A Few Tips on How To Learn To Live With Pain by Dr. Cheryl A. MacDonald

Emotional stress can be influenced by a number of factors with respect to chronic pain. When beset by stress or anxiety, the chronic pain sufferer needs to consider: The degree of pain that is felt on a scale of 1-10, sleep patterns, triggers that bring on pain, ways they are coping with the pain, and the amount of psychological and emotional support they are receiving.

Look for Natural Ways to Cope with Pain:Managing pain-associated anxiety is ideal for keeping pain under control and enhancing the immune system functioning. The chronic pain sufferer can enjoy a better quality of life by using alternative treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, eating healthily, and following a regular regimen of exercise. Therefore, finding natural alternatives to relieve pain is preferred over dependence on medication, which can reduce the sufferer?s overall enjoyment of life.

Exerciseis one of the best ways to reduce pain. Chronic pain can be helped, as well, by following a healthy, nutritious diet. Exercise produces endorphins, which are mood-elevating hormones that are useful in combatting pain. To relieve pain the endorphins work in conjunction with analgesic-type receptors in the nerve endings, spinal cord and the brain. Exercise is probably the best way to treat pain as the endorphins that are produced during a workout are usually many times more powerful than analgesic medications and are non-addictive. Chronic pain sufferers can reap the benefits that are provided by endorphins by taking part in daily or regular exercise. These proven pain relievers can reduce anxiety and the existences of the symptoms associated with stress and effectively manage chronic pain.

Try to Make a Few Behavioral Changes.People need to examine how they are currently feeling to better manage pain. For example, if people feel frustrated or irritated then it is useful to recognize the feelings and then examine the behaviors that go along with having that irritable feeling. It is helpful to examine behaviors to assess the need to possibly initiate a change in attitude or behavior.

Pain Medications.There are two main types of medicines that are prescribed for the reduction of pain. Health practitioners recommend people use drugs that fall under the classification of analgesics or NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). They may also recommend antidepressant medications in some cases as well. Among analgesics, acetaminophen (sold under the well-known brand of Tylenol) is often used to reduce pain.

Nonprescription NSAIDs While analgesics are made specifically to relieve pain, NSAIDS are designed to reduce both pain and inflammation. Therefore, NSAIDs are often used to manage arthritis pain as the discomfort is brought on by swelling and inflammation of the joints. The most popular NSAIDs that are sold as nonprescription, over-the-counter medications are ibuprofen and aspirin.

NSAIDs not only relieve pain and reduce inflammation and swelling, they also thin the blood. Therefore, they have been found to be helpful, in low doses, in preventing heart attacks. On the other hand, frequent use of NSAIDs can cause stomach upset and/or kidney difficulties. Therefore, patients should inform their doctors what medications they are currently taking to avoid any adverse drug interactions or side effects. Women who are pregnant, asthma sufferers, individuals with kidney or liver problems, people taking medicines for high blood pressure, and those individuals who have had ulcer problems in the past should be careful about taking NSAIDs. Please consult your physician.

Holistic Treatments Methodsattempt to help treat the root causes of the pain, not just the symptoms. Practitioners take into account all aspects of one?s life to assess which treatments or herbal supplements will help best to manage the pain.

Physical and Occupational therapy
Acupuncture, Massage, Trigger Point Therapies
Chiropractic Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR,
Hypnosis, Meditation and Visualization Techniques
Herbal Medicines