Treating Chronic Pain
Treating Chronic PainChronic pain is a fact of life for Sue Schneeberg. She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and when it flares up, everyjoint in her body aches.“It's just it's so exhausting. It's like, it's honestly like having the flu.”-Sue, PatientThe pain is so bad that Sue often has trouble sleeping, and that makes her pain even worse.“I try to take my ibuprofen or my naproxen and hope it takes enough of the edge off that I can try to fallasleep, but most days I'm so exhausted that I just fall asleep anyways and I wake up feeling like I was putthrough a wringer because I'm so stiff.”-Sue, PatientFor chronic pain sufferers, good sleep habits can help.“Try to get to bed at a regular time wake up at a regular time, things like that that can all help with good sleeppatterns.”- Dr. Sarah Endrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical DirectorThe other thing pain specialists recommend is no “screens” in your bedroom.“So, no TVs, no cell phones. A lot of that blue light can keep you awake it actually disrupts your REM sleep. Andso, you don't get as restful sleep.”- Dr. Sarah Endrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical DirectorIf simple sleep tips don’t help, your healthcare provider may suggest you do a sleep study, to see if other problems,such as sleep apnea, might be the cause. For John Zemler, chronic pain from a variety of injuries makes it difficultto walk. It didn’t help when a freak accident added to his woes.“Had my shoelace get caught in an escalator 15 months ago. I didn't know it. I fell, tore my shoulder got nervedamage and it's just another brick in the wall.”-John, PatientJohn’s nagging pain was depressing. It made it difficult for him to even hold a pencil, to create the artwork heloves.“After six months, I couldn't take it anymore and I went to the E.R. and they injected the shoulder with antiinflammatory and that helped a lot.”-John, PatientInjections or muscle relaxers are treatment options that can be considered for someone in chronic pain.“We tend to focus on the non-opioid medications. They can include pain-focused interventions or injections orPage 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5321598 EN TreatingChronicPain.pdf© The Wellness NetworkTreating Chronic Painprocedures. They involve physical therapy and occupational therapy. It involves behavioral health.”- Dr.Sarah Endrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical DirectorBehavioral health therapy is a way of re-focusing your attention away from your pain with the help of a mentalhealth professional.“Getting patients to set goals for things that they want to be able to do like activity goals or you knowwork goals whatever is important to them and then helping them set realistic expectations for themselvesas to how they can achieve those goals.”- Dr. Sarah Endrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical DirectorRelaxation techniques, yoga, acupuncture and other alternative therapies, can also help relieve chronic pain.“I have heard also besides yoga that water exercises are very good because it helps with your joints doesn'tput quite as much pressure on them. So, I was thinking about maybe looking into that possibly joining agym for something like that.”-Sue, PatientIf you’re in pain, it’s important to explore all the options for treatment. Living with chronic pain can make youanxious or depressed and, not treating it, can make it worse.“We certainly know that depression and anxiety both make pain worse and pain then also makesdepression and anxiety worse. So again, that's kind of a vicious cycle that we work with patients tobreak.”- Dr. Sarah Endrizzi, Pain Clinic Medical DirectorEach person, each condition will require a different treatment plan, and it might involve a variety of therapiesor techniques. The key is talk to your healthcare provider and look into different options to find the best waysto relieve your chronic pain, so you can do the things you like to do.Page 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG5321598 EN TreatingChronicPain.pdf© The Wellness Network
© The Wellness Network
