According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100 million Americans and 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain. Furthermore, chronic low back pain is the leading cause of disability globally. With one in 10 Americans experiencing pain every single day for at least three months at a time, it is no wonder pain medications have been abused. In recent years, it has become clear that there is a pain killer addiction problem in the U.S., which is why many people are turning to other forms of treatment – which are both safer and more effective.
It is no secret that everyone has experienced some type of pain during their lifetime and millions of people live with chronic pain. However, there are also a lot of misconceptions surrounding chronic pain. How long does one have to be in pain for it to be ‘chronic’, for one? Not only is living with chronic pain exhausting enough but having to wade through all the myths and misconceptions can make the experience that much more difficult. Today we are going to look at six of the most common myths about chronic pain to help put some of the questions surrounding it to rest.
Myth #1: Chronic pain will never go away. One of the biggest misconceptions about chronic pain is that it is here to stay, regardless of what you do. Truth be told, chronic pain can be treated – not just masked – with various therapies and treatments.
Myth #2: Chronic pain is all in your head. Many people think those with chronic pain are just ‘depressed’ or in denial, but this is simply not true. Sure, you may start to feel down after living with pain for so long, but your ailment is real. Chronic pain often carries other symptoms, including depression, lack of energy, and difficulty sleeping.
Myth #3 Chronic pain can kill you. This is also false. However, just because chronic pain won’t kill you does not mean it won’t affect your overall quality of life and disposition.
Myth #4: Everyone experiences the same kind of pain. This is another harmful misconception about chronic pain that can cause confusion. We are all unique beings, which means each and every one of us experiences pain differently. Listen to your body, not the experiences of others.
Myth #5: Chronic pain is always covering up something more serious. While this can be the case, it is not always true. In many cases, there is no straightforward cause of chronic pain, and sometimes there isn’t an underlying cause either. As annoying as this is, getting to the bottom of your chronic pain often takes time and requires patience.
Myth #6: The only solution to chronic pain is surgery. False. Unfortunately, many people believe the only way they will be pain-free is with surgery, but this is not the case. As we mentioned, finding an effective solution to chronic pain may not happen overnight, but this doesn’t mean surgery is inevitable.
Chronic pain is on the rise, but this may very well be due to misconceptions about what it is and how it can be treated. If you are living in pain and are exhausted from so many unsuccessful treatments, contact Texas Partners Healthcare Group today. TXP is a premier Frisco pain management clinic, and we are here to answer any questions you may have and help you find the best natural solutions to your pain. We specialize in stem cell therapy and other forms of regenerative medicine, both of which are very effective in treating chronic pain – for good.