Regenerative Medicine: Chronic Pain Management

Chronic Pain in Pennsylvania

Chronic pain is a major health problem plaguing the United States, with nearly one-third of the population suffering from pain at any given time, and Pennsylvania is no exception. According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, chronic pain tends to be more common in women than in men, and that regardless of gender, and can increase with age.

There are many concerns for an individual with chronic pain, like managing the costs associated with pain management and the impact on the individual’s way of life. Pain sufferers can be affected physically, emotionally, or mentally. Also, it can cause changes to the individual’s social life, affecting relationships with family and friends.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is the body’s natural response to an injury or illness, signaling that something is wrong. When the body heals from the injury or illness, the pain goes away. However, in many cases the pain can remain even after the cause has been treated. When pain lasts for more than three months, it is considered chronic.

Pain Management Options

There are various ways to manage chronic pain. Treatment options for pain sufferers can be as diverse as the causes, therefore, there are also a lot of different approaches to managing it. In most cases, an individual may experience the best results by using a combination of techniques, such as:

• Drug therapy (nonprescription and prescription)
• Trigger point injections
• Surgery
• Physical therapy
• Diet and exercise
• Psychological treatment
• Alternative therapies
• Chiropractic adjustments
• Massage therapy
• Herbal or natural remedies
• Nature based therapies
• Regenerative medicine therapies

Medication May Be Common, But It May Not Be What’s Best

Medication is a common approach to relieve chronic pain. This is because it is believed to be a “quick fix” to pain. However, because of health care professionals overprescribing pain relief medication, the United States is suffering from an opioid epidemic. In fact, in 2016 alone, 4,642 individuals died from an opioid overdose in Pennsylvania. That breaks down to 13 overdose deaths a day in Pennsylvania, a 37 percent increase over 2015’s numbers.

7 Tips for Living with Chronic Pain

If you suffer from chronic pain of any kind, you most likely have done some research to help you find any relief to your suffering. Because many sufferers are looking for alternatives to prescription medications for their pain management, we hav a few tips that can help:

1. Focus on relaxing your mind and body through meditation or deep breathing exercises
2. Since stress can intensify your pain, try to reduce stress in your life when you can
3. Stay active because the natural endorphins from exercise can boost pain relief naturally
4. Consider alternatives to an intense workout routine such as physical therapy, yoga, or massage therapy
5. Stay healthy by cutting out alcohol, smoking, and eat a healthier diet
6. Track your pain levels and daily activities to understand what increases or decreases your pain levels
7. Find a treatment plan that works for you and follow through with it

How Can Northeast Knee and Joint Institute Provide Relief from Chronic Pain?

We understand how life-changing chronic pain can be. That’s why Northeast Knee and Joint Institute offers Regenerative Medicine Therapies to all pain sufferers. By using regenerative medicine along with our Whole Person Approach, we can better understand how your chronic pain affects all aspects of your life to ensure that you get the best results from your treatment plan.

So if you’re still living with chronic pain, why haven’t you tried Northeast Knee and Joint Institute for relief? Contact our office today to schedule a risk-free, no-obligation consultation to review your chronic pain to take the first steps on your path to relief!