Understanding The Origins Of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a condition that impacts 1 in 5 American adults. Doctors define the condition as consistent or persistent pain that lasts 3 months or more. The pain can continue beyond a particular injury or illness and is enough to impact daily activities. Most cases are due to an ongoing chronic disease, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, or migraines. Certain cancers, spinal conditions, or nerve injuries are other causes of chronic pain. Individuals with chronic pain must manage the symptoms to efficiently navigate everyday life.

What can you do about it?

Managing chronic pain can be challenging and frustrating. Anyone struggling with chronic pain should visit a doctor immediately. The doctor can perform tests to determine the root cause of the pain. If the chronic pain stems from an existing medical condition, the doctor may refer the patient to a pain specialist. This medical professional can provide further tips or strategies for immediate and long-term pain management. Chronic pain management requires consistent treatment to see results. The medical team can also help patients with resources to manage the stress and anxiety from the condition.

Start with medication and physical therapy

Doctors often start treatment by combining pain medication and physical therapy. Most patients begin with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation in the impacted area. Topical pain medication can provide more targeted relief, for instance, with arthritic pain. Doctors can prescribe stronger pain medication or opioids for longer relief. Patients and doctors must manage stronger pain medications to prevent dependency or side effects. Along with medication, physical therapy (PT) is another first step in chronic pain management. PT consists of guided exercises, stretching, massage, and other modalities to improve function and reduce pain. Some physiotherapists specialize in chronic pain management, including occupational therapy, which can help with pain-free daily activities. Combined, pain medication and PT can reduce symptoms of chronic pain.

Trusting interventional procedures

Doctors can provide more targeted treatment with in-office procedures. Corticosteroid injections can provide prolonged relief. Medication is directly injected into the painful area or joint. These injections last longer than over-the-counter drugs but can require a new session after a few months. Some conditions causing chronic pain can benefit from nerve blocks. Using a guided X-ray process called fluoroscopy, doctors can inject pain medication close to nerves responsible for pain signals. Other helpful strategies include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which uses heat to sear off nerve ends transmitting pain signals, and spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which uses electrical impulses to reduce pain. These are minimally invasive and considered if medication and PT fail to bring relief.

Lifestyle techniques for chronic pain management

Lifestyle strategies can help reduce inflammation while improving physical health. Gentle exercises like walking, biking, swimming, or yoga help with muscle strength and circulation while releasing endorphins. Adopting a healthy diet of antioxidants, protein, vitamins, and minerals provides the body with the resources to manage pain. Studies show that sleep is essential for individuals with chronic pain, as consistent sleep schedules can reduce pain during the day. With these activities, consistency is key and should be used with medication and PT.

Let's talk about it

Adopting daily psychological habits like meditation, journaling, and stress reduction all contribute to chronic pain management. These help to adopt a stronger mind-body connection, which may improve pain over time. Speaking with a psychologist or counselor via talk therapy can address anxiety or depression linked to chronic pain. Some therapists may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), strategies to reframe negative thoughts about pain. CBT reduces the emotional impact of pain and improves coping skills. Even connecting with others who experience chronic pain can provide emotional support.

Use these strategies for a pain-free future

Chronic pain from past injuries, underlying conditions, or chronic disease can severely impact quality of life. People with chronic pain struggle to work, have social interactions, or perform daily functions effectively. Chronic pain management starts with the basics. Focus on medication, PT, and lifestyle changes. Ask a doctor or pain management specialist about injections, nerve blocks, or other potential treatments. By combining these strategies into a personalized plan, chronic pain can improve.