But chronic pain is a different condition. This is pain that doesn’t fade with time, lasting for weeks to months to becoming a never-ending problem. It can range from mild distraction to bed-ridden debilitation, and it’s never far from the mind of the person suffering from it. Such pain can lead to loss of the enjoyment of life, end family relationships, stifle work opportunities, and generally reduce the quality of life from enjoyment to mere toleration.
The original cause of the pain doesn’t matter. It can be from an injury or infection or can be the result of a disease like cancer or arthritis, a headache, or even nerve damage. It may stem from a work-related injury or because the person is obese, thereby putting more wear and tear on the body.
Worse are the cases where there is no apparent cause. Those are maddening, because no clear treatment exists, thus leaving the sufferer with no path out of his or her misery. The good news is medical personnel now understand that such pain without a determined source isn’t something that patients have “in their head,” meaning they are imagining it. That used to be a common refrain, but as science has uncovered more details about nerves and neural pathways, diagnosis and treatment options have improved.
Chronic Pain Is Widespread
Under medical definitions, there is no “cure” for chronic pain. But there are any number of medicines or treatments that hope to reduce the affliction to manageable levels.
Many Americans suffer from chronic pain. In a 2011 Gallup-Healthways poll, it was reported that more than one-third of Americans older than age 50 have chronic back, neck, leg or knee pain. More than one-fifth of Americans age 40 to 80 suffer from some other type of pain. The poll surveyed more than 350,000 Americans aged 18 and older, asking them if they have a neck, back, knee or leg condition or if they had any other affliction causing recurring pain in the last 12 months. The poll reports that chronic pain seems to increase rapidly after age 25, and the number of those reporting the condition tapers only slightly after age 60.
Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Although many people suffer from chronic pain and do not get much relief from medicine or treatments, there are new technologies that focus on alleviating the suffering. These range from holistic treatments to acupuncture to surgery and electromagnetic stimulation and pumps. All have the same goal: relief.
Here are some methods currently being used:
Blocking -- Using X-rays, physicians inject numbing medication in hopes that it dampens or even stops chronic pain. The injections can be in any location, depending on the type of pain and the body part being afflicted. The nerves sending signals to the area causing the pain are targeted. This technique is not permanent, and a regular regimen of injections may be needed, particularly in cases of cancer.
Radio Waves -- This uses radio frequency ablation as its main source. The physician heats the nerve believed to be causing the pain, in effect short-circuiting the connection. This is usually done with a CT scan. This is a longer-lasting form of treatment that can bring relief for up to a year.
Spinal Cord Stimulation – A pacemaker-like device is implanted that stimulates the nerves into producing a tingling or massage-like feeling instead of pain. This is usually inserted into the lower back with wires that attach to the spinal canal. Patients use a remote control device to control the stimulation, typically when they start to feel a certain level of pain.
Electric Signals -- An electrical nerve stimulator is inserted under the skin and sends low-voltage signals to the area of concern through pads. This is believed to interrupt signals to the brain and produce endorphins that enhance the patient’s feeling of well-being.
Pumps – These are implanted and allow the patient to regulate relief by pushing a battery-powered button that delivers anesthetics and other medicines directly to the targeted area. This helps patients by giving them a sense of control and may eliminate some of the side effects of oral medication by directly injecting them into the trouble spots. Cancer patients typically are the prime users.
Cell Therapy – Although it’s still in development, research scientists are looking into stem cell therapy using bone marrow, injecting them into areas that are sources of pain. The concept is that the stem cells will help build healthier new tissue and help the patient eliminate pain.
Medications that Treat Chronic Pain
There are more traditional routes to help pain. One way is the use of antidepressants at doses lower than those used to treat depression. These affect the brain's reactions to pain. Pamelor, Elavil, Cymbalta and Norpramin are tricyclic antidepressants that are used to target brain chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine.
For localized pain, there are topical painkillers available in cream form. Most contain capsaicin, which helps decrease the flow of the pain conduit chemical called substance P. Transdermal skin patches with lidocaine are also used and are available with capsaicin.
For cases of severe pain, doctors take it up a notch, although reluctantly because of the fear of addiction. Such drugs as morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl target nerve cell receptors and dramatically can reduce pain.
There are also anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants. These medications are used with burning, spasms and shooting pains, and help to calm the body. There are side effects, including drowsiness and weight gain, in some cases.
While drugs are an option, there are more holistic remedies. Such things as relaxation techniques, acupuncture, hypnosis and meditation are often recommended as a way to calm the patient and redirect the focus away from chronic pain.
Whatever path you and your medical professional choose, there are many options for treating chronic pain. It is important to realize that you don’t have to suffer, and there is help available. Talk to your doctor and find out what technique may work best for you in managing your affliction.