Tips for Effectively Managing Pain

1. Tips for Effectively Managing Pain Pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp stab and can range from mild to extreme. The blog lists some important tips to effectively manage the pain symptoms. Pain is a very common condition affecting people of all age groups. Pain can affect not just our physical existence, but every aspect of our life including how we manage our day-to-day tasks. Managing pain symptoms can be a challenge. The type and intensity of pain varies from one person to another and depends on the condition. If not evaluated and addressed, pain can lead to other health issues such as depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, reduced functionality and independence, which may directly affect the quality of life. Reputable pain management centers in Brooklyn, NYC use proven modalities to help people better manage pain and improve mobility and quality of life. Type of Pain - Is it Acute or Chronic Pain? Managing pain involves different approaches. A specific approach which may work for one person may not necessarily work for someone else. Treatment options will depend on several factors like – causes ( like injury, medical conditions and surgery), intensity of pain, duration of pain and what things makes the pain condition severe or worse. Therefore, it is important for patients to share all the symptoms of pain with the physicians as this will allow them to find the right solutions. In order to devise the correct pain management plan, physicians will first find out whether the pain is acute or chronic. Acute pain–Acute pain usually starts suddenly and goes away once the cause has been treated. Broken bones, burns, or cuts are examples of this type. Acute pain may both be mild and last just for a moment or it may be severe and last for weeks or months. In most cases, the pain does not last longer than 6 months, and it stops resolves when its underlying cause has been treated or has healed. However, if the problem is not effectively treated, it may lead to long-term or chronic condition.

2. Chronic pain–Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the normal healing time for most injuries and illnesses. This type of pain can vary in nature – as it may be throbbing, burning, aching or stabbing in quality. It can also vary in severity and may be worse at times of increased stress or physical exertion. Patients can feel pain in one part of their body or it may be widespread. Typical symptoms include – tiredness, reduced appetite, depressed mood, problems with sleeping and other sensory symptoms, such as pins and needles. The condition can occur due to ongoing conditions such as arthritis, headaches, low back and neck problems and pain caused by nerve damage. Managing Pain Symptoms – Tips Here are some common tips to effectively deal with pain – Start with small goals - Setting goals for yourself can make you feel good about your progress despite combating pain. One of the main issues while dealing with pain is that a patient may feel like they are not in control of their lives once pain takes over. By setting correct goals, you can plan to work around heavier bouts of pain and planning daily activities in the best possible way you can. Keep moving – Most people who experience pain symptoms think that it is good to take break from all types of physical activities. But, staying away from all activities can actually make the pain more severe. Being physically active can help you get stronger and move better. The key is knowing what is good and tolerable for your body to get stronger and challenge your body without doing too much, too soon. A correct combination of physiology with exercises can help effectively prevent injury and pain. Physical therapy treatment offered in multispecialty healthcare and rehabilitation centers involves a correct combination of therapeutic exercise programs such as general strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercises that help to improve joint function and mobility. Core strengthening and stretching exercises can reduce muscle strain, increase range of function and speed up healing. Maintain a healthy body weight – Recent reports suggest that more than 70 percent of people in the U.S. are overweight, with nearly 40 percent considered obese. Carrying extra pounds can strain your muscles. Reducing body weight can keep the pain condition under control and prevent the condition from getting worse thereby reducing the chances of surgical treatment options in the near future. Reduce/stop the intake of alcohol - Pain can make sleep difficult and alcohol can make sleep problems worse. Reducing or stopping the intake of alcohol can improve the quality of life.

3. Quit smoking – Smoking inhibits blood flow and prevents tissue throughout the body from getting oxygen and the essential nutrients, which can cause the spine and other muscles to weaken. This can directly contribute to disc degeneration and slow down the body’s natural healing mechanisms, which make it even more difficult to recover from pain and other injuries. Smoking cessation programs in Brooklyn-based healthcare centers utilize auriculotherapy to reduce nicotine cravings. Reduce stress level – Negative feelings such as stress, depression, anxiety and anger can increase the body's sensitivity to pain. Controlling the stress symptoms can help reduce the intensity of pain. Try relaxation techniques - Meditation and deep breathing are two techniques that help your body relax, which may ease pain. Focusing on the breath, ignoring thoughts, and repeating a word or phrase causes the body to relax. In order to practice meditation and breathing exercises, find a quiet location, a comfortable body position, and block out distracting thoughts. Any healthy activity that provides complete relaxation can help a person to get better prepared to manage pain. Keep track of your pain levels – In order to effectively treat your pain, physicians need to know how you have been feeling between the visits. Maintaining a log of your daily "pain score" can help you track your pain. At the end of each day, note pain levels on a 1 to 10 pain scale. In addition, note all the activities that you performed that day. This pain log will to give your physician a good understanding your physical functioning level. Foods to Eat and Limit - Inflammation often causes pain, and certain chemicals in foods may exacerbate it. Foods that may ease inflammation include leafy greens, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, asparagus, and low-sugar fruits like pineapple, cherries, cranberries and soy products. For most patients, making the above changes in their lifestyle can help keep pain at bay. However, if the pain symptoms do not subside after a few days or if they experience additional symptoms, medical treatment may be necessary. Pain treatment in Brooklyn-based multispecialty healthcare centers will include a wide variety of non-surgical treatment modalities like - Ice or Heat application, TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), Physical therapy, Chiropractic care, Game Ready Cold Therapy Compression System, NSAIDs and other remedies. Surgery will be considered only as a last resort when non-surgical treatment modalities do not provide the desired results.