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  • Chronic pain management

    Chronic pain management

    Living with chronic pain can be tough. It’s a pain that lasts for a long time, and it can make everyday life difficult. But there are ways to manage it. This article will help you understand more about chronic pain and how to deal with it.

    Key Takeaways

    • Chronic pain can come from many different causes and affects daily life in many ways.
    • There are treatments that don’t involve medicine, like physical therapy and talking with a therapist.
    • Changing your lifestyle, like eating better and exercising, can help manage pain.

    Understanding Chronic Pain

    Types of Chronic Pain

    Chronic pain can be classified into several types, including nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and psychogenic pain. Nociceptive pain arises from tissue damage, while neuropathic pain is due to nerve damage. Psychogenic pain, on the other hand, is linked to psychological factors.

    Causes and Risk Factors

    There are many causes and risk factors for chronic pain. Injuries, surgeries, and diseases like arthritis can lead to chronic pain. Risk factors include age, genetics, and lifestyle choices such as smoking or lack of exercise.

    Impact on Daily Life

    Chronic pain can greatly affect daily life. It can make simple tasks difficult and reduce the quality of life. People with chronic pain often experience fatigue, sleep problems, and mood changes.

    Living with chronic pain can be challenging, but understanding its types, causes, and impacts can help in managing it better.

    Non-Pharmacological Treatments

    chronic pain management illustration

    Physical Therapy

    Physical therapy is a common approach to managing chronic pain. It involves exercises and stretches that help improve mobility and reduce pain. Regular sessions can lead to significant improvements in strength and flexibility. Therapists may also use techniques like massage and heat therapy.

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people change the way they think about pain. This therapy teaches coping strategies and problem-solving skills. CBT can be very effective in reducing the emotional distress that often accompanies chronic pain.

    Alternative Therapies

    Alternative therapies include methods like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and yoga. These treatments can offer relief for some people. They are often used alongside other treatments to provide a more comprehensive approach to pain management.

    Combining different non-pharmacological treatments can often lead to better outcomes for those suffering from chronic pain.

    Pharmacological Treatments

    Over-the-Counter Medications

    For many people, over-the-counter (OTC) medications are the first line of defense against chronic pain. These include common drugs like acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. OTC medications can be effective for mild to moderate pain and are easily accessible.

    Prescription Medications

    When OTC medications are not enough, doctors may prescribe stronger drugs. These can include opioids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. Prescription medications are often tailored to the specific type of pain and the patient’s overall health. It’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully to avoid complications.

    Potential Side Effects

    All medications come with potential side effects. Common side effects of pain medications can include drowsiness, nausea, and constipation. More serious risks, like addiction and liver damage, can occur with long-term use. Always discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.

    Managing chronic pain often requires a combination of treatments. It’s essential to work closely with your healthcare team to find the best approach for you.

    Lifestyle Modifications for Pain Management

    Diet and Nutrition

    Eating a balanced diet can help manage chronic pain. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, can reduce inflammation. Staying hydrated is also important. Avoiding processed foods and sugars can make a big difference.

    Exercise and Physical Activity

    Regular exercise can improve your overall health and reduce pain. Activities like walking, swimming, or yoga can be very helpful. Start slow and gradually increase your activity level. Consistency is key to seeing benefits.

    Stress Management Techniques

    Managing stress is crucial for pain management. Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness can help. Joining a support group or talking to a therapist can also be beneficial.

    Making small changes in your daily routine can have a big impact on managing chronic pain. It’s important to find what works best for you and stick with it.

    Conclusion

    In the end, managing chronic pain is about finding what works best for each person. There are many ways to help, like medicine, physical therapy, and talking to a counselor. It’s important to try different things and see what helps the most. Remember, everyone is different, and what works for one person might not work for another. Keep talking to your doctor and stay hopeful. With the right plan, you can live a better life even with chronic pain.

  • Chronic Pain and the Nervous System

    Chronic Pain and the Nervous System

    Experiencing pain can be a part of life, but living with chronic pain is far from normal. It can be exhausting and affect your ability to live an active life, perform tasks, and get the rest you need. Persistent pain can lead to anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Physical therapy can often reduce or eliminate pain so you can get back to living your life.

    What is chronic pain syndrome?

    There are two primary categories of pain. Acute pain is often a symptom of an underlying health condition. Recovery can take days to weeks and the pain subsides. Chronic pain, or chronic pain syndrome, on the other hand, usually lasts six months or longer. It occurs in addition to the pain caused by the health condition, which may or may not have healed. It is independent of the original injury or illness that began and can persist long after the pain has gone.

    Woman suffers from chronic pain; migraine.

    Chronic pain can present in different forms, such as:

    • Back and neck pain
    • Joint or arthritis pain
    • Cancer pain near a tumor
    • Pain in the testicles
    • Headache, including migraine
    • Pervasive muscle pain (including fibromyalgia)
    • Persistent pain in scar tissue
    • Neurogenic pain due to damage to the nervous system

    More than 20% of Americans have chronic pain that affects your work and lifestyle.

