Chronic Pain: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Chronic pain treatment helps in managing the constant pain felt by the patients. A number of effective treatments are available for people suffering from chronic pain. However, it is important to keep in mind that chronic pain cannot be completely cured, but can be managed. Chronic pain is usually the kind of pain which lasts for 3 to 6 months or more. The patient’s body can keep hurting for months and even years after a certain injury. Chronic pain takes a toll on the individual’s mental health as well. But chronic pain can be managed easily with the right treatment and can help individuals lead a healthier life.

A series of messages zip through the nervous system to make the individual feel the pain. In case of former injury, the concerned area turns on the pain sensors to pass the message to your brain. Back problems, nerve damages, infections, arthritis and past injuries can be the main reason for the pain to start in various parts of your body. Chronic pain can make you feel frustrated and depressed as the pain interferes in the affected individual’s daily life. Often doctors can use antidepressants as a treatment for chronic pain. The pain can also stop you from getting a good sleep and can make you feel extremely stressed as well.

There are a number of treatments available today in order to manage chronic pain. The treatments try to reduce the pain and help people get back to their daily activities without having to feel much pain. Acupuncture, medications and electrical stimulation can help the concerned individual manage their pain. Minimally invasive psychotherapy and relaxation therapies can make a remarkable change in the patient’s life. Other treatments like biofeedback and behavior modification can also be used to help the patient. Complementary or alternative medications are also used to provide additional relief. These may include treatments like acupuncture, massage therapies and meditation.

There are methods of self-management for regulating chronic pain as well. These self-management treatment methods seem to be extremely promising as people have admitted to seeing a remarkable change in their physical health after trying these methods. Patients engage in activities like decision making, pacing and problem solving and become an active participant in managing the pain. The goal of self-management treatment of chronic pain is to make patients lead a successful life despite having a persistent pain. These self-management methods help people increase their ability to cope with and respond to serious chronic pain.

Any individual who shows symptoms of facing chronic pain like a dull ache or different kinds of shooting, throbbing or squeezing pain can get themselves checked for chronic pain. Stiffness in the body or soreness can also lead to chronic pain. Individuals who complain of constant lack of energy and having a feeling of being tired all the time may also be suffering from this pain. Any individual who has been suffering from any kind of pain for a period of 3 to 6 months or more should get the treatment for chronic pain.

People who do not have a lasting pain in a specific part of their body are not under the threat of having chronic pain and should therefore, not be treated for the same.

Certain painkillers which are prescribed to chronic pain patients can have side effects like constipation, nausea, addiction, vomiting respiratory depression among others. However, the alternative treatments do not have any side effects.

Since chronic pain cannot be completely cured but only managed, the alternative treatment can go on for as long as the patient deems fit. Getting enough sleep and quitting the habit of smoking are some of the guidelines which a person suffering from chronic pain should follow.

Chronic pain can only be managed and needs regular medications and alternative treatment for reducing the pain significantly. Chronic pain needs a treatment throughout life as it can never be recovered from completely.

The price of various painkillers prescribed starts from Rs 500.

Individuals suffering from chronic pain need to get the medications or treatments like acupuncture, biofeedback, electric stimulation, psychotherapy or relaxation therapies all throughout their lives.