Beyond Chronic Pain - How to Stay in the Workplace

Susan: When the entrepreneurial spirits take hold, there’s very little that you can do to keep it down. However, chronic pain condition like Fibromyalgia can actually rob a person of their will and dash their dreams. But it really doesn’t have to do that. Joining me today is Rebecca Rengo, she’s a pain relief coach and expert and she’s here with some strategies to take control the pain and take back your business and your life. Rebecca thanks you so much for joining us today. Rebecca Rengo: I’m delighted to be here Susan. Susan: Now, I also want to mention that you’re actually the author too of this book which is Beyond Chronic Pain, and you have a website by the same name. Rebecca Rengo: Yes, I do. Susan: beyondchronicpain.com. Let’s talk a little bit about because you and I both have chronic pain. Now, let’s talk about some of the issues that people face in the workplace whether they’re the business owner or an employee. Rebecca Rengo: One of the biggest issues that I find working with people and also personally is work overload. And this called to were so busy, we get caught up in busyness of life all of the time. And it’s very difficult to find the balance. And especially if you own a small business or you’re an employee in a small business they’re always multiple things to do and multitasking can become very stressful in itself also. Susan: Probably it’s going to say when you’re running your own small business; it’s either just you or maybe just one or two employee. So it’s kind of hard to control that. So what techniques could you share to really start to take control and get your life back on track? Rebecca Rengo: One of the most important techniques for anyone with chronic pain in or outside of the workplace is to face yourself, so that you have a smooth schedule as much as possible everyday. And this is easier to do than it sounds once you get into the habit of it. What we tend to in this culture is jump at everything that comes up immediately instead of sitting back in prioritizing where this is really fit. Another technique I recommend is under scheduling your time. So if you think a project, it will take half an hour, give yourself 45 minutes that way you’re not rushing. Rushing really increases stress which then increases chronic pain. Susan: Some of my friends call me Scarlet O’Hara because I always say, “I worry about that tomorrow.” Rebecca Rengo: Uh-huh, that’s great. Susan: But it’s true I mean there are certain things that I just can't deal with. And so I put them on the list for the next day or later in a week. Rebecca Rengo: Right! Absolutely! Susan: Now, that’s something for a business owner to do. I mean we can certainly prioritize and make our list to things to do and manage that a little bit better but what if you have an employee who was suffering from chronic pain? How can they balance it from themselves and then you also as the business owner deal with every individual? Rebecca Rengo: An employee with chronic pain needs to be very honest with themselves and with their employer about what they’re facing and dealing with. And so acceptance is the first step. Except the reality of what you can do or can't do. So if you have back problems and lift thing aggravates your back problems, then don’t put yourself in that situation and if you are let people know. They’re frequently ways to get around something. And then the next step would be to adapt. If you do have to move something, or if you’re at a computer for a long period of time, you know adapt appropriately. Look at ergonomic chairs and make sure your computer screen is at the right height. Do everything you can to make the correct adaptations for yourself. Don’t still that you’re not worth the money or the time that it takes to plan for those things. Susan: What about just taking break then and breathing or walking, what about something like that. Rebecca Rengo: Absolutely! Any activity is a big factor in increasing chronic pain. So we need to get up frequently, take a break, also keeps your mood up and keeps you more motivated. Susan: When you work with somebody in this type of situation whether you’re working with the business owner, or an employee, a co-worker, or even a family member, or friend how would tell the person who suffers from the chronic pain to be able to articulate that to others because you know you don’t want to beat up why they complaining all the time? Rebecca Rengo: You don’t want to be the winding complainer, you’re absolutely right. And that’s a delicate balance at many people with chronic pain have a hard time finding because if you’re complaining about your chronic pain all of the time it minimizes maybe how effective you can be in the eyes of other people. It’s-- Susan: It’s a really bad day. Rebecca Rengo: Exactly! Susan: Yeah. Rebecca Rengo: And it’s also very negative for you because what we focus on with our mind intensifies it. And through there’s actually a physiological perception to pain. The more you focused on it the more that you feel it. So it’s not good for your own pain management either to focus on the negativity of it. So you want to assimilate as much as possible with people who are functioning normally but yet have the acceptance and adaptation of things that you can't do and speak up objectively about those things. Let’s say, “I’m sorry this chair is too heavy for me to move. Can somebody do that for me?” Instead of going into, “Oh, I have back surgery five years ago and now I have—“ Susan: All the details? Rebecca Rengo: Yeah. Susan: Right! Absolutely! Rebecca Rengo: Yeah, people don’t want all the details. Susan: Right! Rebecca Rengo: Right! Susan: And you know, sometimes I hate to say that because I feel like I’m being like weak girl here but you know you just really can't risk it to be able to try to lift something really heavy in moving that thing because its sad and all. Rebecca Rengo: It’s not worth it. And looking at the long run of being productive and taking responsibility for your own pain condition, you don’t want to do anything that aggravates your pain. It can be a challenge to function with chronic pain when everything is going smoothly. So you definitely don’t want to aggravate it. And you can get over the embarrassment much quicker than you can clear off. Susan: Yeah, just unless that one. Rebecca Rengo: No, no! Susan: Now, I know also in your background do you work at Washington University in Neurology Department with Alzheimer’s patients? Rebecca Rengo: Uh-huh. Susan: So you work with older people? But chronic pain isn’t just about older people. I mean it can impact to people in their genes all the way up into their later years? Rebecca Rengo: Yes. Chronic things actually some babies are born with chronic pain condition. So it really is a condition that affects people through out the life stand. I know—and personally, my own conditions started at 16 and there are special concerns when you’re teenage or a young adult. And then once you’re in the work force it’s more prevalent than what people realize. So I read recent survey by Lewis Harrison Associates, said an employ benefit managers estimate 20% of the work force suffers from chronic pain. But in the survey they deal with employees 60%, said they had some kind of chronic pain conditions they were dealing with. Susan: So they’re just not telling your super power to their management? Rebecca Rengo: No! Susan: Right! Absolutely! Well Rebecca I appreciate you’re being here. Tell me a little bit if someone wants to get these books the Beyond Chronic Pain, where they can find it. Rebecca Rengo: My book is available on my website www.beyondchronicpain.com at Amazon and in most major bookstores like Borders. Susan: Okay, wonderful! And what would I get from reading this book? I mean being a chronic pain suffer? What I’m going to get out of this? Rebecca Rengo: The book is self help book. It’s divided into one sheet concepts of practical everyday things that people can do to better manage their own pain. And there’s a special section for family members on how to help and support because that can be a confusing dynamic. And there’s also a one page worksheet that you can fill out to help yourself integrate that concept, so for acceptance for example. That’s a concept where there’s an actual specific lifestyle suggestions that you can do in a worksheet to integrate that. Susan: Wonderful! I’m certainly looking forward to spending sometime with this myself Rebecca. And thank you for being here and spending time with me today in our audience. Rebecca Rengo: Thank you very much. Susan: And thanks to all of you for watching. I hope you feel empowered with some new strategies to take control of the pain and take back your dreams and your life. For information as Rebecca said, just visit her website which is beyondchronicpain.com or you can also find great resources at the American Pain Foundation website which is painfoundation.org. Thanks for watching, as here on sbtv.com where small business is our only business.