Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain is real, unremitting, and persists over time. Chronic pain afflicts over fifty million people in the U.S. annually. Appropriate pain management can now effectively help most patients find some relief from their suffering. A specialist, trained in the use of the most up-to-date treatments, best manages chronic pain. He understands that all pain is not the same, and should not be treated the same.

Chronic pain impacts work, sleep, personal relationships, and social life. It can slow recovery from other health related issues. No one should feel they just, "have to live with it." The earlier treatment for pain is started, the better the results are likely to be.

Symptoms

Not all pain is alike, and the best way for a physician to help a patient who lives with chronic pain is to learn as much as possible from that patient. Because of this, it is critical that a patient be willing to communicate honestly with the doctor. It can also be helpful to keep a daily log about the pain:

When it occurs (day and time)
What the patient was doing at its onset
Its intensity
What helps relieve the pain
Description of the pain
Any change in activities due to the pain.

Remember to take the log to each doctor's appointment.

Listed below are some common terms used to describe pain. However, if these do not adequately describe the pain, please use others.

Aching
Burning
Cramping
Crushing
Deep
Dull
Electric
Knot-like
Pinching
Pins and Needles
Pounding

Pressing
Prickling
Pulsing
Sharp
Shooting
Sore
Stabbing
Stretching
Tender
Throbbing
Tight

Treatment

Although some people may be concerned about developing an addiction to certain pain medications (such as morphine), that rarely occurs if used as directed by the doctor. Several non-drug therapies may relieve pain as well. These may include exercise, massage, relaxation therapy, acupuncture and others. Use of hot or cold compresses may offer some relief as well.

Support

The American Pain Foundation
http://www.painfoundation.org
201 North Charles Street, Suite 710
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
1-888-615-PAIN (7246)

"Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, education and advocacy. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management."

The American Chronic Pain Association
http://www.theacpa.org
PO Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
916-632-0922.

"The ACPA: offering support and information
for people with chronic pain.
…to facilitate peer support and education for individuals with chronic pain and their families so that these individuals may live more fully in spite of their pain.
…to raise awareness among the health care community, policy makers, and the public at large about issues of living with chronic pain.
The American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) is a non-profit, tax exempt organization with more than 400 chapters … a support system for people with chronic pain through education in pain management skills and self-help group activities."