Pain Management

We have all experienced pain. But despite it being one of the most common symptoms people seek medical help for, it is also one of the most misunderstood and ineffectively treated.Part of the reason is that one person’s experience of the same painful event can be significantly different from another’s. In this article, we identify the most common types of pain and offer some suggestions on the best type of treatment. Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Types of Pain

Pain is a general term that describes any kind of unpleasant or uncomfortable sensation in the body. There are many different types and causes of pain, and these can be grouped into eight different categories to help with pain management:

- Acute pain
- Chronic pain
- Breakthrough pain
- Bone pain
- Nerve pain
- Phantom pain
- Soft tissue pain
- Referred pain.

Acute pain

This starts suddenly and only lasts for a short period (ie, minutes, hours, a couple of days, occasionally a month or two).

It is usually caused by a specific event or injury, such as:

- A broken bone
- A car crash or other type of accident
- A fall
- Burns or cuts
- Dental work
- Labor and childbirth
- Surgery.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that has persisted for longer than six months and is experienced most days. It may have originally started as acute pain, but the pain has continued long after the original injury or event has healed or resolved. Chronic pain can range from mild to severe and is associated with conditions such as:

- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Cancer
- Circulation problems
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Headache

Chronic pain can severely affect a person's quality of life and prevent them from returning to work or participating in physical activity. In some people, it may lead to depression or social isolation.

Breakthrough Pain

Breakthrough pain is a sudden, short, sharp increase in pain that occurs in people who are already taking medications to relieve chronic pain caused by conditions such as arthritis, cancer, or fibromyalgia.

Breakthrough pain may also be called a pain flare and it may occur with exercise or physical activity, coughing, illness, stress, or during the period between pain medication doses. The pain level is often severe, but the location of the pain is usually the same as the person’s chronic pain.

Bone Pain

This is a tenderness, aching or discomfort in one or more bones that is present during both exercise and rest.

Bone pain is commonly associated with conditions or diseases that affect the structure or function of bone, such as cancer, a fracture (broken bone), infection, leukemia, mineral deficiency, sickle cell anemia, or osteoporosis. Many pregnant women experience pelvic girdle pain.

Nerve Pain

Nerve pain is caused by nerve damage or inflammation. It is usually described as a sharp, shooting, burning or stabbing pain and may also be called neuralgia or neuropathic pain. Some people describe it as being like an electric shock and it is often worse at night.

Nerve pain can severely interfere with a person's life and affect their sleep, work, and physical activity levels. They are often very sensitive to cold and may experience pain with even the slightest touch. Many people with chronic nerve pain also develop anxiety or depression.

People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.

Common causes of nerve pain include:
- Alcoholism
- An injury to the brain, a nerve, or the spinal cord
- Cancer
- Circulation problems
- Diabetes
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Limb amputation
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Phantom Pain

Phantom pain is pain that feels like it is coming from a body part that is no longer there. It is common in people who have had a limb amputated, but is different from phantom limb sensation, which is usually painless.

Historically, Doctors believed phantom pain was a psychological problem but they now realize these are real pain sensations that originate in the spinal cord and brain. It often gets better with time, but managing phantom pain can be challenging in some people.

Soft Tissue Pain

This is pain or discomfort that results from damage or inflammation of the muscles, tissues, or ligaments. It may be associated with swelling or bruising and common causes include:

- Back or neck pain
- Bursitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Rotator cuff injury
- Sciatic pain
- Sports injuries, such as sprains or strains
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome.

Referred pain

This is pain that feels like it is coming from one particular location, but is the result of an injury or inflammation in another structure or organ. For example, during a heart attack, pain is often felt in the neck, left shoulder, and down the right arm. An injury or inflammation of the pancreas is often felt as constant pain in the upper stomach area that radiates to the back. A ruptured spleen can cause pain in the shoulder blade.

Referred pain happens because there is a network of interconnecting sensory nerves, that supply many different tissues. An injury in one area of the network can be mistakenly interpreted by the brain as being in a different part of the network.

Ayurveda’s Role:

YOGAYURVED’s systematic relaxation techniques, massages and pain relieving treatments help in effective pain management. The treatments include:

Abhyanga Massage

Done using specific medicated oils followed by steam to improve blood circulation, eliminate toxins, tone up the muscles and nourish the skin.

PatraPindaSweda

Swedana (Fomentation) is done by using medicated herbs /powders after traditional. Effective in joints pain, stroke and other musculoskeletal condition.

Mardana with Sweda

A deep tissue relaxation massage done using medicated oils over the pressure points which helps in reducing muscular aches and pains.

Abhyanga & Pariseka

Procedure of pouring warm herbal decoction in a continuous stream over the body. Effective in joint pain, stroke and other musculoskeletal conditions

SSPS [ShashtikaShaliPindaSweda]

A unique combination of Navara rice is processed by decoction of herbs and milk made into poultice and is used for fomentation. It strengthens muscles, rejuvenates the tissues and also helps Geriatric disorders & degenerative conditions.

Kati/Greeva/JanuBasti

Warm medicated oils used in the treatment lubricate the joints and energize the local marmas (vital points) thereby reliving pain and swelling. It is the most popular ayurvedic treatment for back pain, neck pain, knee- joint pain and osteoarthritis.

At our clinics, we are using pure herb, green herbal juices, medicated oils, various procedure of panchakarmaa specially design for chronic digestive disorders. Some of the diseases may be treated on the basis of online consultation, some require OPD bases regular check-ups and more severe and chronic condition may require IPD (hospitalization) based treatment. Click here(login is mandatory) to fill-up and know your disease condition (it may require your previous health condition reports - prescriptions, all diagnostic reports. Our expert vaidya and yogacharya will assess the condition within 24 Hrs. and contact you through email/massage/call)

Disclaimer

The Effectiveness of the treatments also depend on individual’s age, health condition and associated medical conditions like PCOD, metabolic disorders etc.