Understanding Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is excruciating discomfort that persists for more than six months. Despite the healing of the injury or illness that causes the pain in the first place, chronic pain may continue. Indeed, pain signals can still be active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years later. In some cases, people may suffer from chronic pain even when there is no diagnosable injury or illness. The causes of such pain are not well understood.
Some conditions linked to chronic pain include headache, cancer, arthritis, back problems, nerve conditions, and fibromyalgia. A person experiencing chronic pain has adverse effects caused by stress on the body. In turn, these produce physical effects, including a lack of energy, tense muscles, inability to move easily, and appetite changes. Chronic pain also leads to changes in a person’s emotional state, and can lead to depression, anxiety, anger, and fear of re-injury.
Chronic pain may be caused by an injury such as a pulled muscle or back sprain. It develops after nerves get damaged, which is what makes the pain so excruciating and long-lasting. Hence, treating the underlying cause will, in such cases, not necessarily make the pain disappear.
When an individual experiences chronic pain without any previous injury or illness, they may have underlying health conditions. Inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction are some examples.
This condition is common in older adults, but can affect people of all ages. Besides age, being female, being obese or overweight, having an injury, or undergoing surgery are risk factors.
Treating chronic pain involves a variety of procedures. These are all meant to minimize pain and enhance mobility. The severity and frequency of the pain differ among patients. Doctors recommend plans specific to each patient that are based on their symptoms and underlying health conditions. Medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both can be used to treat chronic pain.
Medications include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, and pain relievers such as acetaminophen. Opioid pain medication, including codeine, hydrocodone, and codeine also help. In addition, adjuvant analgesics such as anticonvulsants and antidepressants may be used. There are also medical procedures available, including nerve block, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, and surgery.
Lifestyle remedies include physical therapy, yoga, meditation, tai chi, psychotherapy, and massage. These techniques do not guarantee healing, however, but they frequently work to ease chronic pain.
Since there is often no cure for chronic pain, managing the condition can help to relieve symptoms. A patient needs to stick to the pain management program prescribed by their physician. In addition, physical pain and emotional pain are related, hence, chronic pain may cause stress. Coping mechanisms can be used to help reduce this stress.
Participating in daily activities and socializing with friends can boost a person’s mood. It’s true that chronic pain hinders a person from performing tasks, but isolating oneself can create a negative attitude toward the condition, which heightens pain sensitivity. Additionally, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep keeps the body healthy and reduces stress levels. Moreover, family, friends, and support groups offer comfort during times of distress. If a person needs an emotional boost, finding this support can go a long way toward successfully living with chronic pain.