Pain can range from mild (a minimal discomfort or annoyance) to severe, impacting quality of life and the ability to perform activities required in everyday life. In addition to the range of pain, some of us are more stoic than others – some have higher pain thresholds and can deal with it, while others may find the same amount of pain intolerable. Humans are highly individualistic in terms of response to pain. Nonetheless, everyone has experienced a high degree of pain at some point that required attention.
So, what are the best strategies for pain management?
Injury vs. Pain: Knowing the Difference
Not all pain is due to an injury and not all injuries cause pain. It's important to understand the difference between pain of an unknown origin (idiopathic pain) and pain caused by injury. If the pain is due to an injury, the only way to effectively treat it is to address the underlying issue triggering the pain. For example, if your ankle is sprained, you should visit an orthopedist or family doctor, who will simultaneously treat the injured foot and likely prescribe pain medication.
For idiopathic pain – pain caused by no identifiable cause – treatment may be more difficult. There may be a host of diagnostic procedures performed, for example, to attempt to pinpoint the source of the pain.
Inflammation: A Driver of Pain
Most of us have heard the phrase "keep it elevated" in relation to an injured hand or foot. The reason for this advice is that keeping an injured limb above the level of the heart may reduce inflammation, known colloquially as swelling, a part of the natural response to injury. When a bone is broken, for example, the body rushes inflammation to the affected area to begin to triage and then repair the injury.
While inflammation is a necessary part of the body's healing process, it can also drive pain. Strategies to minimize inflammation, therefore, can help reduce pain.
To effectively limit the amount of inflammation present at any given time, try eating an inflammation-suppressing diet rich in fruits and vegetables, get plenty of exercise, and sleep properly (at least 7 hours per night).
Know Your Risk Factors
Pain levels are determined by a number of factors, including age, sex, body-fat percentage, previous injuries, activity levels, and genetics. Getting a baseline assessment of these factors can help predict and treat pain when it arises.
There is no magic bullet to pain management, and an effective strategy to combat likely involves many adjustments that can be made with the guidance of a medical professional, if necessary.
