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| 706-923-1977 |
| 110 Harmony Crossing, Suite 3 |
| Eatonton, GA 31024 |
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| Pain |
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More than 70 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and each year another 25 million experience acute pain from injuries or surgery. Although many different types of pain can be greatly eased with proper management, most goes untreated, under-treated or improperly treated.
Pain Myths and Facts
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| The Myth: |
Pain is something you “just have to live with.” |
| The Fact: |
Treatments are available to lessen most pain. Left untreated, pain can worsen other health problems. Slow recovery and interfere with healing. Get help right away. Don’t let anyone tell you your pain is “just in your head”. |
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| The Myth: |
All healthcare providers know how to treat pain. |
| The Fact: |
Not all healthcare providers can treat pain efficiently. If your healthcare provider is unable to offer sufficient pain relief, ask him or her to refer you to a pain management specialist. |
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| The Myth: |
Most healthy people go through life pain free. |
| The Fact: |
Everybody experiences some type of pain during a typical day. It could be the result of a headache, a cut, recurring pain from an old injury, or an illness such as arthritis. Different types of pain vary widely in severity. Individual tolerance for pain also fluctuates from person to person. When managing pain, it’s important to remember that zero pain is not a realistic goal. |
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| The Myth: |
Most side effects from opioid pain medications are unbearable and never go away. |
| The Fact: |
Nausea, drowsiness, itching and most other side effects caused my morphine and similar opioid medications usually last only a few days. Constipation, the side effect that is most difficult to manage, can usually be relieved with laxatives, adequate fluid intake and attention to diet. |
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| The Myth: |
Once pain starts, it will only get worse. |
| The Fact: |
If you act quickly when pain starts, you can often prevent it from getting worse. Take your medications when you first experience pain,. If your pain does not get worse, talk to your healthcare provider. Your provider may safely prescribe higher doses or change the prescription. Non-drug therapies, such as relaxation training, can also help give you relief. |
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How to Talk to Your Doctor About Pain
- Speak up! Tell you healthcare provider what you feel.
- Explain what hurts.
- Describe how it hurts.
- Describe what makes the pain better and worse.
- Describe what it feels like.
- Explain who the pain affects your daily life.
- Describe past treatment attempts.
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