When pain persists for more than 90 days, it turns to chronic pain, which is outside the body’s recovery time from an injury. If the pain has become chronic and the improvement is not easily noticeable, then you may need help. It basically interferes with one’s quality of life, and everything becomes a major chore to accomplish, even in its simplest form. It’s prudent to consult a physiotherapist Dover Kent, at an early stage so as to avoid the pain worsening, yet there are options like physical therapy, medications, or specialised treatments available.
Pain Diary – Does Pain Limit Your Daily Activities?
Pain that hinders normal functioning in activities such as working, cooking or doing other activities can be an indication that one needs help. The effects of chronic pain are fatigue, mood swings, and a lack of motivation, which are factors that force you to become less than normal. If you start avoiding certain activities, if you start needing help from other people, it is very important to consult a professional and take your life back.
Do you ever feel tired or exhausted?
Researchers have established that chronic pain causes sleep disturbances. If, because of discomfort, you cannot get proper sleep, this can lead to a vicious circle when you want to sleep, but pain, on the other hand, won’t let you do so. Sleeping becomes a problem, and since exhaustion takes over, you cannot effectively deal with the pain. If this sounds familiar, a pain specialist may provide strategies such as CBT, refer you to a pain management program, or prescribe medications for sleep.
Can you feel your heartache in your body?
Chronic pain is not only felt in the physical sense, but the condition is also capable of influencing the psychological aspect. Chronic pain is associated with anxiety, depression, or hopelessness in most patients who receive treatment. Such emotions can make the pain worse, making it harder to find a way out of this cycle without help from a doctor. If you experience such changes as becoming easily annoyed, moody or feeling lonely, a psychologist or psychiatrist accompanied by a specialist in pain management can help.
Has Pain Interfered with Your Ability to Function at Work?
If pain has become a daily driver and it has started influencing your performance at work or has led to days in a week lost at work, this indicates that a professional should intervene. Sometimes, an ergonomically adjusted workplace or an adjustment of the working conditions suffice, but chronic pain is frequently something different. Consulting a pain management specialist or a physiotherapist can assist in coming up with a strategy for enhancing your capacity to work without pain.
Have You Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms?
There are many patients who experience chronic pain, which causes them to resort to vice practices such as smoking, taking alcohol or eating more food to help them ignore the pain. As much as these behaviours may bring some solace, they end up aggravating both the physical and mental health of an individual. If you have been using the above mentioned methods, it is high time you consulted a professional. Doctors who specialise in pain can then recommend healthier options, such as physical therapy, mindfulness, or a prescription.
Are You Isolating Yourself Socially?
Candidly, chronic pain does not allow one to have fun with friends and family members or engage in other social activities. If you are constantly cancelling appointments, skipping events, and avoiding contact with people because of pain, this may not be healthy for your mind. A Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) specialist may be able to offer solutions that will allow you to re-engage with social activities and enhance your quality of life.
Do Many Different Treatments Keep Failing You?
Have you undergone various therapies, which may include Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Acupuncture or even medication and still, your chronic pain seems to be unrelenting? Then, it might be time to see a specialist. A multimodal approach is likely a treatment plan from a pain management clinic with both medical focuses on managing the tissue damage pain source as well as the mind-body component of the pain.
Do You Feel Confused and Can’t Really Tell What’s Right and Wrong Anymore?
Chronic pain will also lead to some level of confusion; this may be evidenced in that one may find it hard to focus, make rational decisions, or think straight. If you are searching for things or having problems with concentration, then it is likely that pain interferes with your brain function. This is true because seeing a professional can help manage and treat the cause of your physical discomfort and mental confusion to improve your functioning.
Summary:
It goes far beyond the mere notion of an ache that never goes away, as it includes your psychological, social, and physical well-being. Failure to do so results in a decreased quality of life, while seeking help from a doctor when the problems start can provide people with numerous treatments, including medication and physical therapy. Do not let your pain increase to a severe level. If any of these signs look familiar, it is high time to do something and seek help from a specialist.
