Anesthesiologist, Physician-PharmD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Dr. Anita Gupta, WEF Expert Member, named a 2024 World Women Davos Agenda Delegate, is an award-winning physician-pharmacist pioneering innovative solutions to pressing health challenges. As a Senior Advisor at the Milken Institute, served as NYC's Chief Surgeon, she is spearheading high-impact initiatives on the global drug crisis and access to medicines. Appointed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists to advocate expanding access to naloxone at the US FDA, Dr. Gupta helps lead efforts to address the surging opioid epidemic on the front lines. Her insights on illicit synthetic opioids and early warning signs in the Philadelphia drug trade have been internationally recognized. Among her most distinguished appointments, Dr. Gupta serves as one of the WEF Member Experts on Biotechnology and the National Academies of Medicine Cancer Policy Forum. She is also an appointed leader across top governmental, academic and industry institutions, from the FDA and Gates Foundation to Princeton and Harvard. Honored by New York Times, Washington Post and Forbes, Dr. Gupta is considered one of the most influential experts on healthcare innovation worldwide. As a physician-leader driving change across industry, policy and academic realms, she embodies the WEF’s commitment to improving the state of the world.
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Taking control of painful symptoms is challenging under even the best of circumstances. Yet, taking affirmative steps in this regard can be empowering. These five tips can help you manage your pain both on your own and in connection with others.
1. Become aware of your baseline pain and create a self-care plan. Gain familiarity with your symptoms. This will allow you to recognize when further intervention or changes need to be made, or if your treatment is working. Next, develop a self-care plan. Create a schedule, routine, or checklist for your treatment so that you can comply with your physician's directions and engage family and friends where you may require assistance.
2. Self-manage your pain alongside a comprehensive treatment plan. A comprehensive treatment plan can empower your health. There are many components that can go into a treatment plan such as proper diet and exercise. Another way to keep up with an active lifestyle is to make massage part of your daily routine. In fact, according to research, a significant reduction in pain levels can be achieved with therapeutic massage. In addition to relieving tension, massage can help decrease swelling and improve blood circulation to promote the healing of soft-tissue damage, bruising and muscle fatigue. It also helps improve flexibility and mobility faster while reducing overall stiffness.
Massage can also impact the healing process by improving relaxation, sleep, emotions and overall recovery. There are many options for massage, and often at-home tools may be the most convenient for individuals who are limited by function or time. For example the Wahl Deep Tissue Massager is a useful tool to add to a pain management regimen that's convenient, cost-effective and respectful of your busy schedule.
3. Communicate your limitations to people close to you. By communicating clearly to your close friends and family, misunderstandings and stigma can be avoided. Clear communication can create a path toward additional support for better health outcomes. Pain is a subjective phenomenon, and until you communicate about it to your doctors, they cannot help you make a road map to reach your destination of pain relief. Communicating about your pain will help you garner support and it is the first step to alleviate the cycle of mental stress related to your painful symptoms.
4. Create a goal-oriented daily routine that you can achieve. Setting a reasonable framework will help you cope with your pain and stress in an effective manner. Clarifying roles and responsibilities for yourself and those within your support network can ease anxieties that could exacerbate pain. Perhaps you are taking on a function that is better delegated, oralternatively, maybe an already delegated task could be better accomplished on your own. Creating reasonable expectations for the people in your circle can help you ultimately gain traction in your health goals.
5. Learn coping mechanisms to address your mental health wellness. Coping is key to dealing with chronic pain. There are negative emotional consequences of chronic pain that require one to think positively and practice gratitude. Meditation can give you a spiritual experience and support. The regular practice of meditation creates a relaxation reflex. It calms your mind and releases tension in your body tissues. Practice positive affirmations and continue to stay focused on your goals to better health.
Additionally, music therapy can be a useful way to supplement a comprehensive pain treatment plan. Listening to the music of your choice can help your body calm and release the tension in your muscles. As suggested by a research study, music interventions may provide a practical complementary approach for the relief of acute, procedural and chronic pain management. These are only a few examples of coping mechanisms which you may choose to integrate into your treatment plan.
Dr. Anita Gupta is an pain anesthesiologist and pharmacist. More: anitagupta.com.
The foregoing does not create a doctor-patient relationship and is not intended to replace any guidance from your own treating physicians.
