Recent market research surveys reveal that more than 1.5 billion people around the world experience chronic pain. These pains include everything from backaches, migraines, arthritic pains and other sorts of body aches and pains. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that 52.5 million adults have been told by a doctor that they suffer from some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout or lupus.
In many instances there are no cures or long lasting treatments for the pain. The very term, “chronic” implies that this type of pain will continue to return. However, thanks to modern medical techniques and healthy lifestyle choices there are many ways to combat chronic pain and with varying degrees of ease and success.
Be proactive and attempt to managing your pain today. With luck, you’ll be able to avoid more drastic and expensive measures such as knee surgery and orthopedic shoulder surgery. Try these three approaches and find relief from your chronic pain issues.
Stretches and Exercises
If you do find yourself suffering from chronic discomfort, there are a number of stretches and exercises you and do. Head rolls, side bends and bicep curls are all excellent examples of stretches that can help release tension in your body. Stretches help loosen tight muscles and improve flexibility, making everyday movements easier. It is much more difficult for pain to settle in limber body parts and relaxed muscles.
Try walking, strength training or yoga if you’re looking for ways to stay active and decrease chronic pain flare-ups. The more you move, the less pain and fatigue you’ll feel. Try performing exercises localized to the areas where you feel pain. For example, stretching your fingers and wrists will help any hand and wrist conditions you may have.
Medicinal Treatments
The first stop for pain relief is over-the-counter drugs. Oral painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help reduce pain and inflammation caused by chronic pain. Research has shown low dosages of antidepressants and anti-seizure medications both relieve chronic pain. Narcotics may be prescribed by your doctor to relieve the most severe cases of chronic pain.
Other non surgical treatments for chronic pain include pain relief creams, skin patches and nerve blocks.
Surgical Intervention/strong>
There are several different surgical procedures that can treat chronic pain. These surgeries range from being minimally invasive outpatient procedures to surgeries that require extended recovery time and monitoring.
Some surgical procedures that can alleviate chronic pain include: implanting a pain pacemaker (a device that stimulates the spinal cord and blocks pain signals from reaching the brain), hip surgery, orthopedic knee surgery, orthopedic shoulder surgery and nerve cutting. Remember surgical intervention can be costly and involve significant recovery time.
Chronic pain is a serious problem that affects billions of people around the world. Experts say an estimated 80% of the population will suffer from back pain alone, at some point in their lives. The trick is to not let chronic pain rule your life. Remember to consult your doctor and get a professional opinion before deciding on any type of treatment. After all, you wouldn’t want to schedule an orthopedic shoulder surgery, when a simple anti-inflammatory shot would solve your problem.