Healthy Ways to Overcome and Tackle Stigma Related to Chronic Pain

“Just take a painkiller and you’ll be okay.” 

“I have back pain too but I still go to work.”

“It’s all in your head.”

You’ve heard it all before. In fact, it surprises you when someone expresses concern about your condition.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. However, despite the fact that chronic pain is a common condition in the US, there’s still a stigma surrounding it that makes it difficult for individuals to seek help.

If you’ve experienced this stigma, it’s understandable if you’re feeling hurt, upset, or irritated.

But there are a few techniques you can use to turn the situation around and overcome it.

Remind Yourself It’s Not in Your Control

Remember that you didn’t ask for this condition. It’s not under your control and you’re doing the best you can to manage it and create a balance in your life.

Others might not understand your struggle because they’re not walking in your shoes. Everyone feels pain differently and in different amounts.

There are different levels of pain. Some might feel immense pain (level 6), while others might feel no pain at all(level 1 or 2.)

For some people, back pain, headaches, or joint pain may not be a “big deal.” For others, they can be agonizing.

Educate Them

Learn more about your condition so that you can educate others. For some people, “chronic pain” just means having a backache. But there are different types of chronic pain conditions.

If someone tries to dismiss your condition, simply use a pain scale to tell them about the intensity of the pain. Inform them that it’s not “just a regular backache or headache.”

Cite research, stats, and facts to back up your argument. Education is the only way to stop stigma regarding pain disorders or any other type of condition.

Use social media to spread the word. More than 3.48 billion around the world use social media on a daily basis. More than 79 percent of Americans use social media on a daily basis. Talking about your condition online can have a powerful, transformative effect.

Join a Support Group

By joining a support group for chronic pain, you can connect with people who face the same problems as you do.

This will also help you learn more about your condition, gather resources, and find local programs that can help you cope with the stigma of chronic pain.

Visit a Pain Management Facility

Visiting a physician is a great way to learn about your condition. But visiting a specialist can help you get to the root of the problem and treat it accordingly.

A specialist at a Pain Treatment Center NY facility can offer the latest treatments and solutions to help you find relief.

This is where Pain + Recovery takes center stage. As a leading facility in Pain Management NY, we use an individual approach to make sure your experience with us is unforgettable.

We work according to your schedule and use modern treatment protocols to ensure you get the best of what we have to offer.