What Lifestyle Techniques Can I Use To Cope With My Pain?

Dr. Collins answers the question: 'Lifestyle Techniques To Cope With Pain?'

By
Timothy A. Collins, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center
November 12, 2008, 2:51 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: What Lifestyle Techniques Can I Use To Cope With My Pain?

Answer: There are several different lifestyle techniques that can be effective for allowing patients to live a better life with their pain. Probably the most important one is improving the patient's ability to get a good night's sleep. This can be accomplished with both prescription medications and with behavioral modification techniques that the patient uses themselves at home to improve how well they sleep.

The other recommendation we make for lifestyle changes is making sure that the patient remains as active as possible. Patients generally are going to hurt about the same whether they sit around the house or get up and go out and do some activities. And the more activities they do, the better endurance they'll have to be able to do what they want with their families.

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