Chronic pain is a complex condition that affects 42 million-50 million Americans, according to the American Pain Foundation. Despite decades of research, chronic pain remains poorly understood and notoriously hard to control. A survey by the American Academy of Pain Medicine found that even comprehensive treatment with painkilling prescription drugs helps, on average, only about 58% of people with chronic pain.
The most common types of chronic pain are, in order of frequency: back pain, headache pain is number two when looking at both acute and chronic types of pain, pain in the joints comes next — it’s a very common condition whether caused by different types of arthritis or trauma to joints whether it’s accidents or sports injuries — and then a variety of different pains, types of pain, whether it’s chronic abdominal pain, acute abdominal pain, different types of chest pain syndromes sort of finish out the list.
What causes chronic pain, and what can you do about it? Disease can also be the underlying cause of chronic pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia are well-known culprits, but persistent pain may also be due to such ailments as cancer, multiple sclerosis, stomach ulcers, AIDS, and gallbladder disease.
Western Medicine Therapies
Common Western medicine treatments for chronic pain are Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Acetaminophen. There are many different types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), some of them (such as ibuprofen) may be obtained over-the-counter. NSAIDs are prescribed for acute muscular and bone pain as well as some types of chronic pain syndromes.
Other pain relief medications include: aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, for example), and naproxen (Aleve, for example). Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica).
However, in recent years, there has been a great deal of evaluation of the cardiovascular (CV) effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the selective cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) inhibitors. From a cardiovascular viewpoint, they can both raise blood pressure and affect overall cardiovascular risk. Multiple NSAIDs demonstrated vascular toxicity represented by heart failure and new onset or worsening of hypertension, according to the American College of Osteopathic Internists.
Here’s a list of the most common chronic pain conditions from WebMD.com:
- Low back pain
- Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis
- Headaches
- Multiple sclerosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Shingles
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2016 review found that non-drug approaches are effective for treatment of common pain conditions.
The review focused on U.S.-based trial results on seven approaches used for one or more of five painful conditions — back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraine — and found promise in the following for safety and effectiveness in treating pain:
- Acupuncture and yoga for back pain
- Acupuncture and tai chi for osteoarthritis of the knee
- Massage therapy for neck pain with adequate doses and for short-term benefit
- Relaxation techniques for severe headaches and migraine
CBD & Red Light Therapies
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, CBD products can contribute to the reduction and relief of chronic pain. Clinical research (including both cell culture and animal models) has shown CBD to have a range of effects that may be therapeutically useful, including anti-seizure, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, anti-psychotic, and anti-anxiety properties.
Another pain relief alternative is Red light therapy which works fast to reduce swelling, provide pain relief, and provides other treatment options. Research at Oxford, Stanford, the Mayo Clinic, and other research facilities have shown that Photonic therapy is a proven way to treat virtually any injury.
Unchain from pain today by calling (248) 791-3936 or visit www.detoxdayspa.com/chronicpain.
Leave a Reply