Chronic pain commonly comes from degenerative conditions, many of which require substantial treatment strategies. Without treatment, recurring pain can impact the quality of life.
There are many available options for pain management, including methods that don’t require drugs. These techniques can lead to acceptable outcomes without the side effects of medications. If you have chronic pain, you should consult your doctor and consider these treatment options.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
One of the most prevalent methods for pain management is to undergo physical therapy. Patients typically work with a therapist who helps them through a structured exercise program. In physical therapy, patients perform exercises focusing on stretching, muscle strengthening, and pain-free movement. The training program is progressive, so patients perform increasingly intensive exercises over time.
Physical therapy works by improving the biomechanics of your spine and affected joints. Targeted exercises work by strengthening muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They improve these supportive tissues’ ability to keep your back or joint stable, potentially reducing pain.
General exercise is also essential for controlling chronic pain. Regular physical activity improves blood circulation, allowing damaged tissues in your back to receive more oxygen and nutrients. An improved blood supply can lead to better healing, reduced inflammation, and decreased pain.
Dietary Changes
Given that your spine supports much of your body weight, being overweight puts excess stress on your back and exacerbates symptoms. Weight reduction can lead to substantial improvements in pain symptoms.
A practical method for healthy weight loss is to manage your diet. Make sure to eat a well-portioned diet and to limit your consumption of high-fat and high-sugar items. Track your calories, so you can gradually and consistently reduce your weight. For the best results, work with healthcare providers who can help you improve your eating habits.
Also, some foods tend to promote inflammation, with culprits being processed foods and items with added sugar. Avoiding these foods is a great way to prevent chronic pain from flaring up.
Chiropractic Care
The spine’s structure comprises of 24 bones or vertebrae along with discs, nerves, connective tissues, and muscles. It also houses the spinal cord, which transmits nerve impulses throughout the body. Ruptured discs, inflamed muscles, and pinched nerves can result in chronic back and neck pain, which may extend to the arms and legs. In dire cases, spinal pains can disable bodily movement.
A trained chiropractor can determine the cause of your spinal pains and provide treatment through manual spine adjustments. These correct misalignments and help alleviate pain. Chiropractic care can also include modalities such as massage therapy, acupuncture, and myofascial release in your treatment plan. Aside from neck and back pain, chiropractors can also address joint stiffness, headaches, sciatica, headaches, and disc problems.
Lifestyle Changes
Recurring discomfort represents an ongoing or unhealed injury or underlying mechanical problems. While these issues are being addressed by your doctor, it is important to adjust your lifestyle. You must adjust your regular activities to prevent placing excess stress on your body.
A useful technique is to be aware of the times when your pain flares up. Note the events that lead to painful episodes. You’ll end up with a list of activities that tend to trigger more pain, allowing you to avoid them. Planning your daily activities to reduce pain can also prevent the underlying condition from becoming more severe.
If you have vices such as smoking, consider quitting. Nicotine and tobacco products can slow down healing and compromise blood circulation, making your condition worse. Work with your doctor to implement an effective program for quitting smoking.
Meditation and Counseling
Pain also has psychological effects. People with chronic pain might experience significant frustration, making them more vulnerable to mental health conditions such as depression. Therefore, treatment for chronic pain should also include a review of your mental health and necessary treatment.
Meditation and counseling can help you avoid fixating on your discomfort. These therapies can improve your mental fortitude, increasing the effectiveness of other treatment strategies.
Chronic Pain Treatment in Delaware
Overall, there are many non-pharmacological methods for dealing with chronic pain. Physical therapy, chiropractic care, and improvements to your lifestyle can allow your body to manage pain better. Meditation and other psychological interventions can help you deal with the mental health implications of chronic pain. For the best results, you should work with a healthcare facility that implements a holistic treatment approach.
With Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers, you can depend on us to go beyond traditional treatment modalities. Our medical experts are here to provide cutting-edge techniques for interventional pain management with several facilities throughout Delaware. You may visit or call any of our locations, or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment. We look forward to being your pain management partner!
