How owning a pet can help with chronic pain conditions



Me and my baby

Why should you be a pet parent if you suffer from chronic pain?

Having a chronic pain condition can cause depression, sometimes severe, because your full life has all of a sudden, and for the rest of your life, been diminished. Now you can't run to the store whenever you want, play baseball with your kids or even have a little fun with your husband. Why? Because you have pain every day and sometimes there are “flair-ups”.

Pets have been used now for years to help people who are ill, feel better. Studies show that pets can have a positive effect on people who suffer from chronic pain conditions.

A pet has the ability to ease that depression and help you have brighter days. They can even help decrease some of your pain (anxiety pain). Here are some other reasons why every person with a chronic pain disorder should have a pet:

Pets listen without interrupting:

Sometimes you just need someone to listen to you without interrupting or talking back. Pets will listen to you complain about this ache or that pain whenever and for however long you need to vent. They do not interrupt or try to leave. It helps to have some one to vent to and even just talk to when your days aren't going good and your pain level is high. (My dog is a great listener!)

Pets love you especially on your bad days:

Your pet loves you even when you are staying in bed for the day (My dog won't leave the bed). Pets seem to know when you don't feel good. They will generally stick closer to someone who is not feeling well. Certain breeds of dogs, such as Labradors, can detect illness and sadness in humans better than others. They will lick and pay more attention to the injured or painful area.

Pets have the ability to ease some symptoms of chronic pain:

Pets can distract you from your chronic pain, even if just for moments throughout the day. These distractions take your thoughts away from the pain. Easing chronic pain through distraction also helps lower blood pressure. When a person is in severe pain, their blood pressure will rise. High blood pressure puts a person at risk for heart attack or stroke.

Pets can help a person cope with a chronic illness:

Because pets are so caring and loving, they can help a person with a chronic pain condition cope better with their disorder. It is very difficult coping with an invisible illness that causes so much pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Pets can be so distracting that they may even cause you to forget about your chronic pain condition, even if just for a short time. Every second that you can forget about the pain is a precious moment in your painful life.

Pets help with coping when your pain flairs up:

A flair up is a severe increase in pain. It can happen at any time for no reason at all. Pets seem to know when these flair ups happen and stay close to you during these extremely painful times. (My dog won't leave my side when I am in a flair up) Most dogs will stick by their “person” if they see that person is in severe pain. This closeness is needed at times when it's hardest to cope to help you get through them.

Increases levels of happiness:

When you live with a chronic pain condition...you have mild to severe pain every day of your life. Living with chronic pain causes depression. Watching a puppy do things such as play with his tail, run from his shadow and blow bubbles in water puts a smile on your face. It's hard to stay depressed when you are laughing and smiling at your pet.

Helps provide needed exercise:

People with a chronic pain condition usually do not get much, if any, exercise because moving hurts. Walking your pet through the neighborhood will not only give you some much needed exercise, but you may meet your neighbors or make some new friends. Exercise is really the best thing you can do to help decrease your chronic pain.

Pets are a great therapy for persons with a chronic pain condition. They are loyal and loving, they truly are your best friend. If you are considering getting a pet, remember that your local humane society could use a good home for their unwanted pets. Also, make sure you are able to take care of the pet. A pet, besides needing food and water, also needs regular checkups and shots, so make sure you can also afford a pet before you get one.