Chronic Pain Relief: An Overview
Everyone will experience pain at some point in their lives. Pain
is a necessary form of protection against injuries, diseases, or
conditions that would otherwise impair or even kill us. Pain
alerts us that something is wrong. Pain can be either 'acute' or
'chronic' - the distinguishing characteristic between the two is
their duration.
Acute pain usually occurs after a specific injury. It appears
quickly and is usually very intense - one example is the pain of
a broken bone. It subsides fairly quickly, particularly after
treatment. Chronic pain, on the other hand, seems to build up
over time, and often cannot be connected to a particular injury
or condition. What chronic pain lasts in intensity, it makes up
for in duration - sometimes persisting for decades. Living with
constant pain can be unbearable, and many forms of treatment
attempt to offer sufferers some sort of chronic pain relief.
One of the most commonly prescribed therapy for chronic pain is
medication, both prescription and over-the-counter. While often
effective in alleviating pain, these are eschewed by some
because of their adverse side effects, which include nausea,
dizziness, and fatigue. Others are in search of a more natural
form of chronic pain relief.
Exercise, stretching and physical therapy reduce chronic joint
pain and muscle soreness and spasms by increasing strength,
tone, and flexibility. Exercise increases blood flow, eases
joint stiffness, aids in weight loss, and counteracts the
stress, anxiety, and depression that often comes from living
with chronic pain.
Chiropractic, acupuncture and massage offer three alternative
methods of chronic pain relief. Though their methods differ, all
of these have helped sufferers manage chronic pain.
In the past few years, researchers have begun to turn their
focus on the real source of pain - the brain. Although an injury
or wound may lie elsewhere on the body, signals of pain are
intercepted, processed, and quite literally 'felt' by the brain.
Research findings indicate that a multidisciplinary approach to
treating chronic pain - one that incorporates psychological as
well as physical therapy - provides the most chronic pain
relief. Yoga, meditation, and even laughing clinics have proved
effective treatments.