Myths About Treating Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a serious and debilitating condition. Many 

people suffering with chronic pain are so desperate for help 

that they're willing to believe anything -- and as a result buy into 

some chronic pain myths that could be unwise and even 

dangerous.

Myth: To Cure Chronic Pain, Just Treat the Underlying Cause

Treating chronic pain is just not that simple.Yes, sometimes 

treating the cause does resolve the pain: if you have a tack in 

your foot, you remove the tack. Anyone with chronic pain must 

get a complete work-up by a doctor to see if there's a treatable 

problem or disease, says the Dr.

But in many cases, the intersection of an underlying cause and 

pain is more complicated. Painful diseases might be chronic 

and hard to control. Sometimes pain lingers even after the 

original cause seems to have been resolved. Other times, the 

cause of pain is just plain mysterious.

With some people, we run all the tests but we just can't figure 

out what's causing the pain," says a Dr. We can't come up with 

a diagnosis.

People with chronic pain often need a two-pronged approach: 

get treatment for the underlying cause (if there is one) and 

separately get treatment for the pain itself. That often means 

seeing a pain expert as well as other doctors.

Fact: Even Mild Chronic Pain Should Be Checked by a Doctor

Pain experts say that too many people still struggle through life 

with chronic pain for no reason. People think that if their pain is 

bearable, it's not worth asking a doctor about it.

However, you need to get pain evaluated, even if it's mild. First, 

it could be the sign of underlying disease or health problem that 

needs treatment. Second, treating pain promptly can 

sometimes prevent it from turning into hard-to-treat chronic 

pain.

Beyond that, it's always important to take pain seriously in its 

own right. Chronic pain is insidious. It sneaks up on people, 

worsening slowly and imperceptibly.

Without realizing it, you might develop unhealthy ways of coping 

with it. That might include using over-the-counter painkillers for 

a long time or at high doses, which can have serious risks. 

People with chronic pain are also at higher risk of relying on 

alcohol or other substances to numb their pain.

Over time, chronic pain can also lead to sleep deprivation, 

social isolation, depression, and other problems that can affect 

your relationships at home and at work.

Myth: Bed Rest Is Usually the Best Cure for Pain

The old medical advice for people with some types of chronic 

pain – such as back pain -- was to rest in bed. But that's not the 

case any more.

Now we know that for almost all types of chronic pain 

conditions, not just spinal pain, [prolonged] bed rest is almost 

never helpful. In some cases it will actually worsen the 

prognosis.

 It turns out that for most causes of pain, keeping up your 

normal schedule -- including your physical activity -- will help 

you get better faster.

Of course, there are some situations where rest is important -- 

especially for a day or two after an acute injury. So always 

follow your doctor's advice.

Myth: Increased Pain Is Inevitable as We Age

Pain experts say there is one particularly damaging myth about 

chronic pain. Too many people think that pain is just a sign of 

ageing and that there's not much to be done about it.

I think unfortunately too many doctors believe this, says a Dr. 

Most Drs., when they see an older patient with pain and don't 

think anything of it.

It's unquestionably true that our odds of developing a painful 

condition, such as arthritis, are higher as we age. But those 

conditions can be treated and the pain can be well-controlled. 

So no matter what your age, never settle for chronic pain.

Fact: Chronic Pain Is Connected With Depression

For many people, chronic pain is intertwined with depression -- 

as well as anxiety and other psychological conditions.

There's a very complex relationship between pain and 

depression, says a Dr. Pain can be a symptom of depression, 

and depression can certainly worsen the diagnosis of pain. It's 

a cruel combination. Often, it's impossible to tell where one 

cause ends and the other starts.

Of course, some people with chronic pain don't like this idea. 

They feel that accepting a psychological connection to pain 

implies that they're making it up, that their pain is "all in their 

heads." But that's not the case at all.

Depression and anxiety disorders are real medical conditions. 

Studies have also shown a clear connection between 

emotional trauma and pain disorders. Brain imaging studies 

have actually found that physical and psychological pain 

activates some identical areas in the brain, says a Dr. Acknowledging that chronic pain and depression are connected in no way diminishes what you're feeling.

Also, some antidepressants have been shown to help manage 

certain types of chronic pain. Your doctor might suggest an 

antidepressant for your chronic pain, even if you are not 

depressed.

Myth: Taking Opioid Painkillers Leads to Drug Addiction

We've all read sensational stories of celebrity addiction. So it’s no surprise that many people with chronic pain fear that taking opioids will result in drug addiction.  As a result, some people with terrible chronic pain refuse medication that could really help them.

When they're taken in the short-term and used as directed, the 

risk of becoming addicted to an opioid medication is very, very 

low, says a Dr.

There are instances where doctors need to be especially 

careful with opioids. For instance, people who have a strong 

personal or family history of addiction are at higher risk. 

Myth: Taking Opioid Painkillers Will Completely Cure Chronic Pain

Although opioids are effective at treating pain, they are not the 

Holy Grail of pain relief. Some people think that if they could 

only get their doctor to give them a prescription, their troubles 

would be over.

There's a big downside to treatment with opioids,says a Dr. 

They're not effective with all types of pain. They can cause 

unpleasant side effects. A physical dependency can develop if 

pain management and treatment is not monitored.  That's not 

an addiction -- instead, their bodies acclimate to the 

medication. Over time they need higher doses to get the same 

level of relief.

Opioids seem to increase the risk that other treatment 

approaches will fail. There's even evidence that opioids can 

result in chronic pain, Cohen says. A person with mild, 

occasional headaches might develop chronic, debilitating ones 

after using high doses of opioids.

So depending on the cause of your chronic pain, opioid 

painkillers might help. But they're not the universal "best" 

treatment for chronic pain. They're just one tool among many 

others, from anti-inflammatory medicines to alternative 

therapies such as acupuncture.  

Fact: There's Rarely a Single Treatment That Will Cure Chronic Pain

People with chronic pain often have this misconception, acc. to 

a Dr. They think that they'll be able to find this one perfect treatment that will cure their pain.

Maybe it's a new drug or a new surgical technique that they 

read about in the paper. Or maybe it's a device or a 

supplement they see advertised on a 3 a.m. infomercial. But 

they're hoping that there's one answer for them that will take 

their pain away completely.

Coping with chronic pain is rarely that simple. It is said that 

tackling chronic pain often requires a team of experts using a 

combination of approaches -- different medications, physical 

therapy, psychological counselling  relaxation techniques, and more -- to get it the pain control.

Adopt realistic expectations. You will get better, but it will take 

some hard work, different treatments, and time.

Fact: Even With Good Treatment, Chronic Pain Might Not Go Away

It's unfortunate but true. Someone who has had ongoing back 

pain for 18 years shouldn't expect that after few visits to a pain 

doctor they'll be cured. Managing chronic pain is usually a long 

process.

But don't get discouraged. Even if experts can't make your 

chronic pain disappear completely, treatment can still make a 

big difference. Pain isn't everything, after all -- it's how your pain 

affects your quality of life that matters most.

Maybe you'll still have some pain after treatment. But if 

treatment restores your ability to do things that your chronic 

pain prevented -- whether it's going for long walks, or 

crocheting a blanket, or returning to work – it’s worthwhile.