{"id":84269,"date":"2013-01-23T12:29:24","date_gmt":"2013-01-23T16:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=84269"},"modified":"2013-01-23T12:30:28","modified_gmt":"2013-01-23T16:30:28","slug":"health-talk-myths-and-facts-about-chronic-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/columns\/health-talk\/health-talk-myths-and-facts-about-chronic-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"HEALTH TALK: Myths and facts about chronic pain"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Dr. Victor Emanuel MD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

FACT: WEATHER CAN AFFECT PAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

If your joint pain gets worse when it\u2019s cold or raining, it\u2019s not your imagination. Although studies have shown mixed results, changes in barometric pressure can cause some people \u2013 especially people with arthritis \u2013 to have increased pain in their joints.\u00a0 Experts think this is because the change in barometric pressure affects joint pressure.<\/p>\n

FACT: WOMEN HANDLE PAIN BETTER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Women point to childbirth as proof of their greater pain capacity, and some science backs this up. Women and men tolerate pain differently. Women use more coping mechanisms to deal with pain. They seek treatment more quickly and tend to recover from pain faster than men. But experts say pain is such an individual experience that it\u2019s hard to compare one person\u2019s pain to another.<\/p>\n

MYTH: REST IS GOOD FOR BACK PAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although short rest may be prescribed, it\u2019s best to remain active. Experts say that complete bed rest is one of the worst things you can do for back pain. If you\u2019re not active, your body quickly becomes deconditioned \u2013 causing even more pain when you eventually move. Limit exercise during acute episodes of pain but continue daily activities and exercise as your doctor orders, as much as you can.<\/p>\n

FACT: LOSING WEIGHT CAN EASE PAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are overweight, know that having less weight on your body means less pressure \u2013 and less pain \u2013 on your joints and back. Dropping a few extra pounds can really help improve joint pain in the knees and hips. In fact, it is said that for every pound that one is overweight, an extra four pounds is borne by these joints. Dropping 10 pounds can make a huge difference. Losing weight also can help back pain caused by muscle fatigue.<\/p>\n

FACT: EXERCISE CURBS PAINFUL FLARES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although pain may make it harder to exercise, staying active is one of the best things you can do to feel better. Exercise can help you lose weight, sleep better, and boost your mood \u2013 all of which can also help reduce pain. Exercise helps strengthen muscles, ease stiff joints, and restore co-ordination and balance. Low-impact exercises, like swimming, and stretching, are good ways to start.<\/p>\n

MYTH: IF PAIN CAN\u2019T BE FOUND, IT\u2019S NOT REAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just because you can\u2019t find the exact source of someone\u2019s pain doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t feel it. No test can measure the intensity of pain, no imaging device can show pain, and no instrument can locate pain precisely. This doesn\u2019t mean pain can\u2019t be treated. We don\u2019t need to know the exact cause of the pain to try to make it feel better.<\/p>\n

MYTH: DON\u2019T WORRY ABOUT MINOR PAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people believe that pain is just something you have to live with, yet pain should never be ignored. Even if your pain gets better with over-the-counter pain medications, see the doc if the pain lasts more than a week or two, becomes worse over time, or if it interferes with your daily activities.<\/p>\n

FACT: YOUR ATTITUDE CAN AFFECT PAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dwelling on your pain can make it feel worse. Those who focus on their pain tend to do poorly compared with those who have a proactive attitude and try to find ways to cope with their pain. Pain can lead to depression and anxiety, which can make pain worse. Consider counseling to help cope with your pain.<\/p>\n

MYTH: NO PAIN, NO GAIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s o.k. to push yourself until you feel the burn of exercise, it\u2019s important to know when to stop. Pain is your body\u2019s way of telling you that something is wrong. You should never feel pain when exercising. If you do, stop and take a break. To stay safe, learn what your limits are, and stay within them.<\/p>\n

MYTH: PAIN IS JUST PART OF AGING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like gray hair or wrinkles, a few aches and pains are a part of nearly everyone\u2019s life.\u00a0 But chronic pain \u2013 which can increase suffering and decrease quality of life \u2013 doesn\u2019t have to be. Most people should be able to lead relatively pain-free lives as they age. If you are bothered by chronic pain, a pain specialist or your primary care physician can help you find relief \u2013 no matter how old you are.<\/p>\n

MYTH: PAIN KILLERS LEAD TO ADDICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

When taken as directed, prescription pain medications rarely cause addiction. However, as with many drugs, your body can become physically dependent on some pain medication. Although this doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re addicted, you may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop the drug abruptly. It\u2019s an expected response when certain prescription pain drugs are used for more than a few days. Your doctor can help you stop safely.<\/p>\n

See you next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FACT: WEATHER CAN AFFECT PAIN If your joint pain gets worse when it\u2019s cold or raining, it\u2019s not your imagination. Although studies have shown mixed results, changes in barometric pressure can cause some people \u2013 especially people with arthritis \u2013…","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-talk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHEALTH TALK: Myths and facts about chronic pain - Dominica News Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/columns\/health-talk\/health-talk-myths-and-facts-about-chronic-pain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HEALTH TALK: Myths and facts about chronic pain - Dominica News Online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"FACT: WEATHER CAN AFFECT PAIN If your joint pain gets worse when it\u2019s cold or raining, it\u2019s not your imagination. 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