If you or someone you know has suffered with chronic pain, you understand the frustration behind the suffering. Oftentimes, chronic pain is dismissed by well-meaning friends as something less than it really is. The fact is, unless you've experienced it...you'll not be able to truly understand what people are going through. Ask anyone who suffers, and they will all want you to know the 5 myths around someone dealing with chronic pain...and thereby be better able to support them on their journey.
Myth One: Chronic Pain is All in Your Head
Pain is the way your body tells you that something is wrong and is not “in your head”. Chronic pain is not unusual and you should see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment should it occurs. Your mind may influence the severity of pain but it cannot create the pain. Chronic pain can cause your life to change in very negative ways so see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment is you develop chronic pain. Pain relieve drugs can often have unwanted or even dangerous side effects and there are drug free methods available such as SOLIS Pain Relief System® that relieves chronic pain in minutes without drugs.
Myth Two: You Can Tough It Out
Chronic pain can last for months or indefinite periods of time. Acute pain is a normal sensation like that resulting from injury or surgery. It can also be caused by inflammation from infection or illness. Acute pain resolves itself as healing occurs. Chronic pain can make it difficult for a person to carry out work or recreational activities and can lead to disability and despair. Toughing it out isn’t going to work. Something should be done to relieve chronic pain. Inaction can compound the problem. Don’t self-diagnose or self medicate with chronic pain. You need a health professional’s diagnosis. After diagnosis, you can choose the best course of action for your symptoms.
Myth Three: All chronic Pain is the Same
Chronic pain can occur in different parts of the body for different reasons. Chronic Musculoskeletal pain is the result of pain in the ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, and joints. Neuropathic pain can be from damage to your nervous system. Cancer pain can result from a tumor pressing on your body organs, bones, or nerves.
Each of these kinds of chronic pain will require different kinds of treatment.
Musculoskeletal pain from osteoarthritis often involves strengthening the affected muscles through physical therapy or spinal manipulation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen are one treatment option, but must be used cautiously. Patients often use opioids to relieve chronic pain, while neuropathic chronic pain, such as diabetic neuropathy, may require medications that target nerve pain. Drug free medical devices such as SOLIS Pain Relief System® are often used to avoid unwanted side effects or addiction from drugs.
Myth Four: Medication is the Only Way to Treat Chronic Pain
When most people think of chronic pain, they think of “pain killer” medications. Drugs are easy to take but can be dangerous and very hard to deal with. Medication can help treat chronic pain but it shouldn’t be the only approach. You need a long term effective treatment plan for chronic pain. It can involve a combination of classic drug treatments, physical therapy, and exercise. Mindfulness meditation is not the answer. Non drug alternatives such as acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy, and pain relief medical devices such as SOLIS are often used. It is good to remember that pain medications mask all pain in the body. These drugs can hide acute pain should it occur and you may not know if you injure yourself. This is not the case with a medical device such as SOLIS.
Myth Five: Chronic Pain is Normal for Older People
How often do you hear that pain is normal for older people? This is not the case at all. It may be true that pain from wear and tear occurs more often as you grow older but chronic pain is not the same thing and not limited to older people. Chronic pain is different from normal wear and tear.
As you grow older, you do have a higher likelihood of various health conditions getting in your way. Some of these conditions can result in chronic pain. When chronic pain occurs, you should see a doctor or pain specialist. SOLIS Pain Relief System® is an excellent drug free option for you to consider. Conditions such as Bursitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Low Back Pain, and others do occur more frequently in older people but this should not be considered normal. When chronic pain interferes with daily living, you should see a doctor or pain specialists for diagnosis and treatment.