Common Misconceptions about Chronic Pain Sufferers
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for at least six months. Experts say it is not taken seriously enough. Aside from the fact that not all treatments work for some people, a lot of misconceptions about chronic pain makes this condition even more aggravating. Below are some of them:
If people look fine, they must feel fine. People with chronic pain who receive no precise diagnosis for their condition are often forced to report to work despite their excruciating condition as they fear that their employers would not believe them. They would dress up and pretend that everything’s fine. But just as the old saying goes, “looks can be deceiving”. Just because they appear fine doesn’t mean they are feeling fine. Some chronic pain sufferers are simply trying to hide it from others.
If they are chronically enjoying themselves, they must feel okay. Just because the person is laughing doesn’t mean he or she is pain-free. Many sufferers of chronic pain have become used to hiding the symptoms of their illness so not to compromise the experience of being with the company of others.
Being in pain is a good excuse for work absences. People who have never experienced chronic pain may wish that they experience it too so they could have a reason to be at home all day long, stay on bed and watch TV. But for the real sufferers, there’s no good in lying on bed with your head pounding or your lower back swelling in pain. Alongside the physical pain, these people are also prone to experiencing depressive symptoms, which make them feel literally miserable.
Emotional pain is different from physical pain. Often, physical and mental pain goes hand in hand. Do you notice that when you are angry or stressed you feel that your muscles have tightened and your heart rate is faster than usual? This is just a proof that mental stress manifests in the body too. In fact, studies have indicated that the brain processes emotional pain and physical pain in similar manners. For instance, a 2011 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that the brain makes little distinction between the sting of being rebuffed by peers – or by a lover, boss or family member – and the physical pain that arises from disease or injury. Furthermore, it has been estimated that in 22 per cent of cases, chronic pain leads to depression.
Pain is just on their head. If a doctor didn’t find anything wrong medically with a person, a lot of times people would think that they are just crafting an excuse from work. Although not all cases have identifiable causes, chronic pain is a real condition that can be treated.
Ignoring the pain will make it go away. In some cases, ignoring the pain works but oftentimes, it doesn’t. It is much better to seek help from a caring, experienced specialist or therapist to achieve long-term pain relief.
Some people don’t want to be treated because they benefit from it. Research shows that exaggerating about pain and malingering are actually rare. As mentioned, no one wants to experience pain. No one would want to spend days, weeks, months or even years suffering from persistent pain that hinders them from enjoying their hobbies and carrying on with their lives.
Taking painkiller is the best way to manage chronic pain. Whilst medications provide an immediate relief from pain, it does not target and cure the root cause of the condition. Chronic pain sufferers are advised to undergo comprehensive tests to identify the real reason for their problem and find a better approach to deal with it. According to Dalvina Hanu-Cernat, a consultant in pain medicine and anaesthesia at University Hospital Birmingham, “chosen wisely, opioid drugs are a valuable tool when managing pain”. She argued that chronic pain is a complex condition, so you have to address the entire problem, not just the bit you can fix with a drug. Often, natural remedies work better than painkillers because they don’t just mask the symptoms, but also help reduce the imbalances in the body which contribute to chronic pain.
Educating ourselves about chronic pain and how it impacts the lives of others is one way to understand them better and somehow ease the burden they carry.
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