Pain Management 101
Having to live with a constant or chronic pain is not something associated with a high quality of life. Pain can greatly impact every aspect of your life, from the way you move around to the quality of sleep you get each night. The key is to get an understanding of where the pain is coming from, why it may lessen or increase during certain periods and how you can use one or a combination of treatments to help you feel better and live the life you want. Here is your pain management 101 checklist to see if you can find ways to better treat or manage your pain.
Talk to A Doctor
This may seem like an obvious first step, but many people try to ignore pain until it gets to be too much for them or when it significantly impacts their daily life. If you have a consistent pain, consult with your doctor, or even better, consult with a pain specialist Centers such as Pacific Pain and Wellness Group can check all of your pain symptoms and suggest the right treatment. Provide them with all of your symptoms, when the pain is the worse and any other information they may need to help with a diagnosis. If your doctor determines that you have a form of chronic pain, then you can work together on a management plan that works best for you.
Be Careful with Medications
Over the counter medications are made for temporary relief. Using the long-term may lead to other problems, such as damage to your organs or a tolerance to the recommended dose. If you have to use these medications for more than ten days, consult your doctor for a different treatment option. If a doctor has prescribed a medication for your pain management, make sure that you are following the directions when taking it and keeping in contact with your doctor so that you can note changes intolerance or other side effects that may happen.
Acknowledge the Emotional Side of Pain
While pain is often thought of as a physical condition, it can have an impact on your emotional well-being. If the pain is causing your moods to change or you are feeling anxious, sad or depressed, these feelings can develop into something more serious. While discussing pain with a medical professional, make sure to address any of these emotional changes you may be having. If they persist, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional to take care of the emotional side of pain.
Consider Natural Treatments
A medical professional won’t always recommend natural treatments, but in many cases these treatments can be combined with what they can offer you, giving you a whole wellness plan for pain management. Depending on your type and location of chronic pain, some common natural treatments for pain include low impact exercise, yoga, acupuncture, and herbal supplements.
If you are considering herbal supplements or vitamins, make sure to consult your doctor before beginning in case these products have a known adverse reaction to any medication you are taking or medical conditions you may have.
Incorporate Diet and Nutrition
A change in your diet won’t relieve your pain overnight, but incorporating better dietary decisions in your life can have a positive impact on your pain management. Reducing the amount of added sugar and processed chemicals can be beneficial for helping with pain, as well as seeking out foods that are naturally anti-inflammatory if that’s one of the causes of your chronic pain.
Diet can also be a major factor for those who have pain related to stress on the body due to excessive weight. A better diet that can lead to shedding a few pounds may relieve some of the pain’s intensity, especially when you are standing, walking and active.
Stay Informed About Pain Management
Like many other chronic conditions, the medical community is always looking for new and better treatments to offer patients for pain management. While you shouldn’t try every new fad that comes along, staying informed about new medications and treatments can help you have a conversation with your doctor to see if your current pain management plan can benefit from a new type of treatment.
If you incorporate all of these steps into creating a plan for pain management, you and those who support you can help give you a better quality of life with little or no pain.