What Are We NOT Doing About Pain?
Lisa Kouzes, Chiropractic Physician
Close to one in three people suffers from persistent pain, and this is largely under-treated in our society. Those who are at the highest risk of untreated pain are women, children, elderly, non-native English speakers, the cognitively, developmentally and emotionally impaired, and those with a history of substance abuse. What do all of these groups have in common? Answer: problems communicating and not being taken seriously.
It may be difficult for a person to admit to having pain, or that person may have just lived with it for so long that he or she figures there is no hope of it ever resolving. Another possibility is that the issue of pain might have just been missed at the doctor's office, when more life threatening issues needed to be dealt with first. Even when a doctor addresses the issue of pain, there may not be a multidisciplinary approach, knowledge of available treatment options, adequate attention to emotional suffering nor sufficient education about self-help techniques to address it.
Living with pain can take its toll. You may find that you would rather rest that go for a walk. Or maybe you would not go out with friends, because you just did not feel like you could enjoy it. Both of these situations may just make things worse. If you exercise less, your circulation and ability to heal may decline. Also, the resultant loss of muscle mass can lead to a slower metabolism and weight gain. This in turn can lead to more pain, and poorer health overall. When you do not get a chance to socialize because of pain, your whole affect and outlook on life can change, and you are at a higher risk of developing depression.
There is hope out there. Times are changing, and the health profession is becoming more aware of the complexity of and need for adequate and consistent pain management. In turn, complimentary and alternative healthcare is becoming more mainstream and accepted across the medical fields. You may be surprised by how many options are available to you. Conservative therapies include, but are not limited to: acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, massage, Chinese medicine, rehabilitation exercises, biofeedback, physical modalities, anti-inflammatory diet, relaxation techniques, hypnotic techniques, pastoral counseling, and cognitive/behavioral therapy. Other options are pharmaceutical or surgical treatments.
The more you talk to your doctor about your pain and its characteristics, the better chance you may have of getting it under control. Pain is a complex entity, and it can be different for each individual. It can also have a component of emotion, especially if it is chronic. Pain may not always be of just one type either. It can have many qualities including throbbing, shooting, stabbing, sharp, cramping, gnawing, burning, aching, heavy, tender, splitting, exhausting, sickening, fearful, and even cruel and punishing. The better the description of your pain and your concerns about its treatment you can give, the better your doctor can tailor your pain treatment plan to fit your specific needs.
Did you know that there are different groups of drugs to treat different qualities, durations, and severities of pain? If one does not seem to work, talk with your doctor to alter your drug treatment program to find the right combination to fit your unique metabolism and pain. Also, if you are choosing to treat your pain with over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol or ibuprofen, make sure you are aware of the risks. It is currently recommended that people over the age of 65 do not use any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, for the management of pain, due to the life threatening risks. Instead, Tylenol is a safer drug for pain management when taken as directed. And, as always, it is highly recommended to avoid the consumption of alcohol with any pain medication. Because over-the-counter medications are easily available to the public, does not mean they are necessarily safe.
If you are living with pain, please go to a doctor you trust to discuss the cause and appropriate treatment of your pain. The quality of your life is worth it.
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