Pain is one of the primary motivators of human behavior and a formidable enemy. Like hunger, it drives us to take immediate action to rid ourselves of it. If our pain is severe or chronic, it may compel us to try and eliminate it with questionable “quick-fix” solutions before we fully understand the solution’s potential risks, consequences, and side effects.
To keep from doing more harm than good in choosing how to win our war on pain, it’s necessary to take the time to educate ourselves about one of mankind’s greatest adversaries, chronic pain. Otherwise, we may end up in even greater pain than we began with, plus the possibility of suffering a lifetime of regret from our poor decisions.
Understanding Your Pain
Regardless of the type, origin, or location of your pain, the first tactic in your battle strategy for chronic pain will be to begin educating yourself about your anatomy and the typical types and causes of back pain. Later, along with your doctor, you will use this information to develop a proper diagnosis and treatment strategy. I can’t stress enough the need for taking the responsibility to educate yourself about your body and anatomy from a medical perspective. By knowing and understanding the medical terminology that your doctors use, you will be able to make better decisions and stay in control of your fate without ceding total control to your doctors because you both can’t speak the same language. Ask questions, take good notes, and don’t leave an appointment without fully understanding what you were told by your doctor or another specialist. Even though it may be uncomfortable at times, keep asking questions until you’re satisfied that you grasp the subject. It’s your body and life, and no one else will take care of it as well as you!
Diagnosing & Defining Your Pain
The next step in your War on Chronic Pain campaign strategy is to define and diagnose the origins of your pain. This will require undergoing numerous tests and procedures to help your doctor, radiologist, pain specialist, surgeon, or other medical professional discover exactly where your pain is coming from and what defect or injury may be causing it.
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Let me know about your pain. Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
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