I've had back pain for so long, my friends and family are telling me to deal with it and get on with my life. I'd like to, but I honestly don't know how. How do other people cope with this problem?
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) can be a challenging and disabling problem. Many patients aren't able to just get on with life without some outside help. There are many tools available to help with this problem.
The first goal may be to redefine the problem. Instead of focusing on pain, it may be helpful to set some daily life goals. This could be as simple as walking five minutes each day. Or it could be to complete one extra household task each week.
Choosing relevant activities and pacing yourself are important keys to success. Some patients keep a daily journal or log to record performance and to keep track of progress.
Physical activity and exercise are always advised. This can take the form of strength training, aerobics, or fitness exercises. If you avoid movement and activity because it might hurt, then you may need some extra help overcoming these kinds of fear-avoidance behaviors (FABs).
A clinical psychologist and/or physical therapist can help you find ways to overcome FABs and improve healthy behaviors. Motivated individuals who follow a daily program of graded activity and who practice problem solving of difficult areas often have good results.
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