Living with chronic pain will take an extreme toll on your body and mind. You can fight through the pain for a while, but it’s not uncommon for those who are dealing with it to become a shell of themselves because they often lose the aspects of life that made them happiest. This could be sports, exercise, or even an ability to get up and work on their hobbies. At Pain & Addiction Medicine Inc, we want to help you learn about chronic pain treatments that are available so you can get your life back.
Exercise
Taking a 15 minute walk, yard work or stretching can impact pain. It seems difficult to get moving and exercise when you’re in constant pain, exercising boosts pain relieving endorphins in your body. They have been called the “feel good” chemicals in your blood. Endorphins will interact with the opioid receptors and have a similar action to reduce pain. The more you’re able to exercise, the better you’ll manage your pain. Movement is important to limit arthritic pain too.
Physical therapy
This is best as a training program to learn how to stretch and exercise. Most chronic pain conditions can be remedied by movement. Yes, this seems counterintuitive as pain is often keeping us from moving. However, physical therapy can help with targeted movement and exercises that will strengthen muscles in the area where you’re experiencing pain. This puts less strain on joints and tendons so it’s easier to move. Physical therapy often involves treatment beyond movement and exercise and can include massage and ultrasound therapy.
Nerve pain medications
It’s not unusual for chronic pain to be the result of misfiring or damaged nerves. This is often described as shooting pain, burning, or a stinging sensation. Nerve pain medications like Elavil, Effexor, Cymbalta, gabapentin and others can effectively treat neuropathic pain to reduce the sensations caused by nerve damage.
Suboxone/Buprenorphine treatment
Suboxone, or Subutex, or the generic active ingredient buprenorphine, used under the tongue daily or as a weekly patch--Butrans--is a drug that’s commonly used to help quell opioid cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms, but it can also be used to manage chronic pain. The drug that’s branded as Suboxone, by the way, is a combination of two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a very chemically "sticky" opiate that knocks out most other less "sticky" opiates like heroin, oxycodone or fenantyl; while naloxone is an opioid antagonist which if injected counteracts the effects of opioids (it does nothing under tonue). Using Suboxone to treat chronic pain can be especially effective for those who are in recovery from addiction.
Relaxation techniques
It’s not uncommon for chronic stress to lead to chronic pain. As your body experiences high levels of stress, it releases a chemical called cortisol which can lead to inflammation. Meditating, soaking in a warm bath, listening to soothing music, and practicing deep breathing can help you relax your mind and body leading to relaxed muscles and reduced pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years as a way to help encourage the body’s natural healing process. Part of this process works as the needles in the skin send a message to the brain to release endorphins. This will help to manage pain throughout your body as the hormone promotes relaxation and positive thinking.
Get in touch for more
Don’t let pain continue to manage your life. Learn how you can better manage your pain to get back to doing the things you love. At Pain & Addiction Medicine Inc, we offer a variety of chronic pain treatments that can assist you with reducing your daily pain. Reach out by filling out our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
