Setbacks, relapses and pain flare-ups are inevitable in arthritis. These set backs sometimes threaten the rehabilitation for some people. It is important to anticipate how these setbacks occur and device ways to cope with them. The setbacks usually occur due to over strain i.e. trying to compete with normal people, trying to accomplish too large a task or setting goal which is much higher than the stage of rehabilitation.
Setbacks are common and usually people indulge in negative thoughts after setbacks. They start.saying to themselves ‘I will never get better’. It is going to be worse in future. What is wrong with me? What have I. done to deserve this? Etc. It is important to recognize that if you have chronic pain, you are likely to get setbacks in the beginning of the treatment and it is likely that you will be discouraged and even be depressed. Begin to monitor your progress i.e. identify progress and measure the setbacks against the progress made. Make a diary and note down information regarding frequency and intensity of pain, the factors, which increase the pain such. as anxiety, tension etc., the factors that reduce pain such as relaxation, listening to music, holidays, meeting friends etc. Also note down specific situations in which pain is experienced or aggravated.
If you have data as a result of on going monitoring you will see for yourself that progress is in fact being made. You may even ask a friend or family member to remind you as to what your condition was before you started your recovery. You will find that change may be appreciable at a time in at least one or more areas of observation such as reduction of frequency of pain, reduction in intensity or duration of pain or it may result in reduction in the amount of medication required to control pain.
You have to accept that setbacks are a part of normal experience and they should not be treated as a catastrophe. Accept that setback is a price you have to pay for doing something enjoyable and exciting. Take corrective measures and develop a routine of thinking and behavior which will quickly bring you back to normal state. After a series of tests and exercises one can reduce the physical exercises till one gets back to normal. Learn from experience and device new and better ways of coping with these setbacks.


