Chronic pain can make traveling more challenging, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up on seeing the world. In fact, at times you may not have a choice. Work or family obligations may require you to travel.
Careful planning can make those trips more enjoyable. Follow these tips for a lower-stress travel experience.
If you’re flying:
Doctors hear it all the time when they’re treating patients: "My dad always had back problems." Or 'my sister has fibromyalgia too."
Do these conditions actually run in families? Research seems to show that they can.
A King’s College London study of identical and nonidentical twins found that several conditions—includingirritable bowel syndrome, musculoskeletal pain, and pelvic pain—have a genetic component.
It’s not fair really, but it’s a fact. People who live with pain are also likely to have trouble falling asleep—and lack of sleep can, in turn, make their pain worse. According to some estimates, up to two-thirdsof people who have chronic pain also have sleep disorders.
There are strategies to help though. Try these steps to take to improve your sleep despite the pain.
Back pain is one of the most common complaints bringing patients to doctors' offices. Knowing what’s causing the pain is a key to getting relief.
Most of the time back pain is a result of “mechanical” causes; that is, something is wrong with the mechanics of the back—the way the spine, muscles, discs, and nerves work together. This may be caused by injuries, poor posture, pinched nerves, or simple wear and tear that comes with aging.
It’s hard for people who aren’t hurting to understand what living with chronic pain is like. They make all kinds of assumptions, including thinking that because you don’t look injured, you must be fine. Sometimes chronic pain sufferers themselves have misconceptions.
It’s time to separate fact from fiction. By increasing understanding, hopefully we can increase support for those in pain.
Misconception 1. You don’t look sick, so you must not be in that much pain.
Arthritis and fibromyalgia are just two of the diverse causes of somatic pain. For afflicted people, this type of pain can prevent the performance of normal daily activities, and lead to full-blown depression. Unlike the neuropathic pain associated with diabetes-caused peripheral neuropathy, somatic pain is one of two subsets of nociceptivepain. If you have ever burned your fingers on a hot stove or iron, you have experienced nociceptive pain.
Alcohol consumption decreases dopamine neurotransmission in the brain. Meanwhile, dopamine interacts with the brain’s pain sensors, and a high-dopamine level decreases the sensation of pain. Whether you have chronic joint pain, fibromyalgia, or migraines, frequently-consuming alcoholic drinks can exacerbate your pain. Additionally, the overuse of opioid painkillers can also increase your sensation of pain. Rather than self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, obtaining treatment for your particular pain is vital to obtaining ongoing pain relief.
At least 11 percent of the US population suffers from chronic pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. While a lower back problem is the most common cause of pain, arthritis, migraines, and cancer are common causes of chronic pain (and all can limit normal functioning).
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