September is Pain Awareness Month.
Back in the day, I sat on a pain steering committee for the hospital. Our goal was to reduce painful stimuli for our patients. This happened through reviewing pain studies, trialing products, identifying best practices, and educating best practices to staff.
One thing I focused on was non-pharmacological pain management. This looks different for each person but the concept is to empower the individual to be in charge of the pain. Having a sense of control has been shown to reduce the intensity one feels in that moment and reduces the recovery time as well.
I could go on forever but, long story short, having a partner was instrumental in the non-pharm pain management approach. Whether it was a parent, a child life specialist, or the child’s favorite IV therapist, having someone help you come up with a game plan, help you practice your coping techniques, and be there to help you execute your coping techniques when you had to look pain square in the eye, improved the painful experience 10 fold.
Pain can be a beast. On more than one occasion, individuals have shared that their aging bodies don’t work like it used to and the their is pain in daily activities despite doing all the trends of health care. While age is inevitible, I am reminded of my brave patients that endured pain most people could never imagine. Their reality was that the hospital life wasn’t going to be pain free. The goal was to minimize the pain.
The reality is with age comes pain. Injury, loss, debilitation…it all hurts and its a vicious cycle that can increase with wear and tear. If this is the reality, I personally rather have some discomfort and still be able to do the things I enjoy, than have discomfort and be stuck on the couch.
My midlife body doesn’t rebound like my teenage body did, but I do notice little actions that can increase or reduce the pain. If I eat poorly, I get inflammation in my joints. If I work long hours infront of the computer, my muscles tighten up.
Lately, I have not been doing all I can to reduce the painful stimuli. I need to change that and model after my patients who looked pain square in the eye with the help of a partner. So, for this September:
- I signed up for the full month of “Shagtember” at the 719 Swing n’ Jam.
- I am volunteering 2x at the Loft for dance and told a friend to call me if I am not there the other two weeks this month.
- I took advantage of the Back to school special at Cambio Yoga as well as entered in their Fall Challenge.
- I have a standing hiking date twice a week.
- I am volunteering at the community Garden at least 6 times this month.
- I am making nutritious meals from the produce of the community garden.
- I asked a friend to review my online health coaching project.
- Im stating my goals here so you all can hold me accountable.
Accountability can be a partner, a contract, or a promise. Even though you need to do the work, having someone check in, cheer you on, or even hold your hand from time to time gives you a better chance at succeeding in the task you set out to accomplish. Next time we will talk more about goal setting and selecting metrics for your goals. For now, if you have a goal you have been putting off, let people know you want to work on this goal and ask for help. DM me if I can be your accountibilibuddy 🙂
~Wing Woman
Wing Woman 