The Advanced Spine & Pain Group

Self Management

Managing your own pain

Self-management refers to a person’s ability to manage their pain symptoms and treatment as well as the physical, emotional and social consequences and life-style changes caused by chronic pain.

Self-management includes education on acute vs. chronic pain, managing stress and pain, and appropriate use of medications. Self-management focuses on stress reduction, cognitive restructuring, behavioural modification, sleep improvement, self-confidence, and dealing with pain flare-ups.

Methods of supporting the self-management of your pain include:

  • Giving you information about your pain condition
  • Showing you how to best use your pain medication
  • Helping you manage symptoms that may include:
    • Fatigue
    • Insomnia
    • Pain-flare ups
    • Provoking and aggravating factors
  • Helping you manage the psychological consequences of chronic pain like:
    • Anxiety
    • Coping
    • Depression
    • Disease acceptance
    • Problem solving
    • Stress
  • Improving your life-style:
    • Exercise
    • Exercise motivation/overcoming barriers to exercise adherence
    • Holidays
    • Leisure activities
    • Nutrition and diet
    • Setting goals
    • Smoking cessation
  • Providing you with social support where needed:
    • Family support
    • Relationships with family and peers
  • Improving your self-confidence:
    • Assertiveness
    • Communication strategies (e.g. with doctors)

Decision making

Take the next step to managing your pain, get in touch today.

Get in touch with our caring and understanding team to understand how we can assist you.