuous or recurrent. People often have problems concentrating during the day and sleeping at night. Even simple acts, like walking or putting on socks, are agonizing. It is hard for other people to understand as there is no way for another person to feel your pain. The temptation is to isolate yourself from other people. Don’t do this!
As a person experiencing pain, you have the right to have your condition taken seriously, and this may require a comprehensive pain assessment. This would include assessing the origin of the pain and a complete medical history, including physical functioning and psychological well being. To learn more about what a comprehensive pain assessment should include, you can access the website for the American Chronic Pain Association. (http://theacpa.org) It is recommended to keep a pain journal. Note when your symptoms seem to be worse, what activities exacerbate your pain, and what alleviates your pain. Think about how your pain affects your life; does it prevent you from participating in your regular activities? You may want to bring a list of questions with you and also a friend or family member to help you during the assessment.
How do you help yourself psychologically? Dealing with chronic pain is stressful, and regular coping strategies to deal with stress are essential. This includes getting adequate sleep (as much as possible), exercise or stretching (within any limitations you might have), eating well and having a support system, as well as some kind of internal value or belief system that helps you deal with adversity. Some other techniques are distracting yourself, focusing on activities you love to do, making time for yourself, and reaching out to those around you. There are often support groups and websites that address the illness you have or the issue of living with chronic pain. An excellent website for people struggling with back pain is:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/backpain/detail_backpain.htm
How do you manage chronic pain in the workplace? How much do you share? Do you need to take FMLA, are you covered by ADA, and what if you need to take narcotic medications on the job? These and many more questions can seem daunting to figure out.
Resources available to answer some of these concerns include doctors, support groups, pain management centers, and the internet. One web source which addresses chronic pain is an article under the site
http://health.com/health/condition-article written by Jennifer Jaff, Esq.
If you would like to talk to someone about this or about another issue, please contact Solutions Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Call Solutions EAP at 1 800 526-3485 for assistance for all life’s challenges. It is free, confidential, and open to family members.
Check us out online at
http://www.solutions-eap.com
Laurie L. Zlotowski, A.S. | EAP Administrative Assistant
Solutions EAP | 883 Paddock Avenue, Suite 2 | Meriden, CT | 06450
Tel 1.800.526.3485 | Fax 203.379.2048 | Web:
www.solutions-eap.com
lzlotowski@solutions-eap.com
