Almost everyone has experienced a short burst of pain caused by illness, an injury, or a throbbing headache that lasts for a few hours. This acute, or short term, pain is not a pleasant experience. For those who suffer pain on a daily basis for a long period of time, the experience is even more unpleasant. This type of pain requires a different approach to treatment, often called pain management.
Defined as pain that is persistent for a long period of time, chronic pain is not always well understood. In some situations your doctor will not even be able to determine the cause of your pain. There are as many options for treatment of chronic pain as there are causes of it.
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.
If you indeed suffer from chronic pain, you will discover that the first trip to the doctor may be just the beginning of your journey of treatment. It is not always possible to determine the cause of your pain, which makes finding a treatment that brings relief a bit of a challenge. The doctor will often begin by giving the patient a prescription drug to treat the pain symptoms. There are many drugs used in pain treatment, and it might take trying several of them until one is found that provides relief.
There are several families of drugs that are used in the treatment of chronic pain. Using narcotic pain drugs for treating long term pain has been a controversial subject for years. There was a belief that it would only lead to addiction. However, doctors have now come to the realization that they can be effective when used appropriately. One way of making them more effective is to use them in combination with antidepressants or anticonvulsive medications. In this scenario, each type of drug might be used, but in smaller doses to make is perfectly safe for most people.
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.
Many doctors believe that just treating the body is not enough when dealing with chronic pain. They know that constant pain causes stress to not only your body, but to your mind as well. For this reason, they will also recommend that you see a mental health counselor to learn some coping skills. The counselor may teach you how to effectively use biofeedback, relaxation techniques or guided imagery to help manage your stress as well as your pain.
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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