Chronic Pain Management
R
oughly 20% of American adults suffer from chronic pain. Pain is considered chronic if experienced most or every day in the last 6 months. Pain is also often a component of many chronic conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, Parkinson’s, obesity, etc. Living with pain has a high cost, both to emotional health, as well as physical health. The CDC estimates healthcare related costs due to pain to be $560 billion. When experiencing pain, it can sometimes feel as though you are trapped in a vicious cycle. The feeling of pain can lead to tense muscles, which can create shortness of breath, which can increase anxiety, which can cause difficulty sleeping, leading to fatigue and depression. At any point in time, it can be difficult to determine where the pain stops and the depression begins. Each symptom of pain can be interconnected. Chronic pain can be difficult to treat as it is often not well understood. Taking powerful pain medications should not be the first, or only, course of action. The good news is there are many activities that can be learned and practiced within the home environment that can lead to better coping and management of pain. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing pain. It can be difficult to try a new solution when there is a possibility it will not work or might make the pain worse. Having emotional support from others can make a big difference when trying and evaluating a new treatment option. Cannon Health offers two class options for people to learn about pain and other chronic condition selfmanagement skills to improve overall health. Classes can either be completed over weekly phone calls, or virtual computer sessions, which is ideal during a time of social distancing. Skills such as deep breathing, gentle exercise,
healthy eating, improved sleep, managing difficult emotions, pacing activity, and communication skills can be used to help limit the impact of pain
[ Healthy Living ] BY EMILY EVANS SPONSORED BY CANNON PHARMACY
and allow you to get back to living a healthy and active life. Call Cannon Health to register for a class at 704-886-0840, option 2.
September 2020 | 17
