Chronic pain is a big problem, affecting more than 50 million U.S. adults and causing $300 billion in lost productivity worldwide every year. Don’t let the symptoms control your life if you suffer from chronic pain. Start fighting back.
What Is Chronic Pain?
“Chronic pain is long-standing pain that persists beyond the usual recovery period or occurs with a chronic health condition, such as arthritis. Chronic pain may be ‘on’ and ‘off’ or continuous. It may affect people to the point that they can’t work, eat properly, take part in physical activity, or enjoy life.”
It’s a severe medical condition that can and should be treated. Fortunately, new and innovative therapy may alleviate chronic pain symptoms.
Symptoms
Chronic pain affects you physically, your emotions, and even your social interactions over time. The pain can result in other symptoms, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Interrupted sleep
- Feeling very tired or fatigued
- Irritability
- Guilt
- Lack of interest in intimacy
- Drug or alcohol misuse
- Marriage or relationship problems
- Loss of employment
- Preoccupation with suicide or suicidal thoughts
Some people experiencing chronic pain take medicine for pain management, which puts them at greater risk of drug dependency.
Causes
Everyone perceives pain differently. When their pain becomes chronic, doubt and other symptoms can settle in for the long haul. There are many reasons for chronic pain. It could’ve begun due to an illness or injury, even if you recovered from it long ago, but the pain continues. Or there may be an ongoing cause such as cancer or arthritis. Many people experience chronic pain without any evidence of illness or past injury.
How Can I Find Chronic Pain Relief?
The very nature of chronic pain – mysterious, long-lasting, persists even with treatment, and absent a definitive cause – makes it difficult sometimes to find relief. If you’re one of the millions of Americans suffering from chronic pain, don’t let it get you down because relief is possible if you know where to look.
An obvious means of finding chronic pain management resources is a doctor or physical therapist. Certain pharmacies specializing in holistic and other pain relief methods may be able to offer advice, too. Inquiring about ketamine therapy would also be advisable. But where else to look? Here are some organizations – perhaps with local chapters – which may be able to steer you in the right direction:
- The American Academy of Pain Medicine
- The U.S. Pain Foundation
- The National Organization of Rare Disorders
- The International Association for the Study of Pain
- The American Society of Pain Management Nurses
- The American Chronic Pain Association
- The Chronic Pain Research Alliance
People who suffer from chronic pain may find relief via other avenues, including:
- Deep breathing or meditation
- Stress reduction techniques
- Exercise to boost levels of endorphins
- Reduce your alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco intake
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Eat healthy meals regularly, and don’t skip meals
- Join a support group
- Record your pain levels and what triggers your pain
- Take steps to reduce a migraine or tension headache
- Try massage therapy
- Doing something that distracts from the pain
If you suffer from chronic pain, find relief by understanding the symptoms and seeking medical attention.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Pain is subjective — meaning only your experiences allow you to identify and describe it. If you suffer from long-lasting pain, get medical help. A healthcare provider may ask you questions:
- Where is the pain?
- Can you rate it on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst?
- How often does it happen?
- How badly would you say it interferes with daily life?
- Is there anything that makes it better or worse?
- Are you under a lot of stress or anxiety?
- Have you had any surgeries or illnesses?
Diagnosis utilizes blood tests, imaging tests and MRI scans, tests for muscle activity, nerve conduction studies, tests for reflex and balance, and spinal fluid and urine tests.
Treatment options may include prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers, holistic therapy, psychotherapy, physical therapy, surgery, or a combination of many of these. One innovative new treatment option is ketamine infusion, a decades-old painkiller and anesthetic used to treat chronic pain symptoms.
Final Thoughts
If you suffer from pain, no one knows better than you of the harm it can do to your life. But thanks to therapy, certain medicine, and options like ketamine treatment, people suffering from chronic pain have tools in their tool belts to fight the symptoms and control their lives.
Contact us today to learn more about these treatment options and how they may help you find relief!
