Strategies & Solutions for Relief
You’ve probably been in pain at one time or another. Maybe you’ve had a pain that doesn’t last too long like a headache or a bruise. Unfortunately, many older people have ongoing pain from health problems like arthritis, diabetes, shingles, or cancer. Pain can be your body’s way of warning you that something is wrong.
Acute Pain and Chronic Pain
There are two kinds of pain. Acute pain begins suddenly and lasts for a short time. It goes away as your body heals. You might feel acute pain after surgery or if you have a broken bone, infected tooth, or kidney stone.
Pain that lasts for 3 months or longer is called chronic pain. This pain often affects older people. For some people, chronic pain is caused by a health condition such as arthritis. It may also follow acute pain from an injury, surgery, or other health issue that has been treated, like post-herpetic neuralgia after shingles.
The following are some treatments that help with pain:
Narcotics (also called opioids) are used for moderate to severe pain and require a doctor’s prescription. They may be habit-forming, especially if taken for more than 3-5 days. They can also be dangerous when taken with alcohol or certain other drugs. Examples of narcotics are codeine, morphine, and oxycodone. Side effects include:
- Tolerance—meaning you might need to take more of a medication for the same pain relief
- Physical dependence—meaning you have symptoms of withdrawal when a medication is stopped
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Depression
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen, can be just as effective as opioids and carry no risk of dependency or addiction.
Complementary and alternative approaches may also provide relief. Talk to your doctor about these treatments. It may take both medicine and other treatments to feel better. Alternative treatments include the following:
Chiropractors manipulate the body’s alignment to relieve pain and improve function and help the body heal itself.
Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles to stimulate specific points in the body to relieve pain.
Massage therapy can release tension in tight muscles.
Mind-body stress reduction combines mindfulness meditation, body awareness, and yoga to increase relaxation and reduce pain.
Physical therapy uses a variety of techniques to help manage everyday activities with less pain and teaches you ways to improve flexibility and strength.
Also, remember to get enough sleep. It reduces pain sensitivity, helps healing, and improves mood. Be sure to avoid tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol. They get in the way of treatment and increase pain.
Community in Crisis offers a series of informative (and short!) videos ‘Healthy Aging: Know Your Options,’ to learn more and start your journey to a healthy, pain-free lifestyle.
These videos highlight alternative options for pain management that don’t involve opioids and include:
- About Opioids
- Chiropractic Care
- Physical Therapy
- Massage Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Yoga
For more information, go to https://communityincrisis.org/healthy-aging/ or scan the QR code.
