It's been estimated that as much as one-tenth of the American population suffers from chronic pain. That's a pretty big number. Chronic pain is a condition that far too many people are familiar with. It affects their lives and their livelihoods, sometimes hampering even the most mundane of physical activities. With the average lifespan of Americans increasing, chronic pain is becoming a bigger and bigger issue. As a chronic pain sufferer, it's important to understand your treatment options.
Diagnosis and Cause
It's recommended that patients suffering from continuous pain for more than two months seek help from their healthcare provider. If the pain lasts for more than six months, the diagnosis of chronic pain is usually given. During the diagnosis phase, doctors will rate your pain level to determine the best treatment options.
Chronic pain is most commonly caused by arthritis, migraines, depression, or old back injuries, among countless other causes. The cause of the chronic pain often determines the best treatment approach.
Goal of Treatment
The main goal of treatment for chronic pain is to enhance a patient's quality of life by reducing pain levels and returning the patient to a higher state of mobility. Patients with chronic pain often are unable to go about their daily lives, due to the agony they live in. Giving patients the relief they need to return to active and healthy lifestyles is an important aspect of managing and controlling chronic pain.
At Home Treatment
Once your doctor has determined the cause of your chronic pain, they might recommend at home treatments. At home treatments include exercises, such as walking and yoga. Getting proper sleep and eating a well-balanced diet are also important. These changes in lifestyle can decrease pain and relieve stress.
Medications
Sometimes doctors feel it is necessary to treat their chronic pain patients with medication. Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen, are sometimes used to treat certain types of chronic pain. Narcotics, such as codeine, can also be prescribed by doctors if the patient's pain level warrants it.
Corticosteroids can be injected into painful joints to relief inflammation, thus reducing pressure and pain. This method of treatment is generally effective, but patients are often required to wait roughly three months between treatments.
Psychotherapy
With depression being one of the leading causes of chronic pain, patients are sometimes referred by their general practitioners to therapists, who work with the patient on ways to control their anxiety over chronic pain. Therapy gives patients the necessary tools they need to change their outlook about their condition, thus bringing another form of comfort: a different way of viewing their problem, which also helps to ease anxiety.
Acupuncture
Alternative therapy is becoming more widely used for chronic pain relief. Studies are proving that patients with chronic pain respond to a number of treatments both old and new.
Acupuncture has been used in Chinese medicine for over two-thousand years. The point of needle insertion is known as a "meridian". These meridians are situated all throughout the body. When a needle is placed on a meridian, or a combination of meridians, the desired affect occurs.
Opinions about the validity of acupuncture by Western medicine are varied, but patients who receive the therapy report feeling as though they've benefited from the procedure. It's believed that when the needles are placed in the skin, they prompt the body to release endorphins, a brain chemical responsible for making people feel good.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
The TENS method allows a device to pump electrical charges onto the affected painful area which flow through the body's nerves and stimulate pain relief. Some patients experience relief with this method, though it's reported that half feel no benefit whatsoever.
Massage Therapy
Massages are, perhaps, the most relaxing therapy for patients with chronic pain. The massage therapist rubs the affected areas, reducing the tension of the muscles, and stimulating a healthy blood flow. The stimulation provides better circulation, which can reduce pain; the relief of tension, however, is most likely the biggest benefit of this method.
Practices for reducing chronic pain vary, but the goal is always the same: patient relief. If you're experiencing chronic pain, it's important to talk to your physician about treatment options.