A Caregiver's Perspective on Pain Management
Frances Arias, a member of the Pain Management Collaboratory’s (PMC) Patient Resource Group (PRG), speaks about the need for caregivers to practice self care and shares ideas and resources for helping veterans with pain, caregivers, and families of veterans.
Ms. Arias is an advocate for our active duty military veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, and has also been on a personal journey to manage chronic pain, both as a caregiver and as someone who’s experienced it firsthand. As a former military spouse and veteran caregiver, she has experienced the stigma surrounding chronic pain, especially within the military community. She emphasizes that, “Military leadership plays a crucial role in creating a supportive environment for service members and veterans dealing with chronic pain by encouraging open discussions about pain management and ensuring access to resources, they can help reduce stigma and improve the quality of life for those in need.”
As a caregiver, Ms. Arias observes that it essential to find healthy ways to cope with stress and burnout. Some of the coping mechanisms that helped her were:
- exercise to manage stress and improve overall physical health;
- coloring and reading for creative outlets and relaxation;
- massage therapy, acupuncture, and dry needling provided physical relief and helped manage her own chronic pain;
- counseling with a licensed therapist helped process emotions and develop healthy coping strategies.
She says, “Looking back, I wish I had known more about the importance of self-care as a caregiver. It’s easy to get caught up in taking care of your loved one, but neglecting your own needs can lead to burnout. We need to practice what we preach to the veterans we care for, and prioritize self-care for all caregivers.”
Resources for caregivers and veterans include:
- VA Caregiver Support Program
- Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
- Operation Veteran Caregiver Support
- Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community
- The Unquiet Professional
Whether you are active duty military member or veteran experiencing chronic pain or related conditions, OR a caregiver, there are resources to help. Please reach out to one of the links above or on the VA website: https://choose.va.gov/
See PMC’s Resources for People with Pain by clicking here.
Learn more about the Pain Management Collaboratory’s Patient Resource Group
Other Films Featuring PRG Members
Accessing Therapies and Developing Healthy Coping Skills
Many veterans encounter “bumps and bruises” along the way during their time in service and may have to eventually navigate the VA or alternative health system to manage chronic pain. Some are able to successfully manage their pain while others have a more difficult experience attempting to manage their pain for a myriad of reasons. The veterans in this film share their experiences accessing healthcare for service-related issues and the coping strategies they have developed for PTSD, pain management and other conditions.
Raise Your Hand: Overcoming Stigma
Raising your hand to say you have a problem or reaching out for help can make anyone feel vulnerable. Reaching out to friends, family or health care providers, can be particularly difficult for service members and veterans who are used to pushing through the pain and other issues related to their service such as post traumatic stress or substance abuse. However, as these veterans will attest, getting help and sharing their stories has not only helped them, but helped others experiencing similar issues.
