The Top 3 Surprising Chronic Pain Management Strategies
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Melissa Orozco
Living with chronic pain is tough. Not only does it affect billions worldwide, but it also leads to other challenges, such as depression, fatigue, social isolation, anxiety, and reduced quality of life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control’s recent data, 24.3% of adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain. This condition can get so bad for 8.5% of them that it really gets in the way of their daily lives and work.
But there’s hope!
Here’s a cocktail to help you find relief from chronic pain.
What Exactly Is Chronic Pain?
Before exploring these strategies, what is chronic pain?
In short, chronic pain sticks around for a long time—typically lasting from three months to even years. Unlike acute pain (the kind you feel when you stub your toe or get a cut), chronic pain doesn’t go away once the injury heals.
Some people can experience pain that doesn't even have a clear cause, like after an injury heals or for no reason at all. This condition is called Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) and can be challenging to diagnose or treat.
How To Manage Chronic Pain
Let’s explore several ways to manage chronic pain.
1. Psychiatry
Now, you might be wondering what psychiatry has to do with chronic pain.
Turns out, a lot!
Chronic pain isn’t just physical but can also have a mental component. A recent study in the BMC Psychology journal revealed that if you suffer from chronic pain, you can easily develop mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. And, if you experience mental health issues, you can also develop chronic pain.
It’s like a cycle where pain affects your mood, and your mood makes the pain worse.
The good news is that psychiatrists can help break that cycle in several ways:
Psychotherapy: Techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) change your mindset around pain. They help you manage the emotional toll and learn ways to cope with the stress that chronic pain brings.
According to a recent review, psychological interventions can actually improve your quality of life and reduce how pain interferes with your daily life and activities.
Psychotropic medications: In some cases, psychiatrists may prescribe medications like antidepressants, which help with both the mental and physical aspects of pain. It’s not about just “thinking” your pain away—it’s about addressing the mind-body connection.
Lifestyle Changes: Certain lifestyle factors like smoking, lack of enough sleep and physical inactivity, and unbalanced diet can worsen chronic pain. Psychiatrists can encourage you to adopt healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep to improve your overall well-being and reduce pain.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): This strategy helps you reduce stress and pain by focusing on the present moment. Various scientific studies prove that MBSR actually reduces chronic pain.
2. Physical Therapy
Okay, you’ve got your mind in a better place, but what about your body? That’s where physical therapy comes in.
Physical therapy can help you regain movement, strength, and flexibility that you might’ve lost due to chronic pain. It’s not about pushing through the pain; it’s about finding ways to move safely and build strength.
A physical therapist will work with you to create a plan specific to your needs that might include:
Manual Therapy: Techniques like massage and joint mobilization help ease muscle tension. They make movement easier and reduce discomfort and pain.
Therapeutic Exercises: These exercises are specifically tailored to you to target your pain points. They help build strength, improve flexibility, and increase how far you can move your joints without pain.
Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat is great for relaxing tight muscles, while cold can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Whether you’re applying a warm or an ice pack, both can work wonders for different types of pain.
Electrical Stimulation: With techniques like TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), the therapist sends small electrical pulses through your skin to help block pain signals from reaching your brain. It sounds a bit odd, but it can really help dull pain and relax muscles.
And, of course, there’s scientific evidence to prove that it works!
Education and Self-Management: A big part of physical therapy is learning to take care of yourself outside the physical therapist’s office. So, they’ll teach you simple techniques and exercises you can do at home to manage your pain and keep improving your mobility.
3. Prescription Drugs
Let’s talk meds. Prescription drugs can be a helpful part of managing chronic pain, especially when other treatments alone aren’t enough.
But it’s important to remember that meds are just one piece of the puzzle. The choice of medication depends on why type and how much pain you’re in.
Non-opioid analgesics: Meds such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for mild to moderate pain. These help with inflammation and pain but don’t solve the deeper issue.
Antidepressants and anticonvulsants: These are frequently prescribed for neuropathic pain, which results from nerve damage. They work by blocking the pain signals that nerves send to the brain.
Opioids: While these may be considered for severe pain, doctors are really careful with them because of the risk of dependence and side effects. That’s why they typically recommend other options first.
Topical Pain Relievers: You rub these creams, lotions, or sprays on your skin to ease pain and reduce inflammation from sore muscles or arthritis.
It’s very important not to self-medicate to manage chronic pain. Take the first step and consult with a medical professional to prescribe the right medication to help you best manage your chronic pain.
When These Three Areas Meet
Managing chronic pain is usually a combined effort. You can visit a psychiatrist for emotional support, and on your way out, visit a physical therapist to get your body moving again. You can then pop into a pharmacy to fill your prescription when heading home.
The key is to find a plan that works for YOU. And with the right team and the right treatments, you don’t have to face it alone.
Final Thoughts
Living with chronic pain is no easy feat. However, understanding what’s going on in your body and how different treatments can help is a step in the right direction. So, take it one step at a time, and work with your doctors to build a plan tailored to your needs.
Remember, it’s not just about managing pain but also about reclaiming your life.
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