People who suffer from chronic pain may communicate differently to people who don’t share their experience. They may be tired, irritable, and withdrawn, and are often reluctant or unable to talk about how they’re feeling. They also may tell you they feel fine when they are really in pain. It can be that they don’t have the words to describe how they feel. All of these factors may cause frustration and often can lead to a breakdown in communication between the pain sufferers and those who are trying to understand them. Read on to learn more about some strategies to recognize and overcome the special obstacles in communication with people who suffer from chronic pain or illness. Innovative Pain Solutions is a top provider of stem cell therapy Orlando residents trust. If you’re seeking solutions to managing chronic pain, call our office in Dr. Phillips today.
Communication Tips To Know
There are certain things to keep in mind when communicating with somebody who is suffering from chronic pain:
- Listen- Really trying to listen is one of the best things that you can do for a person who is in pain. This means more than just hearing what they are saying verbally; a good listener listens with their heart as well as their ears. They can read between the lines and figure out unspoken non-verbal pain cues. In order to truly be a good listener you have to completely focus your attention on the person you’re communicating with, and listen to how they are saying something along with their words. Innovative Pain Solutions, a top provider of stem cell therapy Orlando trusts, notes that good listeners can drop their own assumptions and have an attitude of genuine curiosity.
- Don’t fake it- It’s not fun to listen to somebody talk about their pain, so think about how hard it is for them. Don’t ask somebody how they’re feeling unless you’re really going to listen. It’s better to really listen for just a few minutes than to pretend to listen for 20; you don’t necessarily need to have all of the answers. People can tell if you’re not really interested, and it can make them feel like they are a burden.
Communication With People Who Are Managing Chronic Pain
- Know that sufferers may not want to say how they feel- A lot of people who suffer from chronic pain don’t talk about their pain because of a fear of ridicule or a feeling that others will not care. They may think that if they don’t talk about it, maybe it will go away. Underreporting or not expressing pain are coping mechanisms which can be misleading, so if you suspect somebody of being in pain but they say that they feel fine, you can let them know that you’re really interested, but understand if they don’t want to talk about it.
- Be aware of non-verbal cues- As noted above, pain is often underreported, so watch for a mismatch between what is said and how they appear physically. Signs of severe and inadequately controlled pain may include sweating, irritability, sleep disturbance, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, decreased activity, and depression and suicidal thoughts. A lot of chronic pain sufferers are so used to these negative feelings they don’t recognize the importance, so don’t volunteer this information unless asked specifically.
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Innovative Pain Solutions in Dr. Phillips provides solutions to managing chronic pain. Call Innovative Pain Solutions for stem cell therapy Orlando residents trust today!
