When an individual suffers from an illness or injury that causes pain for a short duration, they are generally pretty uncomfortable. This short duration pain is known as acute pain, usually meaning that it has a known cause that will quickly pass and the pain will go away. For those people who suffer with pain for a long period of time, uncomfortable may hardly describe what they are feeling. This long term pain is known as chronic pain, and it often has no end. That is why it is important to understand what pain management options are available for chronic pain.
Chronic pain is often described as pain that persists for three months or more. It is not always understood, or even believed to exist by some people, but if you experience it you certainly know it is real. The challenge can be that it is not always possible for your doctor to determine the cause of your pain, leaving you the option to treat the symptoms without eliminating the cause.
Generally, the first thing tried is some form of over-the-counter drug. There are a variety of pills that work as pain relievers, some of which have anti-inflammatory properties as well. If your pain is muscular in nature, there are a number of creams, gels, and liquids that are made to rub into the affected area. In most cases the individual will have tried one or more of these treatments, often without much success, before seeing their doctor.
While your doctor will take a medical history and try to find the cause of your pain, in many cases the cause of chronic pain is never fully identified. It then becomes a matter of finding a treatment that will give you relief from your pain. This can take some time, as everyone reacts differently to pain and to each treatment. Often times, the first thing the doctor will try is giving you a prescription medication. It might take several tries to find a medication that helps, so do not get discouraged.
There is some good news relative to drug therapy for chronic pain. Doctors have accepted that narcotic drugs can be effective when used properly. They have also discovered that pairing a narcotic pain drug with another type of medication can be more effective than when either is used alone. Some of the other types of drugs used include anticonvulsants and antidepressants.
Exercise can be an important part of treatment for chronic pain. Your doctor might suggest walking, swimming, or any activity that gets your body moving. While exercise is important for anyone, it can be especially beneficial to someone suffering with chronic pain. Beyond normal exercise, your doctor may also send you to a physical therapist for a short duration of treatment. Physical therapy treatments can include a number of activities, including stretching and strengthening exercises, massage therapy and hot or cold packs applied to the body. It is often recommended that the patient continue the learned activities at home once the series of sessions with the physical therapist is over.
In addition to addressing the physical aspects of the patient's pain, doctors will often suggest counseling as well. Living with chronic pain causes stress to your mind as well as your body. This can lead to a viscous cycle of increasing pain. The more you worry about the condition, the worse the pain can become, which can cause more stress. Counseling can provide you skills in coping with the stress. This might include relaxation techniques, the use of biofeedback, or maybe even guided imagery.
This is only a brief overview of the options available to you for pain management. Be sure to educate yourself as much as you can about these and other options. If you are persistent and open-minded about the treatment options, you are likely to find some level of relief for your chronic pain.
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This post was written by Becca G Taylor on July 17, 2010
