Chronic pain in any part of the body can be seriously aggravating. Not only does it last for weeks or so, but it's also very hard to cure. It's very difficult to diagnose and pinpoint the exact cause of chronic pain. It can be anything from an injury to sleep deprivation or mental state. Pain is very subjective and its source can be hard to locate. The fact that it persists for so long can be quite detrimental to a person's well-being.
However, do not despair. Although all of this is true, chronic pain can be cured, or at least alleviated to a certain point. There are many techniques you can try, and some are bound to work for you.
Painkillers
Doctors usually prescribe analgesics, or painkillers, to a patient suffering from chronic pain. They are definitely the obvious way to go. There are various types of pain relievers, since there are various types of pain, too. They range from mild ones that don't even require a doctor's prescription, to opioids, much stronger ones that are used in extreme cases of unbearable pain. All this aside, you should always check with your doctor before taking any of these.
Milder ones are usually ibuprofen or aspirin-based. These drugs will only help temporarily. And there is another downside to them - there's a risk of becoming reliant on painkillers to the point of becoming immune to them.
Much stronger drugs should basically be the last resort. They can have an anti-inflammatory effect, and they can be steroidal or not. It all depends on what your particular diagnosis is. These are used for much higher levels of pain. Although very effective, they can do serious harm and be highly addictive, especially opioids like morphine. Doctors also use antidepressants, corticosteroids and anti-seizure drugs to cure chronic pain, even though it is not these drugs' main purpose.
Other Medicinal Methods
Local painkillers include different types of numbing ointments and creams that have an anesthetic effect on the affected area. These usually don't require a prescription since they are not that strong. Still, they can be somewhat effective. Just apply the numbing cream on the painful area and you should feel instant relief. However, the relief is rather temporary.
Massage and physical therapy are certainly more common. Anyone can get a massage, even if they are not in pain. It can help you relax your muscles and thus alleviate some of the pain. Physical therapy is more specific and focused on the problematic body part.
Without a doubt, the most invasive method is surgery. However, surgery is necessary only in extreme cases of chronic pain.
Non-Medicinal Methods
Acupuncture has become quite popular as a means of numbing chronic pain. In case you didn't know, acupuncture involves careful careful insertion of very thin needles into specific points on the body. It's considered alternative medicine, so the outcome is somewhat unpredictable. But, there have been cases where acupuncture worked perfectly.
Another similar method is electrical stimulation of the injured body part. Electric impulses stimulate your muscles to help them relax and prevent muscle cramps, which will build their strength and eventually relieve the pain.
Psychotherapy can also be very helpful with chronic pain. It's quite different from all the other tactics in this article because its effects are probably the least apparent. But, your pain can be caused by mental issues without you even knowing it. Insomnia, stress, depression - all of these can be huge contributors to your pain. Psychotherapy can help you deal with them.
A good diet can have a big impact on your pain, too. What is considered a 'good diet' is still rather vague, but all practitioners agree on one thing - a good diet should include a lot of healthy proteins and a moderate amount of carbohydrates. Proteins strengthen your muscles, whereas excess carbohydrates only contribute to weight gain and actually weaken your muscles.
And the last tactic, but certainly not the least, is CBD oil treatment. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a completely natural mixture of cannabis and hemp extracts. Lately, CBD oil has become so popular that even doctors are recommending it to patients with chronic pain. It has virtually no side effects and it's effective right away. If you want, you can check out a study by iSum on this topic.
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