07 Feb Ow, That Hurts
Some pain has a pretty obvious cause. You stub your toe, and now your toe hurts. Some pain has a cause that’s not so obvious like a backache. Or maybe it’s your knees. You didn’t have an obvious injury, or it was long ago, but for some reason, it hurts. And it hurts most of the time.
This is chronic pain.
Chronic pain may seem to just happen, but it has a root cause. That’s what functional medicine is all about. We look for the underlying causes of symptoms. Something in your lifestyle may be contributing to your pain. You may have a genetic predisposition for some problems, but something you have control over might be influencing your genetics.
Arthritis is a good example of this. Arthritis can result from inflammation. That’s what happens in your body when things aren’t going well. Remember that stubbed toe? It probably turned red and swelled. That’s inflammation and it’s part of the healing process. Inflammation happens when your body is hurt by too much sugar, hydrogenated oils, hidden allergies, lack of exercise, infections, toxin exposure, or chronic stress. So your body responds to those insults with inflammation. You may not see redness or swelling, but you may have symptoms, such as the pain of arthritis. Reducing inflammation can reduce arthritis pain.
Obesity is strongly linked to pain and obesity is an inflammatory condition. In this case, you can “see” the inflammation as belly fat is a result of inflammation. And we just noted that inflammation leads to pain. Obesity is complex, and is not just a result of people eating too much and exercising too little. Genetics, metabolism, inflammation, toxin exposure, and the quality of the food eaten all can play a role. But as people change to a healthier lifestyle, obesity can improve and pain can improve. For example, arthritis pain is reduced as weight is reduced.
Headaches have multiple causes. They are sometimes caused by tension or stress. Stress management can be learned. Breathing slowly, meditation, and attitude changes can reduce stress, and that can reduce headaches. A magnesium deficiency can cause headaches. Also, food sensitivities can cause them as well. It may be worth eliminating the common foods that people tend to be sensitive to and seeing how you feel: eggs, wheat, dairy, soy, and corn. If you give your body what it needs, including some relaxation, or magnesium, or eliminate what it doesn’t need, headaches can be less frequent.
Back pain is very common. Many of us have desk jobs, followed by a little relaxation in front of the TV. All that sitting is hard on the back. Driving can be hard too. Frequent movement can help. Stand for phone calls or do walking meetings. Check your desk and chair to see if it encourages good posture. Good posture is not shoulders pinched back, it is head tall and stacked over the chest and hips. It should feel like balancing a book on your head, which is what they used to teach teenagers to do. Stretching helps too. That’s why I love yoga. I work my muscles, my posture, and I stretch. Don’t leave stretching out of your workout or your daily routine.
Many people take medication for pain. That’s not necessarily bad, but they all have side effects. Many deplete nutrients. When you deplete nutrients, you are setting yourself up for inflammation. And inflammation leads to pain, which is what you were trying to get rid of. NSAIDS can irritate the stomach and cause stomach pain. Opioids can lead to addiction. Steroids come with their own set of side effects. At best, all pain medicine does is treat the symptoms. They do not remove the cause of your pain. They don’t heal the bad back or cure your arthritis. You just feel better for a bit.
So, the main answer for chronic pain is to address the causes through improving lifestyle choices. If you think of your health like a tree, than your lifestyle choices–diet, movement, sleep, stress management, and relationships–are the roots. The leaves will be the result of what the roots take in–they are your symptoms. Consider your pain as your leaves. Your personal genetics or experiences may have led you to the particular pain your have, such as back pain. Sure, take pain medicine for relief but take care of your roots as well. Reduce your inflammation with healthy lifestyle choices, and reduce your pain in the bargain.
Need help getting to the root cause of your pain? I can help. I am a National Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach. I will listen to your story and hear all about your symptoms and your lifestyle. I’ll help you find healthy lifestyle choices that are simple, doable, and resonate with you. Contact me.
In the Comments below, tell us what hurts and what you do about it.
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