Getting Help with Managing Pain Is Not a Sign of Weakness
Posted on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 08:42 AM
Pain management is the process of bringing pain under control. Pain can be a problem with many people at the end of life. Persistent pain can cause a decline in health due to poor nutrition, depression, lack of social stimulation and lack of exercise. Persistent pain becomes a form of disability, interfering in the ability to perform common daily tasks.
A major problem with persistent or chronic pain is that allowed to go on without treatment, the pain can become harder to treat. Research indicates that, over time, stimulation from persistent pain produces neural pathways in the brain that increase the intensity of the pain. In addition, pain receptors in the skin that are normally inert, may start transmitting sympathetic pain signals making the patient even more miserable.
This can create a condition where a mere breeze or the wearing of clothing can be excruciatingly. Taking a pain pill occasionally as needed is not an effective treatment. Initially, it takes large doses of pain medication, on a regular schedule, to bring the situation under control. Once the pain is under control, it is easier to maintain with continued lower doses of medication.
Sometimes people refuse to take strong pain medicine on a regular basis fearing dependency. Often a choice must be made between disabling pain or dependency. Often times the dependency is the lesser of two evils.
It is important to seek professional help with pain management and to establish an ongoing daily program to keep it under control. There are also numerous non-drug techniques being developed for controlling chronic pain. Some of these might involve mind control techniques, acupuncture, electrical nerve intervention, massage or a host of other holistic approaches. There are also therapists and psychologists that specialize in working with clients who have chronic pain.
It is not necessary to refuse pain management because of a desire to display courage in dealing with it. A person is not a complainer because he or she admits to having pain. It is important to remember that caregivers are also susceptible to the stress of pain in their loved ones. The constant worry to the caregiver from the ongoing suffering of a loved one will adversely affect the physical and emotional health of the caregiver.
If not for themselves, persons experiencing persistent pain should seek treatment out of consideration for others who are concerned about their welfare.