Chronic pain affects your whole body and your mind. If severe, it can incapacitate you; cloud your thinking and your judgement.
There is no one solution that works and certainly different therapies work differently depending on the person and the problem.
There has been a panicked reaction to Opioid overdose deaths. This resulted in drastic restrictions which has inadvertently caused patient harm. This report from USA on Opioids.
Chronic pain can be managed with small steps. If you live in B.C. be sure to check below for links to health coaches from SelfManagement Remember to consult your healthcare providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, naturalists, kinesiologists and other exercise therapists. Here’s other links to bcphysio.org and You Tube physio
You could try this program designed in Australia. Free online pain management.
Management does not involve only medications and exercise. One person’s feedback had me thinking – I had not included the importance of spiritual health. Through the centuries we have had wise men all over the world teach us about kindness, love, letting go, forgiveness, living in the moment. This is an integral part of healing. Sometimes we forget we have to start with ourselves. Check out my blog: 16th May 2019 for more on this.
There are many tools from people across the globe. Music to help PTSD and Stress.
I have included a video from PainBC
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the video if you have time and the interest to watch it. copy the link (control c and paste control v)
https://youtu.be/avZBNRBTpio
Chronic pain can significantly affect your daily functioning, not only at home, but at work too.
There are no short cuts.
If you have completed Steps 1 through to 7: look at the next video:
(I have outlined the Step by Step approach: look below the video).
Follow the Step by Step approach to understanding pain and finding personal approaches that could work for you. This can be used in conjunction with the medications mentioned below.
Improve Chronic Pain & Where to Start?
Step 2 Breathing and Chronic Pain
Step 4 Understanding Fascia – Careful – Graphic pics
Step 6. Sitting is the new Smoking
Step 7 It’s not all in your Head
Interventional Pain Management
Ice can help for swelling – wrap in a cloth and apply 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
Heat is helpful and some companies sell infrared clothing. http://www.backontrackproducts.com
or http://www.backontrackproducts.com/ca
Medication can provide some relief. Not all pain can be cured. It is hard to be active and to start moving but activity helps.
Remember pacing. Step 5 Pain and Pacing
It is safer to use as little medication as possible and to avoid medication that has serious side effects. All medications have some sort of side effect. I remember a professor telling me that if a medication doesn’t have a side effect, it doesn’t have an effect.
It makes sense to use medication if your pain is causing you distress. For instance, say you aren’t sleeping well or waking because of pain. Trying Acetaminophen, as an adult you can easily take 1gram (or 1000mg) at night, could be strong enough to improve sleep.
Acetaminophen is safe unless you take more than 4g (4000mg) per 24 hours. Then it can be dangerous.
If you find you need this medication often – better to take it regularly. Get on top of the pain. You’ll need less medication that way
Anti-inflammatories
Anti-inflammatories, on the other hand, can be dangerous even with small doses. It depends on your body and your luck. Up to 6% of people can develop heart complications from an NSAID and they are more likely to upset your stomach. it can also raise blood pressure and other side effects. examples of NSAIDs: Asprin, Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Celebrex and Meloxicam.
If you are taking preventative ASA (Asprin) and you want to take an Anti-inflammatory (NSAID) then you may wish to rather take Asprin for pain.
Consult your healthcare professional before taking medications.
Your pharmacist can be very helpful too.
There are instances when pain is moderate to severe where medication with side effects will have to be considered. I think there has to be a balance where the side effects of the pain have to be weighed against the side effects of medication. That is why it is so important that you are able to communicate your pain to your doctor/healthcare provider. Have the conversations necessary to make reasonable choices.
Here are some articles you may find interesting about medication and also the effects of not having adequate pain control Pain BC website
Different types of medications – Check with your healthcare provider: I don’t have place here to talk about ALL THE DIFFERENT INDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS.
Antidepressant drugs that in low doses are used for pain, rather than depression (To treat depression you need high doses of these drugs) These medications are also used for cancer pain: Amitryptaline, Nortryptaline, Venlaflaxine, Prisiq. Amitryptaline and Trazodone can help sleep and with good sleep you can have less pain.
Some anticonvulsants have been linked to improved pain, like Gabapentin and Lyrika, but they also have side effects and can cause harm when used in combination with other drugs, especially opioids.
Hydroxychloroquine is a pill used for malaria that can be used for severe arthritis with an inflammatory component. It can be used for psoriasis arthritis.
Many treatments for inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis can be tried: like Methotrexate plus hydroxychloroquie plus and Sulphasalazines before biologicals.
Please feel free to comment on contact page and I will try and respond on my blog
Bear with this doctor who has over thirty years of medical experience but only learned to text three years ago – 2015. Eek. Be warned!