Living with pain: moving forward

Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional...

Pain is a protective mechanism to attract our attention towards an ongoing damage. But at times, there is pain with no apparent value. It is not a symptom anymore, it becomes a problem by itself.

Persistent pain can impair the quality of life.

With a combination of medical interventions & self management strategies, many long-term pain conditions can be managed so as to improve function and hence the quality of life.

"For there was never yet philosopher that could endure the toothache patiently."

Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act V

Life is movement

Management of pain involves at least 2 aspects:

  1. symptom management - to try and reduce the severity of pain.

  2. improvement in function - regaining physical fitness and coping with activities of daily living

The purpose of medicines and injections are to facilitate a pain free period which in turn should encourage the person to increase the level of activity and. Physiotherapists are good in guiding you to do graded exercises in order to stretch and strengthen the muscles. You need to pace your exercises and activity level in a gentle and graded way.

The muscles and the bones in the body are designed to move. If you don't use it, you may lose it!