Managing Chronic Pain

Calendar February 14, 2012 | Posted by Central Florida Regional

Chronic pain is a serious medical and mental health concern. Whether you’re living with chronic pain due to illness or injury, managing your pain effectively is important for overall wellbeing and daily living. While treatment options may vary depending on your specific circumstances, consider discussing the following traditional and alternative pain management practices with your doctor:

An interdisciplinary pain management program. This holistic approach to pain management involves you working actively with a team of healthcare professionals, from doctors and nurses to nutritionists and psychologists to achieve a maximum level of comfort. This type of program focuses on you overall, as opposed to simply concentrating on your pain.

Medication. Over the counter and/or prescription pain relievers, also called analgesics, and other medications may be helpful in relieving symptoms and managing your pain temporarily or long-term. Medications can range from aspirin to acetaminophen to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to opioids. Discuss medications, dosage, usage instructions as well as possible side effects with your physician.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. While it's benefits are the subject of ongoing research, studies have shown acupuncture to be effective in relieving headache, back pain, joint pain and other types of pain. With virtually no side effects, acupuncture may be a good addition to traditional forms of pain management.

Meditation. Meditation and other relaxation techniques can sometimes help with not only chronic pain, but the depression that often accompanies it. From back pain, to migraine headaches to fibromyalgia, meditation can sometimes prove to be a beneficial means of pain management.

Other pain management techniques. When living with chronic pain, it often pays to explore all possible remedies. What is effective can vary from person to person.

To learn more about managing chronic pain and find out how Central Florida Regional Hospital can help, visit us online or call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-800-445-3392.

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Back Pain: Finding the Source
Is Your Job a Pain in the Neck?

About Central Florida Regional

Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we strive to deliver high quality, cost effective healthcare in the communities we serve. In pursuit of our mission, we believe the following value statements are essential and timeless. ■We recognize and affirm the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual. ■We treat all those we serve with compassion and kindness. ■We act with absolute honesty, integrity and fairness in the way we conduct our business and the way we live our lives. ■We trust our colleagues as valuable members of our healthcare team and pledge to treat one another with loyalty, respect and dignity. VISION STATEMENT Central Florida Regional Hospital will be the hospital of choice in the communities we serve.
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