Medical Journeys

Posts Tagged ‘pain killers’

Specifically, I’m talking about alcohol and drugs. An alcoholic is said to have a disease. People who have problems with illicit drugs like cocaine, marijuana, heroin, etc, and even legal drugs like pain killers are said to be addicts. What’s the difference? Isn’t alcoholism a form of chemical dependency (addiction). Why is illicit drug dependency not seen as a disease? Is the difference because alcohol is socially acceptable? I submit that an alcoholic is an addict and not necessarily diseased, though liver disease may be present or coming.
Ok! I know that with a disease you have no choice. Since to drink alcohol or not is a choice WHY IS ALCOHOLISM A DISEASE? and drug abuse is not?
I know the reasons for substance abuse, no matter the substance. But WHY IS ALCHOLISM A DISEASE? while drug addiction is not?
Ok, a disease can be treated with medications or surgery. There are medications to help stop smoking and to help stop drinking and to help stop drug abuse. But you don’t answer the question WHY IS ALCOHOL ABUSE A DISEASE WHILE DRUG ABUSE IS NOT? or WHY IS DRUB ABUSE AN ADDICTION AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IS A DISEASE?

Know that pain serves a purpose. It warns you that all is not well with your body. It can be a serious warning. It is your body trying to force you into an action that will facilitate relief by attending to the cause of the pain. Sadly, today, the pain gets all of the attention as the cause is often overlooked.

There is money to be made treating people. There is no long term monetary return from healing people. Also, the average person seems to be more than happy just to see the pain go away even if it returns. There are secondary gains to pain and sickness. One gets more attention, and perhaps even presents. This is a reason I do not believe it wise to give gifts to a sick child. Rather, give them get-well gifts when they are well or healed. Don’t associate reward with illness toward children.

I have a dear friend whose back constantly tormented him beyond reckoning until he finally quit drinking. He was an alcoholic. After quitting drinking, he almost never mentioned his back. I sum this paragraph with a question only the reader can answer. Do you want the pain to go away?

If you need your pain, and many do, this article will not be of much help. For what it is worth, needing things that seem inappropriate, such as pain, is in fact appropriate for that person as a surrogate until the need is addressed and dealt with by someone qualified in such things. That is my personal belief and my understanding of the matter.

If you need a method or a plan to control pain then continue.

I do not believe that pain can be eliminated. Something is wrong and those signals are firing through your nervous system for a reason. Most medication simply masks the pain by either putting you into a stupor, getting you high or practically knocking you out. There is a time and place for everything and such matters are best left up to health care professionals who have experience, education,lawyers and politicians behind them.

There is no socially acceptable way to eliminate pain effectively. I have been to emergency rooms often for the treatment of severe headaches and each time I leave more miserable than I was when I arrived at the ER. Severe pain inhibits one’s ability to function. An equally powerful amount of medication may eliminate the pain but you are still left unable to function normally if at all.

When you are on your way to the hospital or clinic you have already reached the point of no return and will either need to be medicated heavily or ride it out. Action should have been taken much sooner.

I have heard it said by people with a headache, “I’ll take something when it gets to where I can’t stand it no longer.” That’s when it will get out of hand and here’s why.

Pain is mostly subjective. I have heard it said that pain is totally subjective. I disagree. I do concede that the degree of the suffering from pain is totally subjective. Many people tend to expand their suffering in their own mind. Some because of how bad they think it looks and others for various other reasons the chief two being fear and expectation.

Pain can be controlled in most instances and the key is early management and prevention. It is not my intention to address every type of pain in this article. It would require much research and the resultant article would soon grow into a full sized book.

If one was prepared for pain and took the necessary measures the pain would be kept to a minimum to such a degree that stopping the pain would be very possible.

In all cases, the moment you suspect oncoming pain, such as a headache, act immediately. Pain is easier to control if you act preemptively (now) than it is after you can no longer take it.

I will give some examples of pain prevention that can be adapted to other situations. I am not suggesting you practice any of these methods. I am not giving medical advice but simply showing ways I prevent pain before it starts.

This is not medical advice. These are based on what I do for pain prevention. They are only examples. By the way. My doctors gave me most of this information. Perhaps the first rule should be to listen to your health care provider.

