Avoiding pain during the holidays

It’s Christmas Eve and many families and friends are getting together to celebrate this holiday. Something that can take the joy right out of holiday gatherings is suffering from pain – or just the fear that the pain may come on while you are celebrating.

Here are some tips to try to help you make the holiday season a bit more bearable.

If you have sore fingers from arthritis, it can be very painful to shake hands. If this is the case, try not shaking hands at all. A polite tip of the head to acknowledge a greeting or introduction is often enough, especially if it’s done with a smile. If your hands are full – all the better! If it’s only one hand that is sore, you can offer the other, even if it does seem to be different from what you are used to. Finally, if a hand is offered, you can always say that your hand is sore and you can’t shake hands. Most people will understand.

If you have a chronic illness like chronic fatigue syndrome, get as much rest as possible before the get-togethers. Try to limit the amount of time you are out and allow yourself to get rested again after. Don’t try to do it all.

Headaches can be a big issue during the holiday season. Whether they are migraines, tension headaches, or just plain headaches, they can put a real damper on the celebrations. If you have preventative medications, be sure to take them as directed. If you know your triggers, this is an important time to avoid them as much as possible. It’s important to eat well always, but more importantly when you are really busy and running around from place to place. If you begin to slack off on good food, this could bring on a headache. And – absolutely – don’t let yourself get dehydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day so you’re not caught short by the time you are out visiting. And remember, if you’re going to drink alcohol, it’s the dehydration that will bring the headaches on, so get yourself some water in between those drinks too.

Other aches and pains that can happen include injuries – so be careful if trying out a new sport or activity, and don’t let the holiday spirit make you think you are years younger than you are. In other words, know your limits.

Staying pain-free or managing your pain will help make the holidays all that more memorable. Good luck!