Can You Exercise With Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain may drastically impact one’s life in a variety of ways. It can be difficult to get out of bed in the morning, to tie your shoes, and it will almost surely affect your daily routines and activities since the pain is consistent and sometimes excruciating.

The discomfort may make you believe that you cannot continue your exercise regimen or that the pain will worsen as you exercise. You are not the only one who feels this way, nor will you be the last.

We’re here to inform you that it’s quite normal to feel this way. We can also inform you that exercising can help lessen discomfort and, in some cases, prevent or alleviate some of the problems associated with chronic pain.

Obviously, everyone is unique, and the pain you are experiencing will differ from that of the next person. As a result, there is no perfect answer for some of the areas you are experiencing pain. However, there are things you can do to help alleviate your discomfort.

You CAN exercise with chronic pain, and it could help!

Chronic pain is described as pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks as a result of an injury or illness. Many of our patients seek out a certified personal trainer, yoga class, or corrective exercise specialist in the hopes of relieving chronic pain via exercise.

It is estimated that up to 25% of people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. So the issue of chronic pain is widespread, and since it is widespread, many professionals and individuals have attempted to develop solutions to assist themselves and others in dealing with this suffering.

When starting to exercise with chronic pain, we recommend that you come visit us or work with your physical therapist to develop a plan going forward to help with your pain. You don’t want to make problems worse by rushing into exercise without fully comprehending the implications for your pain or disease. It might make your pain worse.

Exercise has proven to help reduce chronic pain, and that pain relief occurs when you exercise and focus on strengthening the regions around the afflicted area.

As you begin to build strength, you will be able to comprehend the recuperation period your body may require and will be able to plan your program properly. It is important to be consistent and accept that results will take time to appear. By starting gently, you avoid straining your body to behave in ways it is not accustomed to, which might lead to injury or pain.

You want to make sure that you get to a point of exercising every day, keeping your body in shape and used to the strain that comes with exercising and using those muscles and joints. Balance your exercises to be cardio, strengthening, and stretching. Do not just focus on one of those areas, and make sure that you are working different areas to avoid overuse and more strain than needed.

Some of those days will be better than others, your body will respond differently, and do not be afraid to stop if you are feeling as if you are making the pain worse. It will be important to understand your body and how you are feeling when working out and post workout. Listen to your body.

Exercise is great when dealing with chronic pain. It might not feel like it would be, but most times you are helping alleviate or eliminate your pain. Exercise helps with body weight, sleep patterns, reduces fatigue, reduces pain sensitivity, reduces inflammation, and helps improve mental health. All positives when dealing with any kind of injury or pain.

So don’t just stop exercising because you are in pain. Seek medical advice, create a plan, and start helping yourself eliminate the pain that is keeping you from enjoying life.

What If I Have Chronic Pain And Want To Start Exercising Again

We frequently meet patients with chronic pain who have either stopped exercising or are scared to begin due to chronic pain.

In reality, many of our most successful clients have had limited success because they are unsure where to begin or have gotten incorrect advice from others in the field. Even if you’ve been suffering for months or years, come in and be assessed.

The patient can be educated on what is occurring and why it is happening so that they can grasp the process that may have caused the pain.

Patients can often leave a session with us often feeling relief and with clarity about how to tackle the pain they have been experiencing. Don’t feel that you have to stop being active, when  being active can often make you feel better.

How To Understand The Cause of Your Chronic Pain

If you’ve been struggling with chronic pain while exercising, it keeps coming back or it’s become more painful, there may be a more serious cause of the problem.

One that walking and other exercises can’t fix.

If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you for a free discovery visit, which will enable you to get a full diagnosis and finally understand the real reason your pain won’t go away!

You can contact us by telephone at 425-658-4944 to claim your free discovery visit or by completing our enquiry form in under 30 seconds.

Not sure whether physical therapy is right for you?

We appreciate that you may want to find out more and ask some questions about private physical therapy which is you can arrange a FREE Discovery Session or a FREE Telephone Consultation.

Other Free Resources To Help You With Chronic Pain

Download our free knee, neck and shoulder, and back pain reports.

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