If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness, you may think pain is going to be a permanent part of your life from now on. This isn’t always true. Whether you sustained an injury following a car accident or you were involved in an accident at work, you can still enjoy a pain-free life, even if you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness.

Living a pain-free life isn’t just something people who’ve been diagnosed with a life-long condition dream of. Everyone experiences pain in their life. Whether your general aches and pains are getting too much for you or you’re struggling to manage the pain caused by your illness, use these nine tips to feel better and improve your quality of life.

1. Learn to relax

When you relax, your body unwinds as well as your mind. As the tightness and tension are released from your muscles, you may notice your pain levels improving or even completely disappearing.

Experiment until you find your favorite way to relax. Meditation, taking a walk, listening to calming music, and having a cup of tea are some of the most common ways to unwind. Try a few different things until you find out what works for you.

2. Remove stress triggers for a pain-free life

If you struggle to introduce something into your life to help you relax, consider removing something stressful instead. Feeling stressed can increase your sensitivity to pain. By taking control and removing stress triggers from your life, you may discover some pain relief.

Some ways to reduce your stress levels involve asking your partner to help out more at home, saying ‘no’ when you don’t have the time to do someone a favor, and declining additional responsibilities at work.

3. Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to block pain signals naturally. As you exercise, your body releases endorphins which lower your pain levels and boost your mood. Working out also has the power to strengthen your muscles, reducing your chances of injuring yourself and experiencing more pain.

If you’re new to working out, ask your chiropractor to help you put together a routine for you. They’ll be able to recommend the best workouts to suit you and suggest other lifestyle changes that may reduce your day-to-day discomfort.

4. Prioritize sleep

Sleep provides your body with the chance to repair itself from damage caused by everyday activities, growth, workouts, and chronic illnesses. The less good quality sleep you get, the less opportunity your body has to reverse and recover from damage.

Everyone needs different amounts of sleep, but seven to nine hours is a good guideline. Experiment with getting more or less sleep until you find out what works best. When you find the magic number, aim to get that much every night.

5. Join a support group

If a chronic illness is the cause of your pain, you may find it difficult for the people around you to understand what you’re going through. To get some support, join a group of other people experiencing the same thing you are.

By talking to others about your condition, you may feel less stressed and pain-free as a result. The other people in your group may even be able to give you tips and advice about how to feel better.

6. Get regular massages

A massage is one of the best ways to reduce inflammation, tension, and stress in your body. It can help loosen tight muscles and improve blood circulation, reducing pain and improving your overall health. 

Make a commitment to yourself and get regular massages. Not only will your body feel better, but your mind will feel more relaxing for pampering yourself, too.

7. Enjoy a healthy diet for a pain-free life

Eating a healthy diet is cited as a way of improving almost any medical problem. But it really does help reduce pain levels. What you put in your body dictates how well you can digest food, how efficiently your heart pumps blood around your body, and your weight.

By eating a balanced diet, you can maintain a healthy weight and avoid putting excess strain on your bones and joints. The more varied and nutritious your food is, the more energy you have and the better you’ll be able to be pain-free.

8. Seek out distractions

Pain can be so overwhelming that it’s all you can think about. But the more you focus on it, the worse your pain can be. Try to take your mind off your discomfort by looking for distractions and focusing on them.

When you’re feeling particularly bad, do something you enjoy. Read a book, play a video game, get creative in the kitchen, or chat with friends. When your mind is distracted, your pain levels may decrease.

9. Never miss a pain-free chiropractic appointment

Chiropractic treatment can provide immediate and long-lasting relief for many types of chronic pain. To help take care of yourself and keep your pain levels as low as possible, schedule regular chiropractic sessions and make sure you attend every one.

Life is rarely simple and there always seems to be a lot going on. But it’s impossible to maintain your busy schedule and look after those around you if you’re not taking care of yourself.