Living in chronic pain may force you to modify your life a little. If you love hiking, you may need to pass up hiking Mt. Everest and settle for a flat, even-path overlooking Utah’s gorgeous mountain views. If you used to be a gym buff, you may need to exercise at a slower pace and opt for a yoga class over something as strenuous as CrossFit. Although these modifications can make living with chronic pain a little more tolerable, there really isn’t a way to “modify” how you parent.
Our team recently reviewed an article in Slate Magazine titled, “Parenting With Chronic Pain.” This article described the struggle we often hear from patients. It was a heartbreaking story about a woman who could not pick up her daughter, tie her shoes, or even sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” with the accompanying hand motions. This woman was living in chronic pain.
However, her story comes with a powerful message that we’d like to share with some of our patients with joint pain who are also mothers. Through this woman’s debilitating condition, her daughter was able to learn how to be more independent. She could scoot down the stairs; get up on the couch, and do other things a child her age would need help with.
Our chronic pain specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain want to carry out our motto of “ providing our patients with the tools to live life again,” especially to new mothers.
One thing to keep in mind while parenting a child is how your attitude toward life affects your child’s attitude. Depression may accompany your chronic pain, but it’s important you try to maintain a loving and encouraging outlook on life. Having a positive attitude will not only benefit your child, but it could also help train your mind to think more positively.
When parenting, it can be difficult to care for your child when you need to be focusing on you. Spending time doing pain-relieving activities can be a great way to make the time spent together about both of you. You could have a “spa day” full of relaxing baths and massages. You could also work together to cook meals with inflammatory-fighting ingredients. Finally, consider taking a class together. You could take a yoga class together or do some joint-strengthening exercises that will be beneficial for you and fun for your child. If you already have a workout plan with a physician at Southwest Spine and Pain, talk to them about how you can modify your workout so it can be fun for kids too.
In the end, its important you realize it is never too late to ask for help. Our behavioral health therapists are available to listen to your parenting concerns and offer possible solutions. If depression is affecting the way you take care of your children, talk to one of our pain specialists about seeking behavioral health services at Southwest Spine and Pain Center with Dr. Jared Dupree and Andy Thompson.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.