Pain 101

MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - Jul 11, 2014) - (Family Features) Whether it's sharp or dull, off and on or constant, pain can be a real pain at times. With the ability to interrupt time with family, lessen productivity at work and create many sleepless nights, understanding the source of your pain is essential for relief.

The ache and its sources
As a source of discomfort, it may be hard to view pain in a positive light. But this natural, protective tool is used by the body as an alert of present or potential harm to tissues. While pain usually ceases once the stimulus has been removed and the damage to tissue has healed, there are many different factors involved for the amount of time the process takes. One thing is certain -- whether it takes an hour or several months, relief is the main focus for those who suffer from any type of pain.

According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, approximately 100 million Americans deal with chronic pain, which is classified as discomfort lasting six months or longer. While this type of pain can range from minor to debilitating, it can disrupt the social and physical aspects of life in a major way. Those that suffer from this condition often experience headaches, backaches and neck pain, though it can aggravate other areas within the body. Due to its lengthy nature, chronic pain can often lead to emotional issues, such as depression and stress, which can exacerbate the healing process.

The best way to identify chronic pain is to be aware of its symptoms. This pain is persistent and can often be described as aching, burning or shooting. The area where the pain is located is often defined by patients as sore, tight or stiff. Because this type of pain can affect so many areas of life, many in the health community recommend a comprehensive mind and body approach for its management. This can include medication, injections, acupuncture and other holistic treatments.

Here are some of the common types of chronic pain and a few ways to end the discomfort, so you can get back to enjoying life.

Back and neck pain
What causes nearly 40 percent of missed work days in the U.S. and is the fifth most common cause for doctor visits? Running from the top of the neck to the bottom of the spine, back pain is a common complaint among many people. While back pain is typically divided into the most common areas of neck, middle back, lower back and tailbone, its symptoms can also be felt in other parts of the body, including arms, hands, legs and feet.

Some of the common remedies for back and neck pain include everything from massage therapy, acupressure, acupuncture, back conditioning exercises and medication. Due to the controversy surrounding the last remedy, many patients prefer a more natural way to ease back pain with hot and cold therapy, such as Thermal-Aid Large Sectional Pack, which helps eliminate swelling and eases pain on any area of the back.

Headache pain
Though there are many factors that can trigger its unpleasant feeling; headaches can range from a minor sinus headache to a severe migraine. Though it may feel that your brain is the source for the pain, the discomfort is actually caused by a disturbance to the structures surrounding it, and not within the tissue itself.

Some headache symptoms can be as minor as sensitivity to light or noise to the extreme conditions of fever and vomiting. While most physicians typically recommend the use of over-the-counter medications, there are also new natural treatments available. One natural product, the Thermal-Aid Headache Relief System provides fast, safe pain relief and is clinically proven to relieve headache pain in over 90 percent of sufferers.

If you suffer from persistent body and head pains, it's important to understand the source of the pain. For more ways to stop the pain, visit http://thermalaidproducts.com.

Important Questions to Consider
When consulting your medical professional about pain, he or she will likely ask you a set of questions similar to those listed below. It is essential to prepare before you visit the doctor so you can help pinpoint the pain for the best diagnosis and treatment:

• Where is the location of the pain?
• When did it start?
• What kind of pain is it? (Some descriptions include burning, dull, sharp, etc.)
• Do certain activities alleviate or worsen the feeling?
• What treatments have you used? Have you experienced any side effects?

Helping Children through Pain
Whether they're visiting a physician to receive a routine shot or undergoing treatment, it can be difficult for parents to watch their children experience pain. Here are some tips from the American Medical Association for helping your little ones cope:

• Stay close during the pain. Regardless of their age, your presence is comforting to your child.
• Make contact with your child. If you can, hold or touch your child throughout the process.
• Take notes from nature: Some animals, such as kangaroo mothers, carry their young close to them. If you have an infant in pain, hold your baby close to your chest wearing only a diaper. This tactic is used worldwide and research shows that it can reduce pain during a procedure.
• Offer distractions. Focus the attention on things your child enjoys to help them relax. Some helpful diversions include singing a song together, reading a book out loud or telling their favorite story. Or, give them a playful stuffed toy that also helps ease pain, such as the Thermal-Aid Zoo animals, which offers a 100 percent natural, therapeutic heating and cooling treatment.
• Be truthful. Tell your child up front the procedure will cause discomfort but you will be there for support.

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