Many people who have Type 2 diabetes suffer from chronic and/or
severe pain which is often caused by nerve damage. However, there are
many myths about how to treat pain and if you know the truth, it may
just improve your quality of life.
Myth 1. Your