What causes chronic pain?

 

A multitude of factors can lead to chronic pain. This may include:

1. Joint pains and arthritis
2. Neck or back pain
3. Pain from a tumor
4. Headache and migraine
5. Pain in the groin area
6. Muscle pains
7. Neurogenic pain caused by misfiring neurons
8. Trauma and accidents

 

How to manage chronic pain?

 

If you suffer from any condition that causes you chronic pain, the first thing to do is to consult your doctor and determine the cause and find out if there is a treatment for the underlying cause that may permanently relieve your pain. Based on the condition, this may involve, surgery, prosthetics, or other procedures or medication for conditions like arthritis.

 

Your doctor may recommend painkillers for temporary relief. This does not mean that you can buy and take the medicine as and when you need it. Be sure to stick to the medication in the doses exactly as recommended by your treating doctor. Some medications cause gastric problems and your doctor will usually prescribe them in combination with other medications to reduce side effects.

 

As far as possible, try to manage pain without painkillers and stay away from becoming dependent on them for day-to-day functioning.

 

Some of the steps that can help you deal with chronic pain include:

 

1. Stretching exercises and good posture - usually helps with joint and muscle pains. Reduce movement intensity to more tolerable levels.
2. Staying active - Activity, as recommended by your doctor, keeping your situation in mind, can help distract you from the pain and improve your mood. This may also help in strengthening muscles that may be responsible for the pain.
3. Work on your stress levels - relaxation techniques like breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and mindfulness can help you manage pain and live a more fulfilling life
4. Plan your daily activities to accommodate for the difficulty - do not try to push yourself under the effect of short-term medication. Work out your schedule according to your present scenario, improve the situation and slowly change the schedule to make it as productive as possible.
5. Maintain a positive attitude to life and socialize well - Keeping yourself away from socialization and things that used to give you joy can only worsen the situation and make your experience of the pain far worse. Take an effort to maintain a positive attitude and not withdraw from life. It won't be easy to start, but it works out better for you
6. Sleep is very important - Poor sleep immediately increases stress levels and increases your perception of pain. Make sure you get enough sleep and good rest. If the pain affects your sleep, do ask your doctor how you can try to improve your sleep.