Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for more than six months. Chronic pain typically affects people who are older than 50, but it can occur at any age. Chronic pain is different from acute or temporary pain because it does not resolve on its own. Instead, it gets worse over time and can result in severe impairment. If you suffer from chronic pain, here are some effective ways to deal with it.
Try Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a form of treatment that focuses on the musculoskeletal system. You can learn more at Brisbane West Osteopath about how Osteopathy focuses not just on the neck but also on the pelvis because it’s the foundation. Osteopathic treatment is based on the idea that your body is best treated by working with it as a whole rather than focusing only on one part.
Osteopaths treat painful conditions, including back pain, arthritis, and headaches, by using deep-tissue massage to loosen tight muscles. They may also work to improve the range of motion in your joints, which can reduce stiffness and pain. Many people report an improvement in chronic pain after visiting their osteopath.
Try Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a form of mindfulness that helps you manage chronic pain by teaching you how to control your thoughts and accept the pain. People who practice mindfulness meditation are accepting of their pain, but they don’t judge it.
They learn to pay attention to their thoughts and what they’re feeling in the present moment without judging them or trying to change them. This helps you become more aware of your body’s signals and feelings that accompany chronic pain.
Mindfulness can reduce the physical and emotional effects of chronic pain. It also reduces feelings of depression, anger, and stress that can be caused by chronic pain. If you’re experiencing a lot of emotional distress because of your chronic pain, mindfulness meditation might help you cope with it better.
Consider Multidisciplinary Pain Program
A multidisciplinary pain program includes treatment from a wide range of health care professionals.
Multidisciplinary pain programs can be effective because they allow you to address all your symptoms at once instead of treating one symptom at a time. These programs can also be more effective than seeing only one health care professional because you have the opportunity to work closely with other professionals who understand your condition.
Take Medications
Medication can be another form of treatment for chronic pain. Your doctor may prescribe medications that work to reduce your pain, but they can also have side effects. These include nausea, sleeping problems, and depression. However, there are many different types of drugs that work by blocking the things in your body that cause inflammation or affect how you feel pain.
These medications can ease your chronic pain and they sometimes work better than opioids, which are drugs that come from the opium poppy plant and cause a feeling of euphoria and drowsiness. It’s important to take your medications as directed by your doctor so you don’t become addicted to them. Talk with your doctor about how much of your pain medication you can take on a regular basis.
Consider Physical Therapy
Physical therapy includes many different types of treatments that can help you manage your chronic pain. It might involve using heat or another type of treatment to ease your pain and improve your range of motion. The goal of physical therapy is to reduce the impact that chronic pain has on your life.
Physical therapy typically involves working with a therapist in ongoing sessions until you’re managing your pain well. Your therapist might teach you how to move without causing more pain, how to use certain devices for support, and how to do exercises that strengthen the muscles in your back or other parts of your body.
Consider Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are commonly used to treat chronic pain throughout the body. They work by injecting a local anesthetic and corticosteroid directly into a trigger point, which is a knot of muscle that’s painful to touch. Trigger point injections help reduce the pain caused by trigger points for three to four months or longer.
A doctor may use X-rays or ultrasound imaging to guide the needle during a trigger point injection. You might feel a little pain or discomfort during the procedure.
Take Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and swell in your body. Some research shows that taking omega-3 supplements every day may be helpful for chronic pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish, including salmon and tuna.
Suffering from chronic pain can be a difficult experience for people and their families. Fortunately, it’s possible to manage chronic pain in a number of ways. The most effective way to deal with chronic pain is often a combination of treatments rather than just one treatment alone.