If you have chronic pain, then you must first accept it. Only then can you
explore ways to make it better. Knowing that you can make it better creates hope.
Which in turn, helps you get better. You need both acceptance and optimism. In my
practice, I see many people who are in complete despair.
Fortunately, they do not have any life-threatening or limb threatening
problems, but the wear and tear of their discs, ligaments, and bone cause a
constant pain. This loss of vigor, loss of ability to do what they once could do,
causes significant angst. The psychological component of this is
significant and destructive. First, let's talk about the physical component. While
it's true that some have a profound injury that may have caused the
impairment and chronic pain, it is also more likely that the constant pain and
loss of prior strength and stamina is also part of the aging process. There's
only one way to avoid aging, and it's not a good one. Most would rather live,
measured but longer, than to pass away young, but vigorous. So why are we having
this conversation? It's because how you deal with your life changes matter.
Forget all that philosophical discussion about fairness, or genetics, or luck. Each
of us, are dealt with circumstances not in our control. We did not choose our
parents or determine when or where we were born, but in each time there are
those who persevered and excelled while others faded away. It turns out, attitude
matters, and how we cope with adversity determines our outcomes. As a physician, I
see it firsthand all the time. The most impaired are those
who have a chronic condition, who do not accept the circumstance.
While an attempt should be made to make sure there is a solution for the problem
it's a condition that's usually one associated with aging like arthritis or disc
degeneration, then those who do better by accepting the steps. By accepting the
condition, the focus can then turn on how to remain active, and functional, and
productive even when you have that condition. Yes, I know, there are events
that have accelerated the development of the wear and tear, but you can't go back
in time to erase that event. It's a hard truth. I don't blame anyone for trying to
avoid that reality, but it'll always be there. By focusing on how to remain
productive, despite the condition, the small victories associated with
returning to activities give a sense of improvement. It provides hope for a
better life. Without this hope, it's easy for people to get stuck in their despair.
Accepting allows focus to change to what a person can do to overcome the
complaint. Acceptance can lead to improvement, function, engagement with
others, and a return to a sense of vigor of productivity. It's a focus on the
positives. It brings optimism back into your life. It's an attitude that produces
patience and thankfulness for improvements. It's a maturity of thought,
and it provides grit when there are setbacks. I often tell people expect a two
step forward and one step back recovery. If there's no confidence, or hope, or
optimism of the future, that step back can be devastating for some. With
maturity and experience, there can be confidence that the step backwards will
be temporary. While I'm looking at this from a chronic pain perspective, I am
reminded that this attitude helps many navigate the many life events that's
part of human existence. I know this is a bit difference from
many of my other spine related videos. At the same time, these lessons of attitude,
hope, and optimism is necessary while I counsel many whose complaints are about
life in the form of a spine issue. To sum it up, many health issues are related to
the process of natural wear and tear. That is called "aging." It is impossible to
stay young forever. Denying that fact leads to despair. The goal is not to
prevent getting old, the goal is to age gracefully. This video was made in late
April 2020. We are in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. This discussion
about acceptance and optimism holds true even in that circumstance. Accept what
needs to be accepted. Then be optimistic that we as a society will overcome. Thank
you for listening.