Chronic pain (mainly back pain) affects about 40 million people in America. Some sources say the figure could be even higher as high as 100 million, depending on whom you ask. Chronic pain costs the American economy about $60 billion a year, more than cancer, heart disease, and obesity put together. It is one of the most common reasons people miss work. Long-term pain also costs the medical system an enormous amount of money in treatment and in medicine related costs.
Chronic pain treatment varies widely from doctor to doctor. In general, doctors try to manage chronic pain by providing medication, relaxation, exercise and prevention. The doctor may suggest physical therapy, oral medications, or nerve damage prevention such as the use of ice packs and heat packs. In severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery or deep nerve stimulation. Examples include tennis elbow, shingles and diabetic neuropathy. For more information about chronic pain you can first check it out here.
A very common example of chronic pain treatment is the use of pain killers. Doctors will often prescribe two different kinds: one to take for short periods of time that can be used when needed and one to take continuously in order to control symptoms of pain. Long-term medication use has been associated with increased mortality and other serious side effects including suicidal thoughts and depression. Many times, patients and doctors will start with just one kind of pain pill, which has been effective in the past, to see if it can provide relief from continuing back pain or fibromyalgia pain. Another example of long term pain control is the use of antidepressants, which are often prescribed along with pain killers in combination therapy.
Most treatments, whether they be long term or acute, are only effective if the patient stays on them for at least a month. Three months is the most common time frame reported by those who have undergone therapy for chronic pain. However, this does not mean that all patients should remain on these medications for three months. Patients should check their body's signals frequently and make changes in their life style if symptoms do not go away. If symptoms persist, they should seek advice from physicians such as the one from elitepainandspine.com.
It has also been shown that fibromyalgia can cause chronic pain due to sensory pathway dysfunction of the spinal cord and surrounding areas. This can lead to numbness or tingling sensations and these can progress to weakness of muscles, difficulty in walking, bladder and bowel incontinence and leg cramps. There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are many types of treatments available. Doctors may use drugs, physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, counseling, or a combination of these for pain relief. Patients should check with their primary care physician to determine which treatment will best suit them.
Fibromyalgia is known to be a very difficult illness to live with and millions of people from around the world struggle with this painful condition. Fortunately, there is a wide range of treatments available to help those who suffer from this condition. By identifying what causes your pain, your doctor can recommend the best course of treatment to ensure that you maintain your quality of life for as long as possible. Find more reference related to this article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_pain.
