Do you suffer from pain regularly? If so, you are not alone.
Chronic pain affects the lives of more than 60 million Americans—not to mention the countless people who care for them, according to the US Pain Foundation. It spans all ages and results from countless diagnoses.
Despite the enormous effect of chronic pain, too many people still feel isolated, misunderstood, dismissed, or unheard. September is Pain Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding of chronic pain, improving pain management, and supporting millions of people living with persistent discomfort.
While acute pain is something all of us have probably experienced after an injury, chronic pain can be harder to understand if you don’t suffer from it. Chronic pain can also be harder to resolve, in part because pain medications are intended for acute pain and should not be used long-term for chronic pain.
“For someone suffering from chronic pain, we recommend working on a stepwise approach, exhausting all noninvasive therapies and modalities first, such as over-the-counter pain medications, patches, and topicals/salves; attending physical therapy or engaging in a home exercise program at least five days a week for at least six weeks; staying as active as reasonably possible; getting proper rest and nutrition; trialing activity modification and pacing activities,” explains Betsy Allen, FNP, from Northern Light Pain Management clinic in Presque Isle. “If these things fail, patients should speak to their primary care office about getting imaging and possibly a referral to pain management when/if applicable.”
Providers in a pain clinic can use a variety of interventional procedures to help with pain while avoiding opioid use. These include physical therapy exercises, various kinds of injections, radiofrequency ablations, kyphoplasty, and nerve blocks. These treatments focus on improving mobility while decreasing discomfort. This approach lessens recovery time and minimizes risks linked to surgical procedures.
Allen encourages patients to see their primary care provider if their pain is greater than six out of 10 on a near daily basis, if there is a new injury, or if they are experiencing minor neurological deficits. She also urges patients to seek emergency care when warranted.
For more on pain management, visit: northernlighthealth.org/pain