Get on top of pain
16 Dec 2019
Get on top of pain.
There’s no doubt about it – sometimes getting old hurts. But with the US in an opioid epidemic, we have to be sensible about how we handle chronic pain. We give you some options and tips.
When it comes to treating pain, the first thing to do is to work out what sort of pain we are talking about. Generally, you can split it into two categories: acute (short-term, usually from injury) and chronic (ongoing or constant pain). The causes of these pains are often injury or surgery, but sometimes, in the case of chronic pain, it can be a niggling issue that just doesn’t go away.
So, what steps can we take to feel better, without being too reliant on popping pills?
Taking pills
Firstly, there is nothing wrong with taking painkillers for pain. We are fortunate to live in an age when we can relieve at least some of the symptoms of our discomfort.
However, it is important to follow doctors’ orders when it comes to painkillers and to follow the instructions on the packet if you’re taking painkillers at home.
“Drugs like opioids change the chemicals in our brain to alleviate the messages of pain. This makes them far more addictive, and they must be handled with care”
We’ve heard “if pain persists, see your doctor” so many times on TV that it ceases to mean anything, but it’s the first step if you have ongoing pain. See your GP.
A GP will make sure you take the right pain medication and get you stronger medication than over-the-counter if needed. Drugs like opioids that we hear so much about change the chemicals in our brain to alleviate the messages of pain our body is sending; this makes them far more addictive than your average pain pills, and they must be handled with care.
You need to watch out for the side effects associated with pain medication such as drowsiness, confusion and even liver damage (if taken incorrectly or too much).
Finding the cause
Tackling the pain at its source is a good remedy. If it’s your back, you might need to see an osteopath or chiropractor; if you have tooth pain, see the dentist.
It might sound obvious, but too many of us treat the symptoms and often put off looking into what is really causing the pain. That is the blessing and the curse of having effective pain medication at our fingertips.
Training the brain
Sometimes we can’t stop the pain, so we have to find other ways of dealing with it. One way is to concentrate on your daily routine and try not to focus too heavily on the pain. You can also talk to a psychologist or occupational therapist about solid strategies for coping with the pain. Your mind is a very strong tool in not just stopping, but also coping, with pain.
Alternative options
If you’ve tried all the obvious avenues of pain relief, you might want to consider alternative or complementary options.
These don’t need to be too far out there, but consider, for example, using yoga to assist a sore back, or try acupuncture for joint pain.
Australia is starting trials of medical marijuana, though the industry is in its infancy and there are herbal therapies to give you a break from traditional medicines.
Do your research and talk to your GP. We’re not suggesting you can cure cancer with meditation here; just that you need to check out some other options that may work for you.
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