What is pain and how to cope with it? (Part two)

Medications.

• Pain relievers (analgesics) are divided into weak (paracetamol, aspirin) and strong (morphine, pethidine, etc.). For different types of pain, there are specific medications.
• A general rule for pain medications is their administration on a set schedule and not only when you have pain. In subsequent visits, the doses are adjusted or replaced with other medications until satisfactory results are achieved.
• For very strong pain, the only effective treatment remains opioids (morphine, pethidine, etc.); used according to the doctor's prescription, these medications are safe and do not pose a risk of "addiction".

Physiotherapy. Controlled exercises and movements of the painful area often help in restoring the function of muscles and frozen joints.

Injections. Some medications work better when injected near the site of pain or along the path of the nerve that transmits the pain. Sometimes, a plastic thread (catheter) may be left in the area of pain through which medication is administered occasionally.

Electrical Stimulation (TENS). Placed on the skin, it reduces the sensation of pain in specific areas.

Psychological support is provided by the psychologist through relaxation techniques and biofeedback.

Complementary therapy such as joint manipulation, acupuncture, prolotherapy, etc., are useful. If you wish to try any of these, do not hesitate to tell your pain doctor, who will understand you.

Are there other things that can help you?

Yes! The most important thing is: do not lose hope. In the world, new discoveries and ideas are continuously embraced by pain specialists.

It is important to maintain physical and mental activity. Try to do daily physical activity, but do not overdo it. Walking or swimming are particularly beneficial for many people.

Wear comfortable shoes that do not deform your posture.

Try to maintain social activities, especially contacts with family and friends.

The experience of chronic pain affects not only the sufferer but also the people around them, especially the family. Try to share negative feelings with the medical staff, and the good moments with family and friends.

Try to create an honest relationship with the medical staff working for you. They are with you because they believe in your pain and want to help you.

Try not to seek advice from too many sources, as they are often contradictory and can confuse you. Doctors, like other professionals, have their preferred methods of working. Some are more specialized in certain techniques. If a pain doctor feels you could benefit more from a technique they are not as familiar with, they will refer you to another specialist. Likewise, if you feel you could benefit more from a type of treatment, discuss it without hesitation with your doctor.

Finally, enjoy the small things in life and cherish the moments, days, and weeks without pain.

Pain Clinics:

1. Diagnose and treat common syndromes, but little or not at all treated by traditional medicine like myofascial syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain, etc. They optimize medicinal treatment and often combine analgesics with medications that relax muscles or improve sleep.
2. For treatment, they widely use TrP injections, facet injections, sacroiliac joint injections, epidurals, nerve blocks, prolotherapy, ozone therapy, electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
3. Different components of physiotherapy such as exercises, massage, traction, “spray & stretch“, ischemic compression

A tip: treat acute pain as soon as possible (within three months) and as well as possible, because once it becomes chronic it is much more difficult to treat.