Pain=Pain Medication--this is what we call pain management?

Posted by C.Worring


What is pain management?   Pain = Pain medication?  I know that there is such a thing as pain management...but what is it really?

Today there are many options being used as pain management techniques.

From my experience, having gone through surgery in the past,  I discovered some very interesting things about pain management treatment.

I noticed that many of the most commonly used techniques like heat, ice, ultrasound, TENS (electronic muscle stimulation), massage, medications, were only providing patients temporary pain relief. I absolutely hate it when they did the electronic muscle stimulation for my back due to an injury.  It felt so strange ...like insects crawling beneath my skin...ahhh.

Talking to friends, family and acquaintances, all had the same complaint-- "As soon as they tried to return to their active lifestyles it wasn't long before the painful symptoms came roaring back.

And, most of those who tried to 'just deal with it' or push through the pain ended up with a long list of increasing injuries."

After constantly researching the how's and why's about the most commonly used pain management techniques I finally uncovered the answer as to why they weren't more effective.

When a patient goes to the doctor's office or therapy clinic the doctor or physical therapist will attempt to treat the area of the body that is in pain.

For example, a patient with shoulder pain will be treated at the shoulder. A patient with knee pain will have their knee treated.

But, I realized that in almost every case the area of pain is only a symptom and not the actual cause of the pain.

For example, you can have lower back pain as a symptom but the actual cause of your lower back pain may not actually be your lower back.  Anyone agree? A personal trainer pointed it out to me once...that having a weak stomach muscle will increase the chances of back pain. He specifically told me that strength training is the answer.

The Actual Causes Of Chronic Pain

The actual causes of chronic pain often are created by muscle imbalances that result in a host of painful symptoms. For example, you can have lower back pain as a symptom but the actual cause of your lower back pain isn't necessarily your lower back. From my research I discovered that it can be due to muscle imbalances that cause your thigh muscles and hip flexors to overcompensate and because your hip flexors attach to each vertebrae in your lumbar spine you can get lower back pain.

I am not a doctor nor a physical therapist, but I believe in exercise...forget the pain pills!

Interesting isn't it? We all know that a tylenol, aspirin...etc is much easier--let's get real, all is good but temporary! Like any drug, it's long term effects are just horrible!

I believe that it's like this for many other types of chronic pain and injuries.

It is therefore, vital to get a thorough assessment to determine the actual causes of your pain so you can begin a pain management treatment program designed to address your causes so you can eliminate or at least greatly reduce it.

A properly designed exercise program is (at least in my opinion) the best defense against chronic pain and injuries.

Exercise is an excellent pain management technique that can eliminate injuries, strengthen muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones, maintain joint health, enhance flexibility and so much more.

So let's go on folks....let's keep up with our daily workouts!