Absolutely, focus has a huge impact on your symptoms. One of the best pain medications is distraction! So, just as your symptoms increase when you pay attention to them, they will subside when you are focused on something else. Therefore, make a plan to have things to distract your attention away from your pain. Find projects to keep your mind on something else. It doesn't have to be physical activity (which could exasperate pain later), but anything that diverts your thoughts. Currently, I'm reorganizing my recipe book...a perfect quiet activity that takes my mind off my pain for several hours. Organizing photos is another good quiet project. Reading or watching a movie also works wonders.

So take that 'vicious cycle' and reverse the direction into a positive cycle of pain relief.