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It is not uncommon to experience pain in your body, either due to fatigue or other causes. Whether sharp or dull, pain can interfere with one’s life. Sometimes, pain is a symptom of disease or injury, but in other instances, such as migraines, the pain is a condition by itself. According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100 million Americans deal with body pain that might last days, weeks, months, or even years, while millions of others suffer occasional pain. Let’s look at some of the most common body pains and how your family can treat them.
Headaches
Headache pain is prevalent across all ages, social, economic classes, and races. The most common forms of headaches are vascular (such as migraines), muscle contraction (also called tension), traction (resulting from conditions of the head such as tumors), and inflammatory. Treatment for headaches includes medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, injection, meditation, massage, biofeedback, and acupuncture.
Back Pain
If you are yet to experience back pain, there are high chances that you will, eventually. According to the National Institute of Health, eight out of every ten people have had back pain in their lifetime. Back pain can be sharp and sudden in some cases, while in others, it could be dull and last for years. This kind of pain can affect anywhere from above your pelvis all the way to the base of your neck. Treatment for back pain includes injections, and surgery. There are also natural ways to treat back pain such as chiropractic treatment, meditation, massage, exercise, acupuncture and weight loss.
Ischemic Pain
This condition is a result of the collapse of blood vessels. In most cases, ischemic pain is a form of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). People who eat poor diets with high cholesterol, the obese, over 50-year-olds, those with cardiovascular disease and diabetes are at a higher risk of developing ischemic pain. Treatment includes exercise, proper diet, vascular surgery, medication, and angioplasty.
Fibromyalgia
This is a condition characterized by widespread tenderness and pain across various body parts. The condition is more prevalent among women aged 30 to 60 years, and it can lead to fatigue, affecting the individual’s daily activities. Fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat at times, but the best therapy for the condition is exercise. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for fibromyalgia, and there are other complementary treatment approaches such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic.
Neck Pain
Neck pain sets in with age and often stems from conditions such as degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis. Acute injuries such as car accidents can also result in neck pain. According to the National Institute of Health, neck pain can also result from working long hours on a desk, sprains, uncomfortable sleeping positions, infections, arthritis, and cancer of the spine. Neck pain can sometimes stem from how you are sitting at your desk during the work day so it is important to be massaging it, doing neck exercises, relaxation techniques, or ice and heat therapy. In other cases you might need to take medication or see a specialist who can implement a (Phoenix) neck pain treatment plan for you. This can be very beneficial but will depend on the cause of the pain. A neck or spine specialist can find the best way to alleviate that pain.
Pelvic Pain
This form of pain is more common among women, but it can also affect men. The main causes of pelvic pain are endometriosis, menstrual cramps, ovulation pain, and infection in the urinary tract infection. Injured/ weak muscles and Uterine fibroids are other causes. Treatment includes physical therapy, medication, heat, and hypnosis. In most cases, doctors recommend a hysterectomy.
Muscle Pain
When people try doing things that the muscles are not trained for, and this often results in muscle pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Naproxen and Ibuprofen, will help alleviate muscle pain. Other remedies include hot showers, acupuncture, stretching, and muscle relaxants that help loosen spasms.
Osteoarthritis
This is a form of arthritis resulting from the breakdown of cartilage, which is responsible for keeping bone in joints from rubbing against each other. Osteoarthritis is typically caused by wear and tear resulting from overuse of the joints. Work and sports injuries are another cause. Although there lacks an approved cure for the condition, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications will help alleviate it. Physical therapy helps improve mobility and strength.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is often caused by indigestion. The remedy for this condition is aiding the digestive system. Other causes include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, stomach viruses, and food poisoning. Severe abdominal pain may be caused by kidney stones, pancreatitis, gallstones, aortic aneurysm, and appendicitis. Treatment varies depending on causes.
Conclusion
Although body pain is common, you should seek medical attention for both mild and severe pain. If mild pain symptoms last over two weeks, you should see a doctor. A professional medical expert will examine your pain and its underlying condition. After a successful diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe medication or treatment to help ease your pain.
