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Pain Myths Living with constant pain is not easy ... never mind the myths that abound about pain and pain management. Below are a few myths about pain that we would like to see busted ... |
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No Pain, No Gain |
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This myth persists among bodybuilders and weekend athletes. Yet there is no evidence to support the notion that you can build strength by exerting muscles to the point of pain. A related belief, "Work through the pain," is also mistaken. Resting to repair muscles and bring pain relief might not be macho, but it's a smart thing to do. You may also need to modify your exercise routine with cross training; lighter As ridiculous as this sounds, many people act as though it were true. Pain sufferers do this by not complaining about pain, by persisting with behaviors that only aggravate their pain, and by ignoring signs that their pain is inadequately controlled (eg; irritability, poor sleep) instead of doing something about it. Chronic pain sufferers are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, trauma, family problems and a range of other psychological symptoms. Unrelieved chronic pain is soul-destroying, not character-building. |
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| It's All in Your Head! |
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Although we now know that pain is caused and maintained by a combination of physical, psychological and neurological factors, many people continue to act as though it can be understood in terms of physical pathology. For example, surgeons who tell patients "well the operation was a success, you shouldn't be in pain.' or doctors who refuse to prescribe medication to people because they cannot find a physical cause for the pain. The notion that pain should be proportional to injury is an old but very popular idea which comes from the specificity theory of pain which proposes that pain is caused by physical injury.
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| Showing Pain is a sign of Weakness |
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Many cultures see the ability to withstand pain as a sign of strength. This ability would certainly have had survival value in past more war-like societies. Although times have changed, we can see an echo of this tradition today when people are afraid to talk about their pain for fear of being labelled a complainer or weak. Not reporting pain can lead to poor management of injury, medical mismanagement, as well as increasing the likelihood of chronic pain and depression. Pain can only be overcome if it is acknowledged and expressed. There are countless options for pain relief. They include relaxation techniques, exercise, physical therapy, glucosamine supplements, over-the-counter and prescription medications, surgery, and complementary treatments such as acupuncture and massage. It may not always be possible to completely control your pain, but you can use many techniques to help you manage it much better. |
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| You can get Addicted to Pain Medication |
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Health care providers begin with a conservative approach to pain relief and prescribe non-narcotic pain-relief medications, which are not addictive. Doctors may prescribe narcotics, such as codeine and morphine, if pain becomes severe, such as when treating cancer pain. Many people fear that they will become addicted to narcotics. Physical dependence is not the same thing as addiction. And, physical dependence isn't a problem as long as you do not stop taking the narcotics suddenly. Addiction is rarely a problem, unless you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction. If you do, discuss this with your health care provider. |
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| There must be something wrong if you are in Pain | |
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Pain has traditionally been considered to be a 'signal' of physical injury. This warning type of pain is called acute pain. Chronic pain refers to pain that continues after the normal healing time, or when the injury appears to have healed.
So pain can be caused by many things, and chronic pain in particular cannot be understood in terms of the simple physical injury = pain model.Chronic pain is also not always what it appears. Sometimes pain is labelled "chronic" when it has lasted a long time and the cause cannot be ascertained. Where the cause of pain is unknown, it is not strictly correct to label this chronic pain, since the pain may be signaling some injury that is undiscovered. Or the pain may include 'flare-ups' caused by over-activity, in which case it is really acute pain. At the end of the day, you have to decide what your pain means, based on a combination of medical advice and your own opinions. |
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| Watch out for more Medical Mythbusters next month | |
| Any time you are unsure about your health don't forget to consult your friendly, local Pharmacist or Contact Us | |
, more frequent workouts; and proper shoes.