Sinus Headache/Infection.

I use a product named AYR. It is a saline nasal spray that I apply daily. When I take a shower I use it in a similar fashion but I do not advise it to others. Also, I drink plenty of water to avoid my sinuses drying out. I keep OTC medication on hand if I sense a headache or sinus problems that I may act quickly. I once had headaches that would go on for days to weeks. Not anymore.

Wearing a tight fitting hat does nothing for any type of headache. It can cut the blood off to your scalp muscles thus causing a headache or making one worse.

Stomach pain.

I know two people personally who died from not acting when they were in pain from their stomachs. I endure terrible heartburn pain at times. I avoid the heartburn by taking the medicine prescribed to me by my doctor. It sounds perhaps like no advice but like I said. Two people-dead, because they thought stomach pain was not important.

Avoiding stress is about the best cure for digestive problems for many people. You may need help in this area.

Arthritis.

Arthritic pain is even depressing to write about. It is a crippling disease that I do not mean to trivialize by addressing it here.

If you know that the barometric pressure will be dropping, put all of the windows down in your house and keep warm. Weather channels usually display a pain index and other indicators such as barometric pressure. Damp warmth helps. I didn’t use the word heat because one can get burnt from the misuse of a heating pad. Read the instructions, please.

Back Pain.

If you have been injured and have not seen a doctor, do so immediately. Timeliness is crucial. The following is for generalized ordinary back pain.

The most important thing to remember is to avoid injury by wearing proper protection for your back and to use your body properly when lifting. Always get help for the really heavy things and never be so macho that you are willing to sacrifice your health for your image. Our physical image diminishes with age. Tearing your disks out can result in your body being bent, your muscles degenerating from lack of ability to exercise, and your countenance growing bitter as life seems to pass you by while you age prematurely due to poor health and attitude.

Doing exercises that develop back muscle helps tremendously in avoiding back injury for two reasons. Stronger back muscles help support the back as it is obvious that the spine alone is not up to the job of supporting the back. The second reason to exercise your back is that building muscle also builds up connective tissue and bone. The support for muscle develops with the muscle.

If you feel back pain coming or know it is eminent, take some aspirin ahead of time. This will slow it down until you are able to treat it with ice and later a moist heating pad. When the pain comes it will be milder and possibly more manageable.

Wearing your pants too tight or wearing your belt too tight will cause back pain. Tight clothing causes many types of pain. I have noticed that when I was overweight, or even bloated, my back hurt because of the increased pressure against the inside of my belt-line by my back. Loosening my clothing brings immediate relief.

Tight garments also cut the blood off to your back increasing pain or discomfort.

I have been told that a bowel movement can relieve back pain in some instances. If you have a serious injury and immense pain a laxative can save you a lot of pain.

Ways of Eliminating Pain

I have noticed that the more I notice my pain the worse it becomes. As a matter of fact one who is distracted from their pain almost immediately overcomes it momentarily. I learned much about pain while meditating. When distracted I would move my focus to the distraction and experience as much of it as possible. Each time the distraction would disappear. When the would return it would be for a more brief period of time. Itching, discomfort, even pain responded in like manner.

When I feel leg cramps coming I have learned to remain calm and get up. By putting pressure on the bottom of my feet by standing and shifting my weight until I find the “sweet spot” I can make the cramps in my calves go away. This does not work for anyone.

Wearing tight clothing or undergarments can cause various types of pain. Pressure, restricted blood flow and overheating or being cold can contribute to discomfort or pain.

Again. Avoiding stress can alleviate a great deal of pain. The body seems to manifest stress in the form of physical pain.

Comfort adds a great deal to coping with pain. Much of what I have written may seem obvious but people often go on thinking that they have no time for pain and that they can deal with it later. I’m writing that you may know that later may not be

Finally, There are types of pain that can only be endured. It strengthens us to endure pain. As we grow older there will be more pain. If you are young realize that it is unwise to try to erase all pain with drugs and alcohol or medication. We should embrace some pain. I endure pain that I know will not be crippling or cause loss of function. It would be wise to know what we can endure and not just what we believe our limitations are. The unpleasant reality is that pain is a very large part of life.

Author: Harold William
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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