Chronic Pain: Relief is Available

Chronic pain is the most common reason adults seek out medical care and is a condition that impacts the lives of millions of Americans each year. The CDC estimates that 50 million endure the condition on a daily basis, with another 20 million surviving pain considered “high-impact” on their day-to-day functions. Chronic pain is linked with everything from reduced mobility and quality of life to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, and even dependence on pain-relieving medications like opioids. How is chronic pain different from a typical pain response, and which pain management treatments will be safest and most effective for relief?

What is Chronic Pain?

Pain is a normal sensation that the body triggers in our nervous systems to let us know about possible injuries or tissue damage, alerting us to be careful and to rest. After some time, this “acute” pain should resolve, but in cases of chronic pain, the discomfort persists for weeks, months, and even years at a time. In some cases, the nervous system continues to relay pain signals because there’s an ongoing source of injury or damage, and in others, pain persists for no discernible reason.

How does Chronic Pain Impact Our Lives?

Chronic pain is not just a physically straining condition, it’s also emotionally and mentally taxing, and the impact can be woven through every aspect of our lives, from sleep and cognitive function to mood/mental health and physical conditioning.

“92% say chronic pain impacts sleep quality, which is directly connected to cognitive function and physical health.”

Instances of “High-Impact” chronic pain can be even more devastating, preventing people from being active or mobile, working, interacting socially, and even important self-care activities.

What are the Results of Chronic Pain?

Numerous studies show that chronic pain conditions have tremendous impacts on the body and mind, and patients are often at risk for developing further physical dysfunction and altered or impaired mental health states. Effective Pain Management Treatment options are also important because chronic pain is associated with increased risk of both anxiety and depression, and as many as 92% say it impacts sleep quality, which is directly connected to cognitive function and physical health.

What are Effective Pain Management Treatment Options?

In many instances of chronic pain, opioid medications are prescribed for relief. These pharmaceutical interventions mask the pain signals between body and mind, but unfortunately, the body quickly adapts to the medications and dangerous substance abuse conditions can arise. Ideally, your medical care will involve an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment protocol to improve the physical condition, but moving inflammation and pain out of the body is best achieved with an integrative, holistic approach.

• Options like chiropractic care align the joints in the body and spine for a stable foundation.
• Physical and massage therapy invite relief to stiff, imbalanced muscles and invigorates blood flow to distribute healing nutrients and the body’s own pain relief hormones.
• Pain Management injections provide the body with a break from the pain so it can continue the healing process.

Has Chronic Pain Taken Over Your Life?

At HealthStar Clinic, our focus is on providing our patients with holistic, healthy approaches to pain management treatment that include natural modalities like nutrition counseling, chiropractic care, physical and massage therapies and more. Although we seek to avoid interventional treatments, we also understand the necessity to meet our patients’ individual needs and are dedicated to providing responsible, effective care. Contact us today to learn more about the options available for your relief!