Suffering a personal injury in a car accident, a workplace accident, or some other incident can change your life forever. You may be completely out of commission, and you may be forced to deal with pain for years to come. If you’re also dealing with the stress of an ongoing lawsuit, it may be even more challenging for you.

We don’t have all the answers, but we do have some useful pain management strategies that can ease your distress in these trying times.

Pain Management Strategies

These are some of the best pain management strategies you can use:

1. Heat. Generally, heat serves several purposes. It can provide an immediate calming sensation and aid in muscle relaxation. It can also increase blood flow to affected areas of your body. Heat is also useful because it’s readily available to just about everyone and in many different forms. For example, you can get a heating pad and place it on the affected area of your body or you can jump in a hot tub. Even a sufficiently hot shower can help you minimize your pain.
2. Cold. It may seem strange that the next item on our list is the literal opposite of the first, but cold can serve several important purposes as well. Cold can provide a numbing sensation, minimizing the pain you feel directly. It also serves to reduce inflammation, which is especially important for certain types of injuries. Most people use some combination of heat and cold when managing pain, possibly rotating between the two for the best possible results.
3. Massage. If you’re dealing with a musculoskeletal issue or trying to regain function in an affected part of your body, consider undergoing a massage. A deep massage, especially if provided by someone with professional training, can instantly relieve some pain, help you relax, and allow you to destress. If you don’t have a professional masseuse on call, you can use foam rollers and massage tools to close the gap.
4. Deep breathing. Practice deep breathing to distract yourself from the pain, oxygenate your blood, and center your focus. Even a minute or two of deep, focused, rhythmic breaths can provide you some measure of relief. The more you practice this, the easier it will be and the more natural it’s going to feel.
5. Mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation has gotten a lot of attention in recent years for its many purported benefits, including better emotional regulation and higher overall quality of life. There are also studies that show its effectiveness in minimizing the effects of chronic pain. You can practice this anywhere; simply focus on the present moment and allow all other thoughts to pass you by. It’s a bit abstract and difficult to grasp at first, but if you practice consistently, it will come to you – especially if you have a teacher or guide.
6. Physical therapy. If your doctor recommends physical therapy, make sure you attend. In your physical therapy sessions, you’ll likely learn important physical exercises, benefit from massages, and work one on one with a professional to identify and minimize your pain in a variety of ways. The more you attend, the more you’ll learn about your personal physiology, and the better equipped you’ll be to tend to your pain on your own. Hopefully, this will also be a path toward greater mobility and confidence.
7. Acupuncture and acupressure. At first glance, practices like acupuncture and acupressure may seem borderline superstitious, without much medical support for their usefulness. It’s true there aren’t sufficient long-term, broad studies to confirm the use of these techniques in pain management, but the early evidence is promising – and there are plenty of anecdotal examples of people who find them useful. Consider giving them a try, especially if you don’t have much luck with other pain management strategies.
8. Yoga. Yoga combines many different tactics, all of which can be useful, such as slow stretching, physical mobility, deep breathing, and even mindfulness. If you practice daily, you’ll grow physically stronger and more flexible, and you could reduce your pain at the same time.
9. Distractions. Sometimes, the best way to manage your pain is to find a way to distract yourself from it. Peaceful, relaxing hobbies like solving puzzles, knitting, or reading books can all help to take your mind off your physical experiences.
10. Various medications and supplements. Of course, we also need to mention the possibility of using medications and supplements to address your pain more directly. Anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and opioids all have varying degrees of power and different strengths and weaknesses; consult with your doctor to figure out which combination of medications could be best for addressing your pain (and be cautious when combining different drugs).

The Importance of Getting Professional Treatment

No matter what pain management strategies you choose to use in your personal life, make sure you seek professional treatment. In the immediate aftermath of your accident, you should get a thorough evaluation – then follow through with whatever treatment options your doctors recommend. This is important not just to ensure the fastest and least painful recovery, but also to maximize your chances of winning a significant settlement.

If you continue to suffer from chronic pain and emotional turmoil related to your injuries, you should also consider talking to a professional therapist, who can help you mentally and emotionally recover. This, too, can be included in your list of damages related to the accident.

Are you currently struggling with a personal injury? You shouldn’t have to manage financial stress on top of the physical pain and emotional trauma of the incident. Unfortunately, personal injury cases can take a long time to settle. That’s why pre settlement funding exists; with it, you can get access to your compensation immediately and use it however you want. Then, when the settlement money comes in, you can pay the money back plus a fixed fee. Apply today to get started!