Living with chronic pain isn’t just about getting through the tough days – it’s about finding ways to keep living fully even when it hurts. Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of different things to manage my pain. Some didn’t help at all, while others became lifelines. I want to share honestly about what I’ve learned, what worked, what didn’t, and how I’m still figuring it out as I go.

What Didn’t Work for Me

There’s no shortage of products out there promising to relieve pain – and trust me, I’ve tried my fair share.
I’ve used creams, ointments, and lotions that were supposed to ease pain, but for me, they never really touched the deeper pain. If the pain was more muscle-related, sometimes a cream or lotion would help a little. But overall, they weren’t a lasting solution.

I also tried Epsom salt baths. They felt good for muscle soreness, and they helped relax tight muscles for a little while, but they didn’t reach the kind of pain that comes from deeper conditions like arthritis or Crohn’s disease.

What Has Helped

One simple thing that’s made a big difference for me is keeping a heating pad nearby – especially where I like to sit and relax. A heating pad helps loosen tight muscles, and when my muscles relax, it also eases a lot of my abdominal pain. It’s a small thing that helps my whole body relax and not stay locked up in tension.

Another major turning point for me came when my arthritis pain was at its worst. There was a time when my husband, Nathan, had to lift me in and out of bed because the pain made it almost impossible for me to move on my own. That’s when I decided I had to try something – anything – to help myself heal.
I started walking.

At first, it wasn’t much – less than 300 feet – and even that left me completely exhausted. But Nathan walked right beside me, steadying me when I wasn’t sure I’d make it back home. We made it a habit to walk every day. Slowly, I built up to walking around the block, then two blocks, then a mile… and eventually 1.5 miles every single day.

It took time, but it was the best pain management decision I ever made.
Movement gave me strength, confidence, and hope.
Having Nathan’s support through every step made all the difference. Pain management isn’t something you have to face alone, and having someone walk beside you (literally or emotionally) is more powerful than I can even explain.

Listening to Your Body

One of the most important things I’ve learned over the years is how to really listen to my body.
It’s always talking to us – we just have to pay attention.

Because I’ve learned to listen so closely, I can often tell when an arthritis flare, a Crohn’s flare, or even a small obstruction is coming. I can sense when a migraine is about to hit and take rescue medication before it gets out of control.

Little warning signs – like a muscle twitch that won’t settle down or abdominal pain that worsens after eating – matter.
Ignoring them only leads to bigger problems.

Another thing that helped me was keeping a food journal.
By tracking what I ate and how I felt afterward, I was able to figure out which foods triggered my symptoms and which ones were safe. It wasn’t easy – and it took patience – but it gave me back a sense of control when everything else felt unpredictable.

Managing chronic pain is never one-size-fits-all, and it’s never easy. There will be hard days, and there will be days you surprise yourself with how far you’ve come. The important thing is to keep trying, to keep listening to your body, and to believe that small steps really do lead to big changes. I’m still learning and adjusting all the time, and I’ll keep sharing what helps – and what doesn’t – right here.
If you’re living with chronic pain too, I hope you’ll stick around, share your own journey, and know that you’re not alone.

I’d love to hear from you.
What small steps have made a difference in managing your pain or health challenges?
Feel free to share in the comments – your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.