    What causes chronic pain?

    Sometimes chronic pain has a clear cause, such as a long-term illness, cancer, or arthritis. Illness can make your body more susceptible to pain, even after you recover. Injuries, including broken bones, sprains, or infections, can also leave you with chronic pain.

    Pain that does not seem to be related to a physical illness or injury is psychogenic painIt is believed that anxiety, stress and depression lead to low endorphin levels in the blood.

    Regardless of the specific cause, pain is a function of the nervous system. Nerves around an injury site sense the damage and send signals to the spinal cord and brain. The brain registers the pain and the nervous system responds. Muscles tense, emotions run high, and the nervous system becomes hypervigilant.

    This high alert state is beneficial in acute pain. It tells the body that something is wrong, allowing us to protect ourselves from further injury. Once the damage or disease heals, the nervous system functions normally.

    Woman suffers from chronic back pain.

    Symptoms of chronic pain syndrome

    When the nervous system remains in a persistent state of high alert, it often becomes hypersensitive. It can continue the pain even after the original damage has healed. People with chronic pain describe it in different ways:

    • To beat
    • Stiffness
    • To shoot
    • Painful
    • Burning
    • pinch
    • Stinging

    Poor sleep, mood swings, irritability and fatigue often accompany pain, which increases stress levels and nervous system reactivity. As pain increases, a new vicious circle begins.

    PT, Jeff Moyer helps a patient with elbow pain and is a good reason to choose physical therapy first.

    7 Common Treatment Methods for Chronic Pain

    Chronic pain can limit your quality of life and lead to significant long-term health problems. It can make managing daily tasks, maintaining relationships, and maintaining financial stability challenging. Chronic pain is uniquely personal, and finding an effective treatment becomes a priority.

    Your biology and personal history can influence which pain therapies provide relief. However, the treatment combination for one person may not work for another.

    Physiotherapy icon for the topic of chronic pain.

    1. Physiotherapy

    Physical therapy is a highly personalized treatment regimen. Goals may include increased mobility and reduced pain to help you regain full function. Physical therapy includes passive and active treatments. Your program may begin with passive treatments and progress to active methods. Physical therapists play an important role in pain management through various therapies and daily living techniques. Various forms of exercise, including strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, power, and agility, are used to promote and restore normal function, as well as for pain management. While opioids only mask the sensation of pain, physical therapists can also treat pain through hands-on care. Techniques include manipulation, joint and soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, and cupping. This helps to address the pain and target the root of the problem.

    Icon for water; soak foot in water.

    2. Contrast therapy

    Physiotherapists often alternate between cold and hot therapies. Cold therapy constricts blood vessels. Inflammation decreases when muscles contract and pain signals are reduced. Heat therapy increases circulation by dilating blood vessels. Flooding areas with nutrients and oxygen reduces muscle pain and allows the body’s cells to shed waste. Contrast therapy can reduce inflammation and increase circulation, which loosens tight, sore muscles.

    Icon for deep tissue massage.

    3. Deep tissue massage

    Muscle spasms and chronic muscle tension can build up from the stress of a typical daily routine. Cramps can also occur from sprains and strains. The direct pressure and friction applied during massage can release tension in the muscles, ligaments and tendons.

    Icon for ESTIM.

    4. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

    A TENS unit uses varying intensities of electrical current to stimulate muscles, which helps to reduce the occurrence and severity of muscle spasms. It can also increase the production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. You can use just the unit that’s in your physical therapist’s office, or you can have a smaller unit made for home use.

    Ultrasound icon for the topic of chronic pain.

    5. Ultrasound

    This deep heating technique is applied to your skin. As the heat waves penetrate your tissues, it is believed to improve blood flow and circulation. An ultrasound helps to reduce cramps, swelling, spasms, pain and stiffness.

    Clipboard for the topic drug therapy.

    6. Drug therapy

    Over-the-counter medications may be enough to relieve mild pain caused by stiffness, inflammation, and muscle soreness. Typical drug therapy includes ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Topical pain relievers that come in sprays, creams, and lotions may also provide temporary relief. Stronger medications for debilitating pain range from prescription NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and anti-anxiety medications to opioids and steroid injections.

    Exercise icon for the topic of chronic pain.

    7. Exercise

    Exercise is an active treatment and an essential part of the PT toolkit for improving mobility and strength. The brain stops sending constant alerts to the nervous system as the pain subsides. You and your physical therapist will work together to develop an exercise regimen to relieve pain. Examples of low-impact exercises include:

    • Swimming
    • Stretching and strengthening exercises
    • Cycling
    • To walk
    • Tai Chi
    • Pilates
    • Yoga

    Exercise makes you stronger and trains your nervous system to trust that exercise is safe, allowing it to go from high alert to normal functioning.

    If you have pain that comes and goes, physical therapy can help you understand the cause and how to treat it. Everyone responds differently to physical therapy. Contact Us Make an appointment today and learn more about the best treatment options.

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