What Are the Factors to Consider in Managing Chronic Pain?

When experiencing chronic pain, life just isn’t what it should be. Whether it be shooting, burning, tightness, swelling, or tingling, it can make even the smallest task feel like having to run a marathon. In most cases, only biomedical factors, such as immunity and the level of medications being used to treat a certain condition, are considered when thinking about what can affect pain management.

Often, a person isn’t aware of or doesn’t consider that there are psychological, lifestyle, and social factors that play a role as well. These factors include the amount of sleep one gets at night, diet, stress levels, and the consumption of carcinogenic substances, such as alcohol, recreational drugs, or tobacco. These factors can leave the person in more pain than they might otherwise experience.

First, it is important to visit with your healthcare provider to ensure that the most up-to-date information is discussed before any decision is made on managing your chronic pain. At your appointment, you can provide details of your chronic pain and how it is affecting your daily activities and overall quality of life.

Second, there are other methods available that can be tried first to help manage chronic pain. These techniques include applying cold packs or heating pads, practicing yoga and deep breathing exercises daily, swimming, and even just getting more sleep. These methods are highly useful tools to help ease some of your pain. Not everyone likes to take medications as they may have a fear of becoming dependent on them, which is very understandable. However, there are alternative methods available, such as physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage, all of which are reported to be highly beneficial with long-lasting results.

Lastly, a healthcare professional will work with you on a chronic pain management plan that can help you start living a better quality of life. A chronic pain management plan normally involves a blend of lifestyle changes, exercises, a better diet, medications, and physical therapy.

Chronic pain is usually the result of a past injury, such as a sprain, pulled muscle, or pinched nerve, that has flared up again. It is most commonly believed that nerve damage is the cause of most chronic pain. There are documented cases of people experiencing chronic pain without having had any previous injury, and in such situations, the pain is not yet well understood.

An underlying health issue, such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), should be ruled out first, so a visit with a healthcare professional is highly recommended when experiencing chronic pain.

When it comes to chronic pain, the pain discriminates against no one. Young and old alike have suffered the same way. Typically, however, those aged 65 and over are at the highest risk for chronic pain. Women are at high risk as well, but men are no exception.

Studies show that 20.4% of adults have had chronic pain, and 7.4% of those adults reported having to take time off from work in the last three months due to the condition. Non-Hispanic white adults had the highest rate of suffering at 23.6% when compared to non-Hispanic black people, who suffered at a rate of 19.3%. Hispanics suffer as well at 13% and non-Hispanic Asians scored at 6.8%.

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for at least 3 to 6 months. Chronic pain is pain that continues to occur long after the initial injury has healed. Wounded veterans, those who have experienced violent trauma, and car accident victims frequently report chronic pain.

Chronic pain can also be defined as pain that exists for no recognized reason. The pain can limit movement, resulting in reduced joint and muscle flexibility, and can often lead to depression and anxiety, low energy levels, brain fog, and a fear of re-injuring the initial injury, which often hinders one’s ability to return to a normal life.

Chronic pain may be hard to treat as it can often be hard to diagnose and can take a serious toll on the physical and emotional well-being of the person suffering, sometimes leading to isolation and preventing one from seeking proper help. Everyone experiences pain differently, which complicates diagnosis.

Consult our professionals if you are experiencing chronic pain at OmniSpine Pain Management. For more information, Contact us today or book an appointment online. Our clinics are located in Frisco TX, Sunnyvale TX, and Mesquite TX. We serve patients from Dallas TX, Frisco TX, Mesquite TX, Sunnyvale TX, Plano TX, Garland TX, Forney TX, Cedar Hill TX, Denton TX, Balch Springs TX, and surrounding areas.