Chronic pain can disrupt people's daily routines and activities. Tasks like cooking, shopping, housework, gardening and DIY are often difficult and can cause an increase in pain and fatigue.

Whilst most people felt that their lives were now limited, many had found ways of making their daily tasks more manageable by approaching them in a different way. Some had learnt to manage their activities and minimise pain by prioritising tasks, setting goals and pacing (see also 'Pain management: pacing and goal setting'). People had also picked up tips to make tasks easier.

Coping with the pain occupies people's minds and energy and many people commented that their concentration and memory where not as good as they used to be. This affected their ability to do everyday tasks particularly things that involved reading and learning new skills. Several people said they now needed to write lists or keep a diary. One woman said her mother had bought her a whiteboard to help her remember important things.

Housework was often limited and some people found it hard to lower their previously high standards. However, others preferred to save their energy for work socialising and exercise. Others got help from friends and family or paid a cleaner for particularly strenuous jobs such as hoovering, cleaning windows, cleaning the bath and changing beds.

Some found they could do these jobs by pacing themselves and waiting for a good day. Tips people had which made jobs easier including cleaning the bath or shower while in it, pulling the vacuum cleaner backwards, splitting up heavy loads, dropping laundry down the stairs rather than carrying it, using a stool to avoid over stretching and sitting down to iron.
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What do you do to manage life when your in pain?

Right now I am lucky I have the boys to help when things are really bad, but then I start feeling guilty that they are doing "my" chores while I'm layed up in bed doing nothing. I hate it!
Believe it or not one of the hardest things for me sometimes is laundry.....lifting heavy wet towels kills my fingers and back. So I use my washer as a laundry basket....when it's full I turn it on. Get the boys to put them in the dryer for me and take them out when they are dry then I can sit on the bed and fold.

That shower cleaner is the best.....the one you spray in your shower after each use really helps keep the shower clean longer.

I clean the barroom every time I go in there.....I do one single chore. I keep all the bathroom cleaning supplies under the sink. S it stays clean and I don't have to exhaust myself by cleaning it all at once.

Thank the good lord for dishwashers !!!!!!!

I also made my life easier with all leather furniture....especially with having pets.

Those aren't the best tips but its what I have......

How do you manage? Tips? Tricks? Favorite cleaning product? HELP!!!:)