Blake Medical Center

Living with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain describes pain that is persistent and ongoing. Your nervous system continually fires pain signals to you for days, weeks, months, or years—without a break. This differs from acute pain in which your nervous system is suddenly triggered to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself. Chronic pain is there to stay, but it can be managed.

Chronic pain is associated with a number of conditions:

• Fibromyalgia: a syndrome consisting of severe and widespread chronic pain, severe fatigue, and sleep problems
• Arthritis: a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, causing the bones to rub against each other
• Sciatica: a condition marked by leg pain, as well as numbness, weakness, or tingling, which starts in the low back and runs down the sciatic nerve along the back of the leg
• Lupus: a disease in which the immune system attacks healthy cells that can damage any part of the body
• Other: cancer pain, headaches, carpal tunnel, Lyme disease, and dozens of other conditions

Some people may experience chronic pain from a certain condition or an old injury such as a fracture, sprained back, or serious infection; however, others develop chronic pain that is unrelated to disease or injury.

How Is Chronic Pain Treated?

Pain management is an approach to addressing chronic pain that involves multiple experts, including doctors, nurses, mental health practitioners, and physical therapists. The goal is to improve your quality of life and may involve a number of treatment options:

• Medications: A number of prescription and over-the-counter medications are available to relieve pain. It is important to discuss when and how to take these medications when you are dealing with chronic pain.
• Electrical stimulation: In this surgical procedure, the nerves of muscles are subjected to heat, massage, or other stimuli.
• Exercise: Weak or tense muscles can contribute to pain. Exercise can help by increasing blood and oxygen flow to muscles.
• Meditation, relaxation, and behavior modification may also be employed to treat chronic pain.
• Acupuncture: This ancient Chinese practice of inserting very small needles into specific areas of the body has been shown to decrease pain.

If your pain issues involve your back, the Spine Care Clinic at Blake Medical Center can help. Our team can assess your condition and help you find ways to manage pain. Have questions? Call our Consult-A-Nurse® line at 888-359-3552 for a physician referral.

Sources:
National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Related Posts:
Exercising with Arthritis
Exercises for a Healthy Back
Good Treatments for Bad Knees

Tags: acupuncture, arthritis, Blake Medical Center, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, hospitals Bradenton, pain management, spine care