Doctor Recommended Beauty and Fittness

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Back Pain

Misconceptions About Pain - Grinning and Bearing It!

Doctors differ in how they deal with pain. Older ones - of the family doctor variety who have a lot of experience in treating a variety of non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses - often dismiss pain with a hearty, "You'll feel better soon." Younger specialists, who have to fight much harder to earn their livelihoods and are also more materialistic, are much more solicitous of their patients' comfort and prescribe painkillers as easily as they would offer a child sweets.

But on the whole doctors tend to under-treat pain. There is a feeling that pain is just a fact of life. It accompanies all illnesses and it has to be borne. There is also the fear - both among doctors and among patients - that if painkillers are taken too often, they could become a habit.

But, as doctors are realising, pain can take a heavy toll on a patient's health and spirits. Compared to this, the risk of becoming addicted to painkillers is small. OTC (or over the counters) drugs are medicines that can be bought without a prescription and can relieve pain quite miraculously if they are used before the pain becomes really bad. And if one medicine does not work, a stronger one can be tried.

But does this mean that OTC medicines can be popped as nonchalantly as we pop chocolates into our mouths? Many people think that they can, but they are wrong. In fact, there are many misconceptions about pain. Here are the myths and the true facts about them.

Misconception 1. If pain goes away with OTC medication, it cannot be anything serious.

This is not true. Your response to OTC medicines has nothing to do with the seriousness of your medical problem. A sprained ankle is definitely not life-threatening, but the pain can be excruciating and may not respond to OTC medicine at all. On the other hand, serious illnesses like cancer or strokes may cause so little pain (at times) that OTC medicines work fine for patients.

So when do you take pain seriously? A rule of thumb is that minor ailments, even if the pain is agonising at first, normally heal or get much better in a week. They also don't come on very suddenly. You should see a doctor if the condition does not improve, if the attacks of pain are sudden and strong and if OTC medicines do not work at all.

Misconception 2. Women deal with pain better than men do.

Actually, research has proved that neither sex is better in dealing with pain per se. There are different kinds of pain and men and women deal with them differently. Women are able to deal better with chronic pain than men are, but men can deal better with sudden, acute pain - like when you hit your thumb with a hammer or touch something very hot.

Women, however, recover from pain quicker than men do. So in the case of, say a tooth extraction, women suffer more initially, but are less bothered by the lingering discomfort over the next few days.

Research on people suffering from osteoarthritis has given a reason for this ability of women to deal with chronic pain. They cope because they complain to friends, seek support, pray and ask their doctors for help. So they get emotional support and this helps them. Men, on the other hand, try to grin and bear it, to keep up their macho image and, as a result, they do not cope as well.

Misconception 3. Breast cancer does not cause pain.

It is true that breast cancer doesn't cause pain in the initial stages, but this does not mean that if something is causing you pain in your breast, it cannot be breast cancer. Certain uncommon types of breast cancer can cause pain - for example, cancer that affects the skin and lymph glands in the breast.

But generally, tenderness in the breast is nothing to worry about. This can be caused by the peaking of the hormone progesterone just before one's periods and also by hormones that older women take after menopause.

Harmless cysts, too heavy a workout and even a bra that doesn't fit properly can cause pain in the breasts and this is nothing to worry about. But one should visit the doctor if one notices a lump in the breast, if there is a change in the appearance of a breast or nipple, if there is a swelling, redness, a persistent nagging pain in either breast or if one experiences unusual sensations in a breast, whether painful or not.

Misconception 4. Everyone responds to pain in the same way.

Not only do men and women respond to pain in different ways, but different individuals have different thresholds of pain. Some bear the pain of a broken arm without a murmur while others weep and moan over a small bruise. Again the same individual may react differently to pain when she is upset, is under stress, is with a friend, is calm and when she knows that she has to cope by herself. Hormone levels can affect response to pain too. Women are generally more sensitive to pain just before their periods.

Misconception 5. One should always take medicine for a headache.

No, one should not take medicine for a headache because, though the pill makes you feel better immediately, headache medicine actually makes the brain more susceptible to pain and so popping pills can, in the longer time period, cause "rebound" headaches.

So analgesics should be reserved for really bad headaches and for times when you have to function at your best. At other times, a short nap in a quiet, preferably dark, room is a good way to get rid of a headache. So is meditation or the application of a cold pack to the area in front of the ear on the side one has the headache.

