November 4th to 11th in Canada is National Pain Awareness Week. So, for the sake of awareness, let’s shed some light on one of the most prevalent heath concerns that affects all of us at one point or another: chronic pain.
For starters, were you aware that in Canada alone, one in five people suffer from chronic pain — and that the statistic is going to get worse as the population ages? Or that about 15% of the population is at risk of developing chronic pain due to such factors as an accident, injury, or surgery? In fact, it can take anywhere from two to five years for effective treatment for chronic pain to take effect. What’s more, the financial impact of chronic pain is equal to both cancer and heart disease — and double that of depression.
You shouldn’t have to just accept chronic pain as a normal part of your life — it isn’t. You can actually develop chronic pain because of this dangerous mind-set: people with acute (or immediate) pain who just accept it and try to ‘grin and bear it’ or ‘walk it off’ end up more predisposed to developing chronic pain as a result.
You can take control of chronic pain. Here are a few tips and steps you can take to get in control of the problem if you suffer from chronic pain:
– Accept that you have chronic pain: This is the first, most critical step. It’s crucial that you really are honest with yourself and that you admit you have a problem. Chronic pain is not something you should ignore or try to bear. It is a serious and real health concern, and you should treat it as such.
– Seek out professional help: If you have chronic pain, the next step after acknowledging the problem is to get help. Contact your doctor or health care provider and see if he/she can either help you get started on the road to recovery by assessing the root cause of your pain, or if he/she can refer you to a specialist. This will make a huge impact on your condition.
– Take control of your pain on your own terms: This is essential. After consulting with a professional, you will also want to take extra steps along with whatever treatment or therapy he/she prescribes for you. You are responsible for your health and well-being, and you need to be proactive in your approach to controlling chronic pain.
For starters, get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and make sure you get enough exercise. While that last point may seem contradictory, regular physical exercise is often an excellent way to combat chronic pain, as many studies have shown. Ask your doctor about the right exercises that can help you get moving in a safe way.
– Take care of your emotional health: Chronic pain can take a very real toll on your emotional health as well as your physical health. If you feel sad, depressed, overwhelmed, or that you don’t have control of your chronic pain, by all means, seek help. Tell your doctor, spouse, or family members about the problem. Seek out support groups and, most importantly, know that you are not alone: chronic pain is a very prevalent problem that many North Americans face. By nurturing your emotional health, you will be much more capable of tackling your chronic pain.
– Assess your treatment options: You have many treatment options available to you when it comes to dealing with chronic pain. While we always recommend taking the natural route first, here are a few other options to get you started:
1) Prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as NSAIDs, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants, if needed. 2) Alternative and complementary therapies such as meditation, yoga, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, etc. 3) Physical therapy and personalized workout routines.
Take the first step today — go talk to your doctor about your chronic pain. You have so much to gain from it and only the pain to lose.
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