Thursday, September 30, 2010
Chronic Pain Treatment
Chronic pain treatment is dependent upon a diagnosis and current treatment for other health concerns. Initially a physician will evaluate an individual by doing a physical examination and by considering past medical history. There may be a need for diagnostic testing before a diagnosis is complete. Medications are often prescribed for chronic pain relief and in some cases a patient may benefit from other types of therapy. Lifestyle changes should be incorporated into a medical care plan that includes exercise and eating healthy. Other important considerations are getting restorative sleep and eliminating substances that might exacerbate discomfort such as caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol.
Some of the things that a physician will need to know when trying to diagnose a chronic illness is: medical history, where the pain is located, how often and how long the discomfort lasts, when it started, and what causes it to be worse. Anything that a patient can tell his or her doctor will help in finding a remedy for chronic pain relief. Keeping a daily log for a week before a doctor's appointment is a good idea. There may be certain activities that make the discomfort worse or maybe it gets worse at certain times of the day or at night. Anything a person can think of will be a benefit towards diagnosis and treatment.
Being free from distress is the desire of any person that has suffered with discomfort for extended periods of time. The main goal of chronic pain treatment is to help a person to function optimally as free from discomfort as possible. Learning to live with some discomfort may be necessary especially with conditions that are not curable. Along with a doctor's prescribed plan a patient suffering from daily discomfort may find comfort through prayer and faith in God. Reading God's Word provides hope for healing, "And the people, when they knew it, followed Him: and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing." (Luke 9:11)
In the beginning, lifestyle changes will probably need to be implemented as part of a wellness regimen. Eating healthy and exercise will have a positive affect on a person's health no matter what the diagnosis is. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables along with a daily exercise routine not only help with the physical symptoms but will also help a person deal with discomfort psychologically as well. Chronic pain relief can come through healthy lifestyle changes and learning to deal with stress. Stress affects the chemicals in the body and can cause changes that bring about illness coupled with discomfort. Prolonged stress can cause changes in hormones, cause blood pressure to go up, and have a profound affect on one's immune system.
A physician will often prescribe medications to help with the discomfort and inflammation. Chronic pain treatment may include anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. The medications that are prescribed will greatly depend upon the diagnosis. For example: a patient that receives a diagnosis of fibromyalgia will benefit from anti-depressants, anti-inflammatories, and sleep aids. The symptoms are largely increased by lack of sleep so one of the main objectives with treatment will be to set up a regimen that will lead to restorative sleep. In some cases a physician may order a sleep study to be done to rule out other sleep disorders.
While implementing positive lifestyle changes elimination of certain substances will provide health benefits and chronic pain relief. Some of these are cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, caffeine and some over-the-counter medications. In order to get the full benefit from any wellness plan a patient will need to limit his or her intake of substances that can make the discomfort worse. Cigarettes have many chemicals in them that are toxic to the body and cause blood pressure to go up because they constrict the blood vessels. Alcohol may have a sedative affect but it interrupts the sleep cycle preventing a person from getting restorative sleep. Sugar and caffeine are both stimulants to the body and can disrupt sleep or cause insomnia. Some over-the-counter medications that should be limited include pain meds and decongestants. Too much pain medication can cause stomach and liver problems. Decongestants can increase heart rate and blood pressure and should be avoided completely when high blood pressure is a concern.
Having a pain disorder or some other type of illness that is causing discomfort can often be debilitating and difficult to cope with. Chronic pain treatment can help to make the discomfort more bearable and can help to soothe the helplessness that many patients feel. An individual that has to deal with pain disorders will often feel depressed and anxious. When this happens a licensed mental health counselor or psychiatrist can help an individual cope with feelings of depression and anxiousness by using behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy will teach a patient ways to learn to cope with his or her illness.
Other types of therapy that may be beneficial when suffering with an acute pain disorder include physical and occupational therapy. Physical therapy includes stretching and strengthening exercises along with using hot and cold packs on the affected areas. Low impact exercise can bring chronic pain relief. Occupational therapy teaches a person how to do daily tasks without aggravating his or her condition. Some disorders that cause discomfort get worse when the patient does too much. Even simple housework chores can make discomfort worse if a person doesn't realize his or her limits. Those who suffer with constant discomfort should consider undergoing various types of therapy in order to experience optimal results.
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