Self-management is the foundation of the care you will receive at PAIN.

Your team will teach you a range of strategies that you can use to reduce the impact of pain on your daily life, improve physical function, and enhance overall well-being, helping you take control of your own health.

Here are some common features of pain self-management:

1. Education:

Learning about your body, your pain, and things that might influence your pain such as stress, mood and sleep  is an important first step in pain self-management. The next step is learning what you can do to help yourself and manage your condition!

2. Lifestyle Changes:

Becoming physically active, adopting a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress is critical to pain management.

3. Self-Care Strategies:

Relaxation techniques, deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness are self-care strategies that can be helpful in managing pain. These strategies help reduce the impact of pain on your daily life, and help you become a happier, healthier person. 

4. Medication Management:

It is important that you work with your doctor to develop an individualised medication plan that is safe and effective for your pain. This means learning what your medication is supposed to do, how much of it you can and should take, and also learning about potential side effects and risks.

5. Support:
Having support is an important component of pain self management.

This may mean involving a family member in your care, joining a support group, participating in online forums, or working with your team to develop coping skills and manage emotional well-being.

Pain self-management means taking an active approach to your own care – with a team to help you, show you the way,  and cheer you on.