Don’t let anyone fool you:  pain is good. It’s not fun, but it is good. Necessary. And helpful. Pain is actually a protective mechanism — our body’s way of saying, “hey, pay attention; there’s an injury going on here!”  Without pain, we’d keep our hand on the hot stove, walk on a broken leg and keep abusing an injured back.

Sudden, acute pain signals a new injury; chronic pain, however, is long term, decreasing the quality of our daily life, often making us anxious, agitated and depressed.  The people around us seem to have compassion for our acute pain and little patience for chronic pain. They want us to get over it (so do we, those of us who are suffering!), but it’s not always easy.

There are a lot of myths and half-truth about pain management. Let’s sort a few of them out.

Myth:
My doctor — and others — will think I’m a wimp or complainer or worse — an addict —  if I ask for something stronger.

Truth:
Pain is real and needs to be aggressively controlled, often with several different drugs, at initial high doses, to enable you to function at your best. Depending upon the type of pain you’re having, drugs other than “traditional” pain relievers may be effective, such as those used for seizures or depression.

Myth:
All of the good pain medicines are addictive; I’ll instantly become addicted if I take them.

Truth:
If you need to take narcotics for your pain, it is unlikely that you will become addicted.  Typically, addiction occurs when you continue taking the drug long after you need it for pain relief. It’s critical to take the drugs as prescribed.

Myth:
I should wait until the pain becomes unbearable before taking anything.

Truth:
Pain is easier to avoid and harder to treat.  Translation:  if you wait until the pain is intense, you will never be able to relieve it; but if you take your medicine at the first sign of the anticipated pain, you’ll be able to avoid it.

Myth:
Because over-the-counter pain medicines are safe, I can take as many as I want without hurting myself

Truth:
Over-the-counter pain medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol®), aspirin, naproxen are very effective pain relievers, but can be just as dangerous as prescription pain medicines if you take too many or too often.

Take care of yourself: Don’t listen to the myths; listen to your body. Heal it with rest and appropriate medicine. Don’t be shy about seeking stronger relief. And if you have questions, ask until you’re satisfied with the answers.