This post was written by Dr. Andrius Giedraitis, Pain Management, Parkview Bryan Hospital.
Living with chronic pain can make you a magnet for advice. This guidance may come from people who care about you, from social media and from past medical experiences. You might even receive it from a neighbor who "had the same thing" happen to them.
Though most of that advice is well-intentioned, chronic pain rarely has a simple fix. When it lasts for months or years, one-size-fits-all advice can leave people stuck, frustrated or blaming themselves. In this post, we explore five chronic pain recommendations that are worth reconsidering.
“Just rest until it goes away.”
Rest can help after an injury or during a short-term flare. However, too much rest can also backfire. When you avoid movement for long periods, muscles can weaken, joints can stiffen and your confidence in your body can shrink. Then normal activity starts to feel harder.
This does not mean you should force yourself into painful activity. The better goal is gentle, guided movement that builds over time. For some people, that might mean walking to the mailbox. For others, it may mean physical therapy, stretching, strengthening or finding safer ways to move.
“No pain, no gain.”
This phrase belongs on a gym wall from 1987, not in a chronic pain care plan. Some soreness with activity can be normal, especially if you are rebuilding strength. But don't ignore symptoms such as sharp pain, spreading pain, numbness, weakness or pain that causes a major flare afterward.
People with chronic pain often need pacing. That means doing enough to make progress without doing so much that you crash for the next two days. A good plan should help you find balance between healthy challenge and unnecessary irritation.
“You should avoid all medications.”
It is understandable why many patients feel cautious about medication usage. Nobody wants to feel overmedicated, dependent, foggy or unheard. But blanket statements like “avoid all medications” can be too simplistic especially when addressing ongoing complex conditions.
Medication is not the whole answer for chronic pain, but it can be one tool. Depending on the diagnosis, a clinician may consider anti-inflammatory medications, nerve pain medications, muscle relaxants, topical treatments, injections or other options.
When considering how medications fit into your care plan, the key is thoughtful use. Ask your provider these questions:
- What is the medication supposed to help with?
- Is it improving function?
- Are there side effects?
- Is there a plan to reassess?
A balanced pain management plan should never feel like someone simply handed you a bottle and walked away.
“Surgery is your only option.”
Sometimes surgery is necessary. Sometimes it is the right choice. But many chronic pain treatment plans involve several steps before, after or instead of surgery.
Pain management may offer options such as targeted injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, medication review, physical therapy coordination and other conservative approaches depending on the condition.
The goal is to understand where the pain may be coming from, what has already been tried, and which options make sense for your situation.
If you have been told surgery is the only path, it may still be worth asking whether a pain management evaluation could help clarify your options.
“Nothing is wrong if your imaging looks normal.”
X-rays, MRIs and CT scans are useful tools, but pain does not always show up neatly on a picture. Factors like nerves, muscles, joints, inflammation, prior injuries, sensitivity in the nervous system and movement patterns can all play a role.
A normal scan does not mean your pain is imaginary; rather, it may indicate that a more thorough evaluation is necessary. Creating a holistic pain plan involves considering your symptoms, examining how pain affects your life, reviewing your history and looking for patterns that may help identify solutions. While imaging is important, it should not be the sole focus.
When advice leaves you stuck...
Managing chronic pain is challenging enough without sorting through conflicting advice. If you experience pain that has lasted longer than expected, is limiting your daily activities or if you're unsure what to do next, consider adding a pain management specialist to your care team.
At Parkview Bryan Hospital's Pain Management Clinic in Ohio, our team offers personalized and balanced care with no referral necessary. To learn more or schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call 419-633-7343.
At PPG—Pain Management in Indiana, appointments are by referral only. If you suspect you need to see a pain management specialist, contact your primary care physician.
