What to Know for Pain Awareness Month

September is Pain Awareness Month in the US. Established in 2001 by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), Pain Awareness Month is intended to help bring attention to the chronic pain that many Americans live with every day and provide guidance for how this pain can be minimized and treated. So, to help join in on the cause, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide some helpful information on chronic pain.

We wanted to begin by providing some statistics about chronic pain. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, daily pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined, making it a leading cause of disability and a major factor in health care costs. In fact, chronic pain is the most common cause of long-term disability for adults in the US. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that over 20% of American adults suffer from chronic pain and 8% experience high-impact chronic pain.

There are many potential causes of chronic pain, or for some people, multiple causes combining to create this discomfort. Being overweight can lead to increased pressure on the back and knees that can lead to chronic pain. Poor posture can also contribute to this. Certain diseases like arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia can also be to blame. In some cases, chronic pain can be a lingering side effect of a specific physical trauma or injury. Unfortunately, determining the precise source of chronic pain can be a very complex and even mysterious in some cases.

Depending on the nature, severity, and specifics of a person’s condition, chronic pain can be treated in several different ways. Certain medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, can help some people. However, some healthcare providers may be wary of prescribing opioid-based pain-killing medications due to their addictive nature. For other patients, physical therapy, stretching, and exercise regimens may be able to provide relief as well. Eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and includes anti-inflammatory agents may be able to help ease pain in some cases.

Living with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging. The first step toward relieving your pain and managing your symptoms is to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss your condition. For more information on chronic pain or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.