The effects of neuropathic pain can be discouraging, and you may wistfully look back to your younger days, when neuropathy never even crossed your mind. While neuropathic pain can be crippling at times, it does not have to take away your quality of life. Here are a few simple tips for coping with neuropathic pain and preserving your quality of life:
- Find a peer group—Those who struggle with neuropathic pain like you not only understand what you are going through, but they can also give insight into the strategies and methods that help them cope. Your peer group can also be a place you turn to when you need to vent some of your feelings.
- Maintain a pain journal—When do you experience the most neuropathic pain, and where does it seem to reside? Keep a comprehensive pain journal that outlines your symptoms as well as the feelings you have about the condition.
- Try to relax—In many cases, the tension from ongoing stress can elevate neuropathic pain. While you may never be able to eradicate stress completely from your life, learn to manage it by taking a slow walk, soaking in a warm bath, or listening to some peaceful music at the end of a long day.
Keep up with visits to your doctor—If you have dealt with neuropathic pain for an extended period of time, you may feel frustrated and lose interest in seeing your doctor. However, it’s best not to give up and to continue seeing your doctor for guidance and medical care.