Short-term pain usually goes away on its own, but chronic pain lasts for more than three months, hurts most of the time, and makes it hard to do normal things. Chronic pain can be caused by many things, like injuries, illnesses, or long-term stress that affects the body, mind, or social life.
When you feel pain, your brain decides, but that doesn’t mean it’s all in your head. For example, pain isn’t always exacerbated by a broken or worn-out body part. Chronic pain can happen when the brain reads messages from the body and sends messages back to the body.
The pain can be hard to deal with for longer the more signals it sends to the brain and the more the brain interprets those signals as pain. Pain is different for everyone, and many things can worsen the pain. Stress, depression, frustration, anxiety or fear, negative thoughts, isolation, not doing enough or too much, and not doing enough or too much can make the body send out more pain signals.
Taking charge of your pain helps you deal with it better. This is where long-term management pain comes in. The goal of managing chronic pain is to help you work and live as well as possible. You and your providers can work together to make a plan for your pain that puts you in charge.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain lasts for months or years and doesn’t go away. Chronic pain is often treated with NSAIDs, acetaminophen, COX-2 inhibitors, antidepressants, medicines that stop seizures, and opioids. Pain that doesn’t go away is the most expensive health problem in the United States. It costs a lot to deal with, can cause you to miss work, makes you less productive, and can greatly affect your peace of mind.
So, if you have pain that doesn’t go away, you must find the best way to treat it. Receptor cells under your skin and in your organs make you feel pain. You can feel pain when you are sick or hurt even though your receptor cells send messages to your spinal cord through your nerve cells. Once these messages reach your spinal cord, they go to your brain.
How common is long-term pain?
According to Disease Control and Prevention, about 20% of adults in the United States had chronic pain in 2016, and 8% had high-impact chronic pain.
According to the Global Burden of Disease Research, pain and diseases that cause pain are the most common causes of disability worldwide, and the number of people who live with chronic pain is rising. Chronic pain has been linked to many physical and mental health problems, such as:
- depression
- sleep problems
- social isolation,
- excessive medicine use
When it is used consistently and together, these techniques have been shown to help you deal with chronic pain:
Stretch, use good posture, and move gently.
Stretch your whole body, and do gentle yoga or tai chi for 10 to 15 minutes daily.
Keep active.
As suggested by your doctor, an activity routine can help you build muscle, boost your mood, and take your mind off the pain.
Reduce stress and learn to relax.
This can be done by using calm breathing, passive or gradual muscle relaxation, or being aware of the present moment. Smartphone apps that concentrate on relaxation and being present can help with this.
Mind your speed.
Pain can be made worse by doing too much or too little. Planning your day to have a good mix of tasks, fun, and other obligations can help give you structure and routine. Getting less frustrated during a pain flare can be helped by having a break before the pain gets too bad.
Address any other conditions that make the pain worse.
Studies have shown that treating anxiety and depression can help reduce pain and improve life. Talk to your physician or nurse if you must have depression or anxiety.
Plan engaging activities to maintain an optimistic mindset.
Getting through the pain often means finding ways to be happy. Studies have shown that sensory nerves in the body are less powerful when people do things they enjoy.
Stay in contact with others.
Spending time with loved ones in person or through video chat can help people pay less attention to their pain.
Sleep as much as you need to.
Getting less sleep can often make the pain worse. Good sleep hygiene, ways to relax, and a relaxing routine before bed can all help you sleep better. These tools for self-management and the right way to use over-the-counter and prescription drugs make up a full treatment plan for dealing with persistent pain. If you have trouble with pain, talk to your doctor about a complete pain treatment plan that can help you get back in charge of your life.
Conclusion
There are many ways to deal with chronic pain, and many of them are easy to get and use. Most ways to deal with pain are meant to reduce long-term pain or help a person deal with it better.
Some ways to deal with pain, like acupuncture, physical therapy, and yoga, are best done with a professional therapist’s help to ensure they are done safely. Before taking any new medicine, people should talk to their doctor. This is to ensure they are safe, don’t make the pain worse, and won’t react badly with other medicines a person takes.
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