How To Deal with Fatigue and Chronic Pain

Surprisingly, chronic pain can actually lead to chemical changes in the brain. Eventually, this can have significant psychological and physiological impacts. This is frequently why you’ll hear many experts and specialists voice that chronic pain treatment requires a multi-disciplinary approach.

Technically, chronic pain is characterised as pain that lasts longer than three months. In many cases, chronic fatigue leads to ongoing fatigue and depression, greatly impacting a person’s quality of life.

In this article, we’re going to dive into why this is the case and how, if you’re experiencing chronic pain and fatigue, you can increase your energy levels and lead a more fulfilling and happier life.

How Chronic Pain Leads to Fatigue

Research has indicated that individuals with intense pain or pain that lasts a long duration are more likely to experience fatigue. So, why do these two tend to go hand-in-hand?

Individuals with chronic pain frequently struggle to get a deep and restorative sleep. Thus, as tired as you might feel, your pain might cause you to toss and turn throughout the night, as well as wake up several times a night.

Experts further state that less sleep can actually decrease your pain threshold and tolerance, which means that a lack of sleep can often lead to more intense pain.

Without sleep, the body is less capable of healing and repairing itself. This further prolongs pain and also leads to longer recovery times from injuries.

How to Increase Your Energy Levels

Despite your pain, there are actions you can take to increase your energy and minimize fatigue. Use the tips below to find out what works for you:

1. Strengthen Your Muscles

Strength training is a wonderful way to increase your energy levels. Building more muscle supports your joints and body, alleviating pain. This might also mean you’re able to get a better sleep.

Additionally, muscles are jam-packed with mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cells. Mitochondria produce energy, which helps your body and tissues do what they do best.

Strength training, similar to other forms of exercises, further produces endorphins. This doesn’t just improve your mood but also increases your energy levels.

2. Re-Examine Your Diet

A balanced diet is important for improved energy. If your body isn’t getting enough of the right nutrients, various dysfunctions can occur, leading to fatigue and increased pain.

A well-balanced diet includes a variety of foods, offering your body the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Some foods you might want to start including in your diet are:

Bananas

Eggs

Sweet Potatoes

Dark Chocolate

Goji Berries

Brown Rice

3. Use Hemp Pain Creams

Topical pain creams, such as our hemp cream, deliver pain relief directly to the affected area. They also don’t cause adverse side effects, impacting your gastrointestinal tract, which can be problematic when taking oral pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.

4. Explore Alternative Treatments

For some individuals with chronic pain, alternative treatments, such as acupuncture or massage therapy, can help manage it. Acupuncture involves the insertion of small and sterile needles at set acupuncture points, which stimulate the natural healing mechanisms within the body. Massage therapy, on the other hand, involves the use of kneading, stroking, and more, to increase circulation, relieve pain, and promote healing. Depending on your situation, the frequency and length of treatment for these may vary.

Other Tips for Increasing Your Energy Levels

Last but not least, here are a few more tips and tricks to help increase your energy levels:

Quit smoking.

Participate in regular exercise.

Prioritize your sleep.

Limit or avoid alcohol.

Find ways to reduce stress in your life, such as meditation or breathing techniques.

Just because you’re in pain now, it doesn’t mean you have to live the rest of your life this way. There are a variety of things you can do to improve your energy and reduce your pain. From there, you can begin living the life you want — one where pain and fatigue isn’t holding you back!