Pain
Pain is one of the most significant ways our body uses to communicate something is wrong. Most of us associate pain as an outcome of an injury or illness; patiently waiting for our body to heal to find relief.
Acute Vs. Chronic Pain
Acute Pain:
Acute pain often has an unexpected onset and a shorter duration. With time and treatment, the pain will go away. It generally is caused by damage to organs, tissue, or bone.
Chronic Pain:
Chronic pain can be classified as pain that has lasted for over three to six months. The cause of chronic pain is complex and still not fully understood. Various neuromuscular, reproductive, gastrointestinal, and urologic disorders may cause or contribute to chronic pain.
Common Chronic Pain Disorders
- Chronic Joint Pain:
- Leading Cause of Chronic Pain
- Arthritis is the most common type of joint pain
- Chronic Headaches:
- Can be Caused by Fatigue, Stress, or Pressure in the Head
- Often Present with a Partnering Illness
- Neuropathic Pain:
- Nerves that Carry Pain Signals to the Brain may be Triggered by Swelling, Pressure or Damage
- Can be Present in Nervous System Disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis
- Sciatics is the Most Common Type of Neuropathic Pain
- Chronic Back Pain:
- May Develop with Age or Caused by an Injury
- Leading Cause of Disability
- Fibromyalgia:
- Exact Cause is Unknown
- Widespread Muscle Fatigue and Pain
- Accompanied by Chronic Fatigue, Sleep Disorders, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
For a person living with chronic pain, the condition becomes a part of your daily life. Pain influences so many aspects of their lives, patients with chronic pain often experience anxiety, depression, or drastic behavior changes. Not only does this decrease your quality of life, but also it will significantly make your pain worse.
Naturopathic Approach
When it comes to treating pain, ideally we are looking for instant relief. Pain medications quickly relieve symptoms, numbing the pain but these medications do not treat the pain. These medications become highly addictive and are often abused if the pain is still present. People start to become dependent on the medication and disregard the understanding of why they have pain.
There are many alternative treatments for relief other than medication. Treatment will strengthen the body to promote natural healing and help regain control of our emotions. When we understand why we are having pain, it becomes easier to maintain.
Suggested Therapies Available at Cutler Integrative Medicine:
- The BodyLENS™
The BodyLENS™ is an informational feedback system that uses sensors placed on the body to provide pain management for many different types of pain.
The effect of BodyLENS™ often includes a decrease of pain and/or discomfort, a decrease in symptoms of abdominal discomfort, an increase in muscle relaxation, and/or an increase in the range of motion.
- Constitutional Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the use of water at various temperatures to create a therapeutic effect on the body. This therapy changes the constitution of each individual cell, which is then stimulated to excrete waste products, utilize nutrients more efficiently, and work more effectively. These beneficial conditions increase the body’s own healing force leading to detoxifying a congested nervous system, organs, and tissues!