Self Management
Self-management refers to a person’s ability to manage their pain symptoms and treatment as well as the physical, emotional and social consequences and life-style changes caused by chronic pain.
Self-management includes education on acute vs. chronic pain, managing stress and pain, and appropriate use of medications. Self-management focuses on stress reduction, cognitive restructuring, behavioural modification, sleep improvement, self-confidence, and dealing with pain flare-ups.
Methods of supporting the self-management of your pain include:
- Giving you information about your pain condition
- Showing you how to best use your pain medication
- Helping you manage symptoms that may include:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Pain-flare ups
- Provoking and aggravating factors
- Helping you manage the psychological consequences of chronic pain like:
- Anxiety
- Coping
- Depression
- Disease acceptance
- Problem solving
- Stress
- Improving your life-style:
- Exercise
- Exercise motivation/overcoming barriers to exercise adherence
- Holidays
- Leisure activities
- Nutrition and diet
- Setting goals
- Smoking cessation
- Providing you with social support where needed:
- Family support
- Relationships with family and peers
- Improving your self-confidence:
- Assertiveness
- Communication strategies (e.g. with doctors)
Decision making