MANAGING PAIN DRUG FREE

Pain medication can mask the actual problem & may delay recovery

AS a physiotherapist, the biggest problem I see resulting from pain medication is drugs both mask the actual problem and make recovery much harder. Often the underlying cause of pain isn’t addressed. By not finding the true source of pain, recovery is not only delayed but the injury can become worse.

A recent landmark study found drugs to treat back pain are largely ineffective. The study, from Sydney-based, The George Institute for Global Health, reports that ‘commonly used non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) used to treat back pain provide little benefit but cause side effects.’ The review in 2017, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, reveals only ‘one in six patients treated with the pills, also known as NSAIDs, achieve any significant reduction in pain’. What is the answer? Unfortunately, there is no off-the-shelf solution. Everybody is different and there are many different types and causes of pain. But consider the following:

1. A professional assessment:

Testing what you can and cannot do will find the source of your problem. Fix the source, fix the problem. The underlying cause may not be what you expect. It may be posture, an injury, or it may be referred pain from elsewhere in your body. Finding the underlying cause is not possible in a pill packet, it takes time and experience. The cause can be located by testing your biomechanics, range and quality of movement. Effective long-term treatment then involves hands-on physio methods such as correcting biomechanics, exercise, correct movement and massage.

2. Movement is critical:

Back pain sufferers get into the habit of restricting their movements, an understandable response to pain. But this only makes things worse and the painrelieving medicines don’t necessarily encourage you to increase your range of movement. More than anything else, movement is essential provided it’s within tolerable pain levels. If you live a sedentary working life, it’s vital to incorporate exercise into your daily routine and to manage pain drug free.

3. Consider posture:

What does posture have to do with pain. Posture is among the most common underlying causes of pain that I see as a

To manage pain, keep moving but only within tolerable levels of pain.

physio – seated posture is a particular problem. If you have poor posture it will show up somewhere. Good posture will be a major contributor to manage pain drug free.

4. Breathing exercises:

Pain causes us to tense up, often throughout our body and may cause our breathing to become shallow, which only exacerbates the tension. Learning some breathing exercises can be hugely beneficial to help your body relax and to manage pain drug free. 5. Prepare properly for surgery:

Many issues with pain killing drugs start as a response to surgery. But you can reduce the amount of time you’ll have to take drugs by preparing well beforehand. A professional assessment with a qualified physiotherapist is necessary to understand exactly where the problems lie and your body’s current range of movement and control. For example, you may require knee surgery, but did you know that many knee problems could originate from your spine? While surgery may be unavoidable, understanding what is troubling your knee is crucial for understanding your progress post-surgery. An assessment will give you a baseline for measuring your progress postoperation. Engaging physiotherapy fourto-six weeks before the operation brings tangible benefits. In fact, at Elite Akademy, we have found pre-op physiotherapy improves post-op recovery time by 2575%, depending on the individual.

6. Take post-surgery recovery seriously:

Physiotherapists will advise you on the correct movements for recovery. This cannot be stressed enough because if you move a knee, shoulder or hip the wrong way you may create actual damage and require further surgery. Post-surgery is when drugs are often necessary for a short time, because fighting through pain only slows your healing process. This can be a tricky issue as pain levels may persist for 6-24 weeks after surgery. Only use pain medication when necessary and in line with expert advice. In summary:

• Drugs have a role in managing pain but can mask underlying issues and therefore prolong suffering. • A professional assessment combined with an active lifestyle are critical to manage pain drug free. • There is much you can do pre and postsurgery to avoid becoming dependent on pain relieving medication.

Kusal Goonewardena is an experienced physiotherapist, lecturer, consultant and mentor to thousands of physiotherapy students around the world. Kusal recently developed the App KINRGIZE, available at Google Play and the App store. He has authored books including: Low Back Pain – 30 Days to Pain Free; 3 Minute Workouts; and co-authored Natural Healing: Quiet and Calm. Kusal consults via his clinic, Elite Akademy.