Most ailments affecting our bodies are accompanied by the occasional pain in the affected areas. Most of this pain goes away once the disease is treated. However, this pain may not go away for chronic illnesses as some of these conditions are long-term, and their symptoms carry on for the duration of the disease. This has led to the need to manage this pain so patients can perform their day-to-day activities. William L Yancey MD is a renowned interventional pain specialist with vast expertise and experience in the field. More about what pain management involves is highlighted below.
What is Pain Management?
This typically involves methods that offer relief or reduce chronic pain levels in parts of our bodies over the long term. Chronic pain can be complicated and develops after an injury or a health issue. It causes significant effects on your quality of life and is associated with various mental and physical conditions like:
- Sleep problems
- Depression
- Overuse of medication
- Social isolation
Some of the well-known techniques involved in pain management include:
Physical Therapy
This entails physical methods applied to stretch and strengthen various joints and muscles. General techniques relieve pain all over the body, while specific ones will vary depending on the area of the body affected. Therapeutic exercises help people cope by reducing chronic pain. Other techniques involve exercise plans, massages, and red light therapy.
Hot and Cold Therapy
This method is safe for minimizing pain as the heat can assist dilate blood vessels and relax your muscles, encouraging healing after an injury. On the other hand, cold therapy decreases swelling that causes pain by reducing blood flow. This is typically through placing an ice pack enclosed in a towel on your skin.
Acupuncture
This process involves a physician inserting thin needles into your skin at specific points of the body. This helps alleviate certain pain ailments like short-term pain relief of the knee, neck, and lower back. Long-term effects are not well defined, but acupuncture has benefits that include:
- Decreased inflammation
- Pain relief
- Decreased muscle spasms
- Relaxation
Relaxation techniques
Chronic pain management can be challenging as you cannot control your discomfort. Relaxation methods assist you in easing muscle spasms, tension, pain, and aches. They also release endorphins, the body’s natural way of dealing with pain. Relaxation decreases your stress levels, thus reducing some chronic pain and improving your sleep.
Some typical relaxation methods include:
- Progressive muscle relaxation includes relaxing and tensing each muscle group for ten seconds from your toe to your head. Focus on your breathing while avoiding the muscles that cause discomfort.
- Deep breathing techniques like box breathing which is slow and relaxed to relieve tension
- Calming activities like reading a book, having a warm bath, or crafting
- Thinking calmly through the imagination of a calming environment for ten minutes. These include a birdsong or a sunny afternoon in nature.
Chronic pain can be frustrating because it may come back despite taking medications or going through various treatment plans. A visit to a pain management specialist can help improve your situation. For inquiries on pain management, visit our website, or call our offices in Woodlands, TX.
