Pain. We all experience it, and sometimes more than we’d like. Often, we are not very good at managing our own pain, though–so what about when we need to help our aging parents manage their pain? Getting mom or dad to the doctor can usually help remedy the situation, as they can prescribe medications to help them deal with their everyday pain issues. However, there are other options to give them comfort as well.

8 Options for Pain Management  

1. Distraction–Sometimes when you take your mind off something, you forget about it. This is very true with pain. If you get busy with a game, movie, or visiting with friends, you can sometimes forget about the pain and you give yourself a bit of relief, not to mention some social interaction.
2. Relaxation Techniques–There are many relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and meditating to help unwind and not focus on pain. By relaxing your muscles and mind, you can reduce stress on the body and help manage your pain issues. You can find relaxation techniques online or talk to a therapist for tips.
3. Physical Therapy–Getting physical therapy can do wonders for improving blood and oxygen flow to the muscles and helping them relax. Needless to say, relaxing the muscles helps in releasing pain.
4. Heat/Cold–There’s nothing like a cold washcloth on the back of the neck when you have a headache. Heat is great to relax the muscles and cold is a wonderful tool to numb them. The combination of them can interrupt the pain you are experiencing.
5. Exercise–Is exercise the cure for everything? It sure seems like it. Physical activity can release endorphins which enhance your quality of life and also improve blood and oxygen flow to your muscles. This is beneficial in pain management and relaxation, and not to mention it keep your heart healthy too!
6. Hypnosis–Making a strong presence in medicine and pain management is hypnosis. Hypnosis induces a trance-like state that simulates a relaxed awareness. It is used to block the sensation of pain. It is on the rise and worth a try if chronic pain is an issue.
7. Counseling–Finding the perfect person to listen and help you navigate pain can be the best solution for you. Counseling resources can help you with techniques to give you comfort and relax from pain.
8. Acupuncture–Acupuncture is another form of pain management that is on the rise. It involves a technique where a thin needle is inserted into specific muscle or pain point in the body. The body gets energy flowing correctly and promotes self-healing.

You may be having trouble on how to start the conversation about pain with your parents. Begin with giving them an opportunity to talk about their pain with you. Once they start talking, you can help them find the best resolution to help manage their pain. It is important that they treat their pain like any other medical condition and be able to describe the pain and where it is occurring so the best treatments can be determined.

Need more tips on helping your aging parents? Contact Ann at Senior Living Options and she will guide you in the conversation with your parents on aging needs.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.