Misconception 6. A pain that is strong in the morning and then decreases as the day progresses can be ignored.

This often happens with joint pains. Muscles, joints and tendons tend to be stiff in the mornings and hence cause pain. But, as the day progresses and you move around, these loosen up and the pain subsides. Such pains can be ignored when you know that they are caused by minor injuries which will get cured.

But if the pain is not caused by an injury, it is not going to get cured by itself and something has to be done about it. If this kind of pain (which is worse in the morning and gets better as the day advances) persists, becomes worse and becomes chronic, it could be something like osteoarthritis and you should see your doctor.

Misconception 7. No pain, no gain.

This is what all trainers and fitness experts say when they start you off on a new exercise regimen or fitness programme. Yes, sore and painful muscles are a part of all these programmes when you start, but if your workout leaves you in real pain even after a while, it could mean that you are overdoing it, that you are developing an overuse injury or that you are exercising incorrectly.

So you should ease into a new exercise regimen slowly and work different muscle groups on alternate days. Jog and cycle one day and swim the next. Of course, walking is the best. It rarely results in injury and it can be done every day.

Misconception 8. OTC pain relievers are safe and can be taken in any quantity.

Most people feel that the medicines a doctor prescribes are strong and that one has to be careful about using them. They also feel that OTC medicines that one can get without prescriptions are safe and that one can take any amount of them. But this is not true. Overuse of OTC medicines can increase the risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding or damage to the liver. So watch out as you blithely pop those analgesics and cold medications.

Misconception 9. Doctors prescribe anti-depressants when they should be giving you pain relievers.

This is the complaint when a patient who is ill and is suffering from pain is given antidepressants. But it is just not true that the doctor is messing up. Constant pain causes people to be depressed and this worsens the physical symptoms of their illness. Depression can also trigger certain types of pain. Antidepressants on the other hand, help by increasing levels of chemicals that control our moods and the way we perceive pain. So they are good for the treatment of pain.

Misconception 10. All pain can be banished for good by a good doctor.

Unfortunately, this is not so. There are some chronic pains - like backache - that just cannot be cured. But people can learn to manage these pains so that they can function better. Today, doctors are less afraid that patients will become addicted to painkillers and so prescribe them for even chronic pains - to be taken when the pain gets worse, when the patient is under stress or when he or she has to function particularly well.

Today, many doctors operate on the principle that people have the right to be free of pain. They weigh the dangers of becoming addicted to painkillers against the relief that they bring and then take a decision.

Even young patients are given painkillers when the doctor knows that recovery is going to be quick enough for addiction not to be a risk. And at, say, the terminal stage of cancer, they decide to let the patient leave the world free of pain, even if "addicted".

Doctors also prescribe relaxation exercises and suggest behaviour modification that will help avoid pain. For example, people suffering from back problems should learn not to make sudden movements, to always carry a small pillow for the small of the back when they know they have to sit for a long time and to learn to pick up weights without straining the back.

Physiotherapy can also strengthen the surrounding muscles and having a pain-reliever while this takes place does no harm.

Pain management also includes biofeedback. Many doctors allow post-surgery patients to use a pump that allows them to decide when they need intravenous narcotic painkillers. And doctors have discovered that this way, patients take small and more frequent doses that reduce the total amount of medication they take to be comfortable.

Pain may be a part of life, but we need not suffer from it too much.

About the Author

At http://www.time4tips.com we investigate some more popular health myths and discover what the truth really is! Here you can also find expert health tips, free beauty advice, weight loss plans, fitness and workout tips with lots of effective home remedies.

What can I do to ease back pain while driving?

I have a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. I drive it about 80 miles round trip 2-3 times per week. After each trip, I have pain in my mid-lower back.

I have explored new vehicles with lumbar support, but I'm not sure if that will really solve the issue.

Any suggestions on relieving back pain associated with an extended period of driving?

Im atrucker .I drive sometimes 12 hours a day. My vehicle has a lumbar air system .But the vehicle I drove before didnt / I went to my local auto parts store and bought a lumbar cushion. It fits right in the small of your back . That should help if you cant find one there. Try a drugstore or medical supply store.

Back Pain
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Controlling Cancer Pain

The Pain caused by cancer usually falls into one of two categories:

Nociceptive Pain and Neuropathic Pain.

