But then, how do you know you have
reached the point of addiction? General practitioner, Dr. Lanre Salami,
says someone is said to be addicted to painkillers when taking the drug
has become the only ‘treatment’ for the chronic or slight pain the
person feels in any part of his body and he no longer has control over
their use.
He states that since most pain relief
medications contain nicotine, caffeine and Ibuprofen, it is easier to
get addicted to them. Salami adds, “It’s a health issue, as
well as a mental and physical issue, and this addiction can have serious
consequences, depending on how long you have been using them, even to
cure pain or aches.” Apart from addiction, experts warn that
there are three main health concerns when using painkillers to treat
pain over a long period. One is that the pain you are trying to repress
or cure may become worse.
The Director, Pain Management and
Research Institute, New York, Prof. Michael Nicholas, adds that
painkillers are psychotropic drugs and their prolonged use could cause
mood changes and sedation and eventually lead to depression.
Nicholas notes that these painkillers are only useful for treating short-term pain, and never intended to treat long-term pain.“None of these drugs will fix the
problem. All they do is cover it and that’s when people get into
trouble. They increase the dose themselves. You can actually end up
feeling more pain with the drugs you are taking because you get more
sensitised. And as the drugs wear off, so people take more and then they
have more side effects.” However, with the rigor of living in a
socially and physically demanding 21st century, pain is more common than
ever and so is the increased use of pain medication.
But how do you manage your pain without drugs?
The doctors say one must understand the cause, and how to prevent it or seek treatment.
Nicholas notes that it’s important to
correct the root cause of pain, while managing it may require the help
of a doctor or a pain specialist and other health professionals.
Therefore, visit the hospital.
But not to worry, there are some natural
remedies and quite simple lifestyle changes that could stop the pain
and get one off painkillers. One of them is physical exercise. A health
and fitness expert, Valerie Johnston, says the brain releases chemicals
known as endorphins during exercise, which block pain signals and also
serve as mood boosters. Johnston adds, “Any form of physical
exercise also works on other levels to reduce pain. By strengthening
your muscles, increasing your mobility, improving your range of motion,
increasing your endurance, and improving your cardio health, your body’s
resistance to pain will increase naturally.”
As expected, stress has a way of
intensifying pain. Johnston notes that negative emotions which arise
from being stressed out could cause the body to tense up, which could
aggravate existing aches.
She recommends stress reduction
techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and guided imagery that
naturally relax both the body and mind.
“As you learn to live a more relaxed,
stress-free life, you will progressively be able to manage your pain
more effectively. Knowing how to access a mental escape will be of great
benefit for moving out of your pain and into a more peaceful state of
mind.” She also states that poor diet is one of the key culprits in causing inflammation and pain. According to her, individuals who are
overweight and/or malnourished are much more prone to chronic pain,
adding that a variety of vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, omega-3
fatty acids, beans, peas, nuts, and other healthy food choices, while
reducing unhealthy foods, can reduce back and neck pain, as well as
headaches. Johnston says, “Proper nutrition, in
combination with exercise, will result in a stronger body that is better
able to combat pain and a number of other health problems that can lead
to chronic pain.” We pray God grant us good health.
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