Chronic Pain in the United States
If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from chronic pain, you may or may not know the source. While many causes of chronic pain are traceable, some people have a hard time figuring out one single source of their discomfort. Common conditions associated with chronic pain include:
● Neuropathy (nerve damage)
● Fibromyalgia
● Lyme disease
● Multiple sclerosis
● Migraines
● Spinal injury
● Arthritis and osteoarthritis
Chronic pain is an issue that permeates your entire life. Not only do you have to deal with the constant aching and trigger-point tension, but also the depression, isolation, and anxiety that often come with it. To help deal with chronic pain, some people need assistance from prescription painkillers. However, medication can be risky and addictive.
Fortunately, there are other options that can help manage the symptoms of chronic pain.
How to Safely Manage Chronic Pain Symptoms
Helping Relieve Shock Related to Chronic Pain
One thing a lot of people don’t anticipate is the shock of a chronic-pain-related diagnoses. In fact, some psychologists liken patients’ reactions to that of the seven stages of grief. Because of this, many people opt to enter psychotherapy in order to cope with these difficult feelings. Psychotherapy allows people to talk about their issues to a neutral counselor who can also provide techniques and healthy coping mechanisms that make it easier to find a workable solution. People who attend therapy gain a better understanding of themselves, allowing them to better recognize their goals, needs, and values.
Another strategy for dealing with the mental and emotional struggles that come with a chronic pain diagnoses is creating a comfortable environment at home where you can escape the triggers the world presents. Stress and pain are intrinsically connected, so a healthy, peaceful home environment can provide a respite. Here is some advice on creating a healthy home with less stress.
● Declutter your areas. Too much clutter can make it difficult to focus and think.
● Make things easier to find by rearranging your closets and clutter.
● Create a serene space for meditation or reflection.
● Add more oxygen-rich plants inside the house.
● Spend less time watching television and using smartphones and tablets and spend more time with the people you love.
Other Ways to Manage Chronic Pain
Taking care of yourself mentally and emotionally is not enough when it comes to dealing with chronic pain. Thankfully, there are several holistic and alternative ways to relieve the pain.
● Acupuncture: A Chinese medicinal practice that involves stimulating certain points on the body, often with needles, is for treating chronic pain.
● Chiropractic therapy: Techniques such as spinal manipulation may help with chronic pain in certain patients.
● Hypnoanalgesia: Uses hypnotic suggestion to relieve pain, though it doesn’t work for everybody.
● Massage therapy: Can be an effective treatment for chronic pain, especially for those suffering from conditions such as fibromyalgia or arthritis.
● Exercise and diet: A healthy lifestyle with moderate exercise supported by a balanced diet and healthy sleep patterns reduces inflammation in the body, which reduces pain.
● Heat therapy: Has been proven effective for dealing with cramping and chronic pain.
Chronic pain affects millions of Americans every day. The causes of chronic pain are varied and not always easy to detect. While medication can help some people, the risk of abuse and addiction leads others to alternative ways of dealing with their pain. For many, therapy helps with the initial shock of diagnoses. Creating a peaceful home environment can also help provide respite from stressful pain triggers. Other alternative ways of dealing with chronic pain include acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, hypnoanalgesia, massage therapy, lifestyle changes, and heat therapy. These can help different people to varying degrees.
Relief from Your Chronic Pain
If you are looking for chiropractic care in New Hope, Golden Valley, and Plymouth, Minnesota, contact Bomberg Chiropractic today. We offer treatment for neck pain, back pain. Our certified and experienced chiropractors can ease the pain in your back, shoulder, and neck area. For an initial consultation, contact us at 763-450-1755, or you can message us at drb@bombergchiropractic.com.