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Pain Management for Cargegivers


How To Care for a Partner with Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Caregiver Tips


Caring for a Partner with Chronic Pain

Are you the caregiver of a partner who is challenged with chronic pain? It can be trying to meet the needs of another person living in your home who is suffering and also stay on top of your own self-care. Here are a few tips to help keep you in balance.
  1. Be Present: Stay in tune with the needs of your partner. It is likely these needs will change from day to day. There will be good days and bad days. Each day will likely bring its own challenge. Be ready to listen to words spoken, but also make note of your partner's body language. Is he moving more slowly? Is she grimacing as she attempts to get out of her chair? Are you noticing the good moods as well as the bad moods? Are you ready to return a smile during those rare respites when hurting subsides?
  2. Be Adaptable: Plans can quickly go awry when the chronic sufferer hits a low point. Become more flexible when planning your outings. Learn to go with the flow as much as possible.
  3. Be Ready: A person who suffers on a regular basis soon grows weary of continually asking for help. They don't want to be burdensome and may choose to suffer in silence. Be ready to offer a helping hand without being asked. Make it a habit to routinely ask your partner what her needs are.
  4. Be Good to Yourself: It is easy to neglect your self-care when your focus is on caring for an ailing loved one. Never-the-less, it is very important that you tend to your own well-being in order to have the energy reserves that will be required to continue care-giving to a sick partner. Eat right. Exercise. Meditate. Ask for assistance from others. Basically, live in balance.
Ian Shaw / Getty Images
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Chronic Pain Caregiver Tips


Are you the caregiver of a partner who is challenged with chronic pain? It can be trying to meet the needs of another person living in your home who is suffering and also stay on top of your own self-care. Here are a few tips to help keep you in balance.
  1. Be Present: Stay in tune with the needs of your partner. It is likely these needs will change from day to day. There will be good days and bad days. Each day will likely bting its own challenge. Be ready to listen to words spoken, but also make note of your partner's body language. Is he moving more slowly? Is she grimacing as she attempts to get out of her chair? Are you noticing the good moods as well as the bad moods? Are you ready to return a smile during those rare respites when hurting subsides?
  2. Be Adaptable: Plans can quickly go awry when the chronic sufferer hits a low point. Become more flexible when planning your outings. Learn to go with the flow as much as possible.
  3. Be Ready: A person who suffers on a regular basis soon grows weary of continually asking for help. They don't want to be burdensome and may choose to suffer in silence. Be ready to offer a helping hand without being asked. Make it a habit to routinely ask your partner what her needs are.
  4. Be Good to Yourself: It is easy to neglect your self-care when your focus is on caring for an ailing loved one. Never-the-less, it is very important that you tend to your own well-being in order to have the energy reserves that will be required to continue care-giving to a sick partner. Eat right. Exercise. Meditate. Ask for assistance from others. Basically, live in balance.
Ian Shaw / Getty Images
This About.com page has been optimized for print. To view this page in its original form, please visit: http://healing.about.com/od/caregivers/a/chronic-pain-caregiver-tips.htm
©2013 About.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

Post by Marietta LeDonne.




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