Are you suffering from chronic pain and unsure how to manage your discomfort? This short guide explains the condition's causes, treatments, and coping strategies.
A Brief Overview of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a compromising discomfort level lasting more than three months. It can be persistent pain or comes and goes, where it can be present anywhere on your body.
An estimated quarter of American adults suffer from chronic pain; many cannot identify the causes and struggle to cope. Chronic pain can lead to additional issues such as sleep deprivation, depression, and anxiety, impacting your personal and professional life.
Typical chronic pains include back pain, joint pain, migraines, and nerve pain, but aren't limited to a small subset of conditions. There may not even be an apparent reason why you're suffering from discomfort.
So is there a root cause of chronic pain?
What Causes Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain isn't limited to a few conditions; a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries can cause it. Long-lasting diseases such as cancer and arthritis are prime examples of this long-term pain.
Even minor injuries and illnesses can make changes to the body long after you've recovered, leaving persons in perpetual pain. Psychosomatic pain stemming from mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression also is considered a cause of chronic pain.
In short, chronic pain can come from even things you wouldn't expect. So how do you treat the discomfort when there are various causes?
How Do You Treat Chronic Pain?
The diagnosis for chronic pain is if you've had discomfort in the same area for over three months. Suppose you've been suffering for an extended period. In that case, you'll need to visit a healthcare professional to understand better how to treat the condition.
You'll likely hear these questions when the specialists diagnose the pain:
Where does it hurt?
How bad is the pain on a scale of 1 to 10?
Does the pain occur often?
Is it affecting your work and personal life?
Is there anything that makes the pain better?
These queries will give the medical professional an idea of what's causing the pain and confirm the diagnosis through blood tests, x-rays, MRIs, and other bodily fluid analyses. Once they confirm the issue, the specialists will prescribe the best course of treatment, usually through medication.
However, despite available treatments, there is no cure for chronic pain. So how do you cope with the condition?
Coping Strategies for Chronic Pain
Today, many recommended coping strategies for chronic pain will be managed with treatments. Some of the most effective coping mechanisms include lifestyle adjustments and additional therapy to get the best results in limiting discomfort.
Lifestyle changes include:
Minimizing as much stress as possible
Pursue low-intensity exercises such as walking
A healthy, balanced diet
Getting good, quality sleep every night
Other therapies that can form a coping strategy include physical therapy, counseling, cognitive-behavior therapy, and joining a support group for chronic pain.
Understand More About Your Chronic Pain
Suppose you have more questions about chronic pain tailored to your circumstances. In that case, there are no better answers than those found with a specialist at Clinic Klinic in Marietta, GA. Contact them today to learn more about diagnosing, treating, and coping with your condition.