Did you know that over 20% of US adults live with pain? Dealing with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging. It can impact all aspects of your life from your relationships and your physical and mental health to your performance at work. If you’re struggling to cope with pain, here are some practical pain management solutions.
Seek expert advice
Many of us would admit that we’re not proactive in getting help and advice when it comes to health issues. If you tend to ignore symptoms or put off making appointments, it’s important to understand the benefits of seeking expert advice. It’s always best to get checked out as early as possible to rule out serious underlying health issues and gain access to treatment options. When you see a doctor, they will ask you questions about your condition and symptoms to get a better idea of how severe the problem is and what could be causing it. You may also be advised to have tests and scans. Seeking advice early could help to prevent the pain from getting worse. Once you start treatment, you should notice an improvement in your symptoms.
Explore all your options
There are lots of treatment options, therapies and remedies for chronic pain. You may be familiar with some, such as medication and physical therapy, but you might not have considered others, such as pain-relieving injections, hydrotherapy, CBD products and herbal remedies. Recent social trends have led to the popularity of Medical Marujuana being used to treat chronic pain although there are very few unanimous studies showing medical marijuana actually helps with pain relief.
In the US, medical marijuana is very popular in states such as LA and Texas where the use of the drug is legal whereas in the UK, very few people are likely to get prescribed medical marijuana unless they have the following conditions such as; children and adults with rare, severe forms of epilepsy; adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy or people with muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).
This is why it is best to research all treatment options, speak to doctors and pain management experts and use reputable online resources to get information. It’s beneficial to understand what kinds of therapies are available to you, how they work and the benefits they offer. It’s important to note that you might not be a suitable candidate for all therapies. Medical experts will be able to recommend suitable treatments based on your needs and preferences.
Use self-help techniques
When you experience pain as a result of an injury, a health issue or trauma, there are often self-help techniques you can employ alongside treatments, such as medication, surgery and physical therapy. Examples include targeted exercises, massage therapy, stress management methods and rest. You can even get prescriptions online to help with this. Exercise can be incredibly beneficial, but it’s critical to choose activities or do exercises that are safe. Work with a personal trainer who has experience in training clients with similar health issues, ask your doctor for advice, or draw up a routine with your physical therapist. Stress can exacerbate physical pain and affect your mental health. Try to be proactive in avoiding stressful situations and triggers and managing stress. Spending time outdoors, getting enough sleep, taking time to rest and recover and surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good can help keep stress at bay.
Living with chronic pain can be extremely challenging. There are many treatment options for long-term pain, but there are also steps you can take to manage pain and protect your physical and mental health. Seek advice, follow instructions from medical experts and explore all your treatment options. Employ self-help and self-care techniques, such as targeted exercise programs, getting enough sleep and avoiding stress triggers to ease discomfort, reduce stress and improve well-being.
