Chronic Pain: Things You Should Never Do

People who suffer from chronic pain know it can be hard to find long-term relief. As a result, many chronic pain sufferers pick up tips and methods along the way often with mixed results. 

But when you are trying to manage your pain, there are a few things that will ultimately make your pain much worse. Be sure and avoid the following items that won’t help your chronic pain, and may cause more damage.

1. Do Not Try a Treatment Because It Worked for Someone Else

Chronic pain treatments are never a one-size-fits-all solution, and what has worked for someone else might not be an optimal or best treatment for you.

Even if you have pain in similar locations, you should never assume a successful treatment will be effective for you. 

2. Do Not Wear Uncomfortable Attire

Uncomfortable clothing and footwear can put added pressure on the source of your chronic pain – especially when it comes to pain in your feet, back, knees, and other areas of the body that do a lot of work throughout the day.

Dress for comfort to mitigate any aggravation that an ill-fitting pair of shoes or pants may cause after hours of wear. 

3. Do Not Continue an Activity If Your Body Is Telling You to Stop

Many people with chronic pain do not want to alter their life or stop doing things they enjoy, and that’s a good thing! But the trick is to listen to the signals that your body is telling you. If a certain activity starts to cause your pain to flare up or worsen, it’s time to stop temporarily until you can get effective treatment. 

4. Do Not Rely on Prescription Painkillers

Prescription painkillers can be effective in the short term when it comes to pain management. However, they can also be a dangerous long-term treatment, simply because of their addictive qualities.

Also, medications designed to alleviate pain may help you feel better in the immediate future, but they don’t address the underlying cause of your chronic pain.

Instead, try non-addictive and over-the-counter medications initially for temporary relief. Seek help from a medical professional if these medications stop being effective.

5. Do Not Put off Getting Help from an Experienced Interventional Pain Management Physician!

Chronic pain does not get better on its own. And general doctors’ visits can be ineffective in finding and treating the root cause of your problem. 

As such, your best bet for long term relief is to schedule a consultation with an experienced Interventional Pain Management Specialist like Dr. Rich.

By getting to the root cause of your issue, and understanding your specific chronic pain, you’ll be able to identify minimally invasive treatments that work, and which can provide relief for years to come. 

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