When accidents and injuries occur at the job, on the road, in public places, or at home, dealing with the pain that can come with an acute or serious injury can be a challenge. In some cases, an injury like a sprain or fall can lead to acute pain, a kind of pain that usually dissipates once the body heals. However, in other cases, someone may sustain an injury that results in chronic pain, which can be long-lasting and may only be manageable with medications.
Per reports from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), statistics show that 20.4 percent of U.S. adults had chronic pain in 2019. Just over seven percent of U.S. adults experienced high impact chronic pain—pain that frequently limited work or life activities. Such pain is one of the most common reasons adults cite for deciding to seek medical care and treatment. Depending on the duration of your pain and pain symptoms, your brain could perceive a pain signal to one injured area, or several, even when it no longer receives such signals. Often challenging to manage, chronic pain and high impact chronic pain relate to decreased quality of life, poor mental health, and opioid dependence.
Physical pain and the mental and emotional symptoms that can accompany it can be disruptive to your everyday life, the achievement of your goals, and diminish the happiness you feel. Listed below are ways to overcome pain while you work toward making significant gains.
Consider exercising and staying physically active to improve your physical, mental, and emotional health.
It might seem challenging or complex to exercise when experiencing severe pain. Still, physical activity can be necessary, as it can help improve your mobility by increasing your joint function and strengthening your muscles. Additionally, depending on your current health state, exercising can help you decrease inflammation, reduce the overall level of pain you feel, and improve your energy levels.
When exercising, do so carefully, as stretching incorrectly could lead to more injuries and exacerbate your pain. Some of the most common gym injuries can cause knee injuries, specifically. For instance, improper leg extensions can increase your chances of a kneecap or quadriceps tendon injury. Squats, while a great way to train your lower back and abdominal muscles and quadriceps, can also lead to knee injuries.
It’s best to consult a doctor or primary care physician and discuss what kinds of physical activity your body may or may not be able to handle before beginning an exercise program. Likewise, contact a physical therapist for guidance on starting a personalized exercise routine, as some exercises may be specific to the origin of your pain and symptoms. For instance, if you have a chronic health condition like fibromyalgia, you could experience increased pain as you exercise, so slowly ease into an exercise routine, and monitor any symptoms. Utilize the internet and web resources for fitness and exercise tips that could be perfect for you, too. StepFitness Online, for example, offers practical fitness, food and nutrition, and lifestyle advice that can be handy for someone with the determination to make gains and overcome their pain.
Seek affordable medical solutions for relieving your pain.
For many people, having severe pain may mean a high, constant usage of healthcare services. Individuals experiencing chronic pain may make frequent appointments for preventive tests, visits, and checkups to physicians and specialists. They may also take several trips to the emergency room to find the sources of their pain or solutions for it. Frequent appointments are likely to result in costly medical bills. In addition to bills, individuals dealing with severe pain may also have to pay expensive prescription costs for medicine. Prescription costs may depend on an individual’s or family’s health insurance and the coverage included in their plan.
Having so many costly prescriptions to pay for can cause financial strain, especially during the ongoing novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One way to save big on medication is to search for and take advantage of the best prescription discounts. It’s worth looking into a prescription discount program offered by a trustworthy source like America’s Pharmacy. Through America’s Pharmacy, you can lower your healthcare costs by using a discount card and free Rx coupons at pharmacies and drug store chains that participate in the prescription savings and discount program.
Find pain relief and treatment options that work best for you and your body.
When seeking a muscle relaxant or other pain reliever options for pain, injuries, swelling, minor aches, and muscle soreness, people should also consider alternative pain management options. A practical solution for potentially alleviating pain symptoms is the use of cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD-based products. CBD is a cannabinoid, specifically a phytocannabinoid, that occurs naturally in the Cannabis plant or hemp plant and lacks psychoactive effects. Examples of cannabinoids other than CBD include cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and the well-known psychoactive chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These cannabinoids interact with the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to exhibit effects. The CB1 receptor in the brain plays a regulating role in releasing neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, have a role in the body’s immune system, helping with inflammation and injury.
After a significant farm bill passed, regulated CBD products increased in availability and popularity, an advantage for people who use such solutions to harness the effects of CBD. CBD gummies for pain alleviation assistance could be an option worth exploring, especially if they come from a reputable CBD brand that adheres to federal regulations. CBD brands and dispensaries must abide by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s rule that hemp source products include 0.3 percent of THC for full-spectrum CBD products and hemp products. Unlike full-spectrum CBD extract, THC-free CBD results from an extraction process that removes CBD from the hemp plant, separating it from THC traces, byproducts, contaminants, and toxins. This process results in pure CBD.
Influencing factors on the pain you feel can include your genetic makeup, lifestyle, personality, and emotions. For this reason, it’s crucial to focus on enhancing and safeguarding your mental and emotional health while working to improve your physical health and overcome your pain.