THE BENEFITS OF ACUPUNCTURE FOR CHRONIC PAIN IN THE ELDERLY
Chronic pain can be defined as a progressive discomfort which can be of different degrees – from mild to severe. Chronic pain is usually linked to a chronic disease and persists longer than acute pain, and lacks a clear cause. Millions of people suffer from chronic pain, and effective tackling of chronic pain is necessary. It is here that chronic pain management services become important in lessening or eliminating the pain.
Pain management specialists help patients adopt a multifaceted approach to treat pain. They also teach people how to live with the chronic pain. These treatment programs are specific for each patient as different people have different pain tolerance levels and different reactions to pain. Persistent lower-back pain, chronic headaches and cancer pain belong to the category of chronic pains. Chronic pain may be the result of autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid conditions including Grave’s disease, genetic disorders such as multiple sclerosis, back or neck trauma and less defined disorders like fibromyalgia.
Chronic pain is usually managed by medical methods, psychological methods or alternate therapy approaches. Medical approaches can be divided into two – drug treatment and surgical intervention. Medications prescribed for pain management include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), steroids to reduce inflammation, muscle relaxants, or anti-anxiety medication to reduce tension, and antidepressants or anti-convulsants to help control specific types of nerve pain.
Non-drug therapies employed include individual/family therapy, hot and cold therapy, physical therapy, biofeedback, chiropractic and acupuncture massage, breathing exercises, self hypnosis and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). However, these therapies don’t work fast and require regular practice. Exercise, stretching and physical therapy reduce chronic joint pain and muscle soreness and spasms by increasing strength, tone and flexibility. Along with medications and therapies, psychological therapy should also be employed for anxiety and depression and is helpful in managing the emotional consequences of chronic pain.
Painkillers and other drug medications used in pain management sometimes have side effects which include nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Although with chronic pain management services, the pain may never go away completely, it is possible to reduce pain levels and thereby improve the quality of your life.
Whenever one recovers from either a traumatic situation or surgical operation there is always an acute pain experienced which is usually not permanent but temporary – it might last for some days or weeks depending on the conditions attached to it. In some cases once the problem that brought about the pain is treated the pain will naturally go away. There is another kind of pain experienced known as chronic pain, in this case, the is constant and does not subside easily as in the case of the acute pain; it can actually persist for several years. Chronic neck pain, back pain, headaches, cancer pains, arthritis are different examples of chronic pains experienced by people all around the world.
Before you begin treating a chronic pain, one must first discover the exact part of the body that is causing the pain, once this is discovered the solution is already in view. If the source of a problem is discovered then the problem is solved, since that area becomes the area of concentration in the application of treatment. Whenever a chronic pain is felt on any part of the body, it is always wise to investigate properly to uncover the cause and seek for ways to stop the pain, this can be done through the help of medical practitioners, but, most times even the most experienced doctors find it hard to uncover the direct cause of some pains.
It is not so easy to completely eradicate these chronic pains, although there are many methods of treatment available. In most cases one has to use about two to three methods together to get rid of these pains. A major area of concentration in this case is the issue of chronic pains in the neck, which is experienced around the neck, there are different factors that can contribute to a neck pain with different sources and diverse methods of treatment. Whatever the case is, do not leave a neck pain to continue without treatment or it will become more complicated with the passage of time. The most important thing is to find a way to relieve the pain so as to go on with work as usual, even if the pain is not completely eradicated.
People suffering chronic pains can also help themselves with the kind of food they eat, if your diet plan is not balanced, it will be wise to get a healthy balanced diet plan to reduce the pain. In addition to the above mentioned, you should also exercise properly and get enough rest, sleeping at least five hours a day, that way yo will discover that the pain is reduced and your activity level increased.
Acupuncture is another way to easily relieve chronic pains, in this case all that is needed is the puncturing of special nerve points with fine needles or even by laser beams, this will bring about a fast relieve from the pains. In all, make sure you visit your doctor to examine you and offer the best possible treatment to cure the chronic pain or neck pain.
In my mind, pain management is more medical art than medical science. The last thing we need is government bureaucrats deciding what treatment you can or cannot receive.
Pain clinics come in several forms:
– individual pain clinics staffed by MDs
– departments in hospitals and universities
– acupuncturists
– physical therapists
– psychiatrists/psychologists
Alternatives:
– clinics that readily prescribe pain killers – “pill mills”
– yoga
– hypnosis
– medical marijuana
Chronic pain focused in one area may possibly be dealt with more successfully through one type of pain clinic than another. Chiropractors, as an example,, are a customary destination for individuals with chronic back pain. But back pain is complicated, and may well require your GP, physical therapy, or even acupuncture.
Key categories of pain consist of:
– cancer
– arthritis
– sciatica
– back
– neck
– leg
– foot
– headache
Pain management is further complicated by insurance companies. Health insurance restricts most pain relief to pharmaceuticals prescribed by their plan physicians.
If your physician is unwilling or unable to prescribe the correct drugs and pain killers to take care of your ailments, visit your community pain clinic for assistance. Just keep in mind, most insurance companies will not cover chronic pain management. You could be required to pay out-of-pocket. Check the clinic website for insurance reimbursement and payment policies prior to making an appointment.
How Chronic Pain Sufferers Can Improve Their Lifestyle
There are millions of Americans that suffer with some form of chronic pain. Not all may have this condition due to the same reasons and each one’s pain will vary in degree and location and yet they all have one thing in common, they want relief. It can be difficult to find the right solution or treatment to successfully relieve one’s pain and is why it’s important to talk with a professional at a clinic.
A pain management clinic employs a variety of specialists that have been trained in the neurological, muscular skeletal, and psychological effects that chronic pain has on a person’s body, nerves, and mentality. A lot of chronic pain sufferers will look for relief with their family doctor, who will try to assist them in pain relieving treatments, but they aren’t experts in the field of pain.
A pain clinic provides expert professional treatments for the following conditions and more:
– Migraines
– Back Pain
– Nerve Pain
– Neck Pain
– Leg Pain
– Fibromyalgia
– Cancer Pain
– Pain from surgical procedures
– Psychological conditions associated with chronic pain
A clinics provides specialists in various fields of pain management so that individual’s can have the best overall treatment to give them back the control of their lives that the chronic pain has stolen from them.
There are a variety of treatments available through the specialists at these clinics which can include such treatments as: massage, narcotic pain relievers, invasive and non invasive treatments, TENS and physical therapy, and acupuncture to name a few.
All of the programs, no matter which treatments are involved, are directed toward improving the physical, psychological and social function of the patient. It’s important for a chronic sufferer to wisely choose the right clinic for your pain management as it is to select the right treatment program.
Tips for Choosing the Right Clinic
When an individual is looking for a clinic they should use the following tips:
1. The facility is close to home.
2. They provide a pain management program that’s right for you.
3. They employ an array of specialists, such as neurologists, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists who are well-versed in the techniques of pain management.
4. Provide individual and family counseling
5. Facilitates exercise training.
There are some pain clinics that offer more services than others, so considering the types of treatments they employ can be beneficial to choosing the right one.
Comments are closed.