Chronic pain is a condition that affects millions of people everyday. Hallie Levine in her article titled, "9 Things You Never Knew About Chronic Pain", details various information about chronic pain and some things that may help or hinder chronic pain. One in four Americans currently suffer from pain that lasts more than one day. In general, women are more likely to feel pain from various conditions. Experts in the field are unsure why women are more susceptible but it has been hypothesized that it may be due to hormones, genetics, immune system, estrogen levels and psychological factors. Men may be more susceptible to acting tough and not acknowledge pain, so the statistics on who experiences more pain may be skewed due to this fact. It may seem intuitive to rest when pain is present, but providers are encouraging people to resume daily activities as soon as they can. One research study reported that those with low back pain who stayed active ended up experiencing less pain and increased function than patients who were told to decrease activity.
Perimenopause in women can increase the incidences of migraines. The risk has been found to increase by 62 percent around this time of life but birth control pills or estrogens patches may help decrease pain. There are some natural remedies that have been found to help chronic pain. These include acupuncture, chiropractic, yoga and massage. A study done by the NCCIH showed that over an 18-month period chiropractic treatments can work as well as typical treatments for lower back pain. Chiropractic adjustments can allow help with neck pain and migraines. The author notes that consuming items like tart cherry juice, sardines and oil olive can help alleviate pain. In a 2013 study, those that had osteoarthritis drank 8 oz. of tart cherry juice twice a day for a six-week period. Participants saw decreases in pain and increased function. Sardines and olive oil have both been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. Refined grains, red and processed meats and sugary drinks have all been found to negatively affect chronic pain due to an increase in inflammation.
There have been some myths that cracking knuckles can potentially lead to arthritis and evidence has not been found to support this notion. The popping you may hear from cracking is due to bubbles popping in the synovial fluid around the joints. It may be beneficial to decrease the amount of knuckle cracking though because studies have shown cracking knuckles can lead to increased swelling and decreased hand grip strength. Fibromyalgia is a problem concerning the musculoskeletal system, which can lead to pain throughout the entire body. Treatments for fibromyalgia vary but some lifestyle changes like exercising and reducing stress may help. Providers may prescribe antidepressants or antiseizure medications to help with fibromyalgia pain. Opiods can be prescribed for acute injuries to reduce feelings of pain in the body, but the length of time on these medications should be reduced and used for as little time as possible given their addictive side effects. It is best to always speak to your provider if you have any concerns about chronic pain. To find out more ways to keep yourself healthy and free of pain, please visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com.
Source: http://time.com/4723105/chronic-pain-facts/