Nociceptive pain is caused by damage to tissue. It is usually described as sharp, aching, or throbbing pain. It is often due to tumours or cancer cells that are growing larger and crowding body parts near the cancer site. It may also be from cancer that has spread to the bones, muscles, or joints, or caused a blockage of an organ or blood vessels.

Neuropathic pain happens when there is actual nerve damage. It may be caused by a tumour pressing on a nerve or a group of nerves. People often describe this pain as a burning or heavy sensation, or numbness.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer pain, talk to your doctor to learn whether you may be a candidate for pain-control pump (intrathecal drug delivery). Your doctor (or a doctor to whom you are referred) will put you through a screening process to determine if these treatments may benefit you. Results vary; not every result is the same.

Key messages about cancer pain

The experience of pain will be different for every patient.

? Pain does not always get worse. The level of pain experienced may remain unchanged, or may increase or decrease. In any situation medication can be adjusted to ensure pain relief.

? Pain is not related to the extent of the cancer. Experiencing pain does not necessarily mean that the cancer is more serious than if you had no pain.

? Take action as soon as the pain starts. Take pain relief when you first start to feel uncomfortable. It is harder to ease pain once it has taken hold. Taking medication for pain relief when the pain is bearable will not make the medication less effective later. The aim is to prevent pain. If you wait until the pain comes back you will suffer from unnecessary pain.

? When pain relief is taken regularly or 'by the clock' (such as every 4 hours), there is little danger that you will become addicted to these drugs. Addiction to pain killers is very rare in women with metastatic breast cancer. The dose can be tailored to your needs. Doses are increased or decreased according to the severity of your pain.

? Drugs for pain do not usually make you feel drowsy after the first or second day. Drowsiness can occur with strong pain relief drugs like morphine. However, the drowsiness usually passes in one or two days. People vary in how the medication affects them. You should ask your general practitioner about whether you can drive or work with machinery, and the effect of drinking alcohol with your medication.

? If one drug does not effectively help your pain, many other drugs or combinations of drugs can be used to give you pain relief. There is a large range of effective drugs for pain of all types and severity. It may take time, in consultation with your doctor, to establish the drug or drug combination that is right for you.

? Any pain can be difficult to cope with. However, pain is more difficult to cope with if you are also experiencing anxiety or depression. Also, being in pain can make you more likely to be depressed or anxious. If you are concerned by the feelings you are experiencing, it is important that you talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Why Do People Suffer With Pain?

Many people suffer with chronic pain because they are unaware of treatment options that can help them live more normal lives. Others have fears that prevent them from talking about their pain, which in turn creates barriers to seeking adequate relief. (Not all treatment options are applicable to your type of pain.)

Read the following to see if you fall into one of these categories. If you can relate to these fears, remember that help and relief are possible, but only if you discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

? Fear of being labelled a "bad patient." You won't find relief if you don't talk with your doctor about your pain.

? Fear that increased pain may mean that your disease has worsened. Regardless of the state of your disease, the right treatment for pain may improve daily life for you and your family.

? Fear of addiction to drugs. Research shows that the chance of people with chronic pain becoming addicted to pain-relieving drugs is extremely small. When taken properly for pain, drugs can relieve pain without addiction. Needing to take medication to control your pain is not addiction.

? Lack of awareness about pain therapy options. Be honest about how your pain feels and how it affects your life. Ask your doctor about the pain therapy options available to you. Often, if one therapy isn't effectively controlling your pain, another therapy can.

? Fear of being perceived as "weak." Some people believe that living stoically with pain is a sign of strength, while seeking help often is considered negative or weak. This perception prevents them seeking the best treatment with available therapies.

Management of Pain and side effects

You may experience acute pain due to your illness or after surgery. You do not need to put up with this pain, your health care team can work with you to prevent or control just about any kind of pain. A combination of pain control methods may be used to give you greater relief from pain.

Don’t let pain control you! Because there are many new ways to treat pain, it is important that you speak openly and honestly with your doctor or with a doctor who specializes in treating chronic pain.

Terry O’Brien

BackTrouble UK.

Links:

http://www.BackDoctor.org.uk

http://www.BackTrouble.co.uk

About the Author

20 years in Gen Medicine with a keen interest in Back pain and Natural therapy!Launched Back Trouble UK early 2007 to promote more quality links and information on non invasive, natural therapy for people who are suffering with back pain and other related medical conditions.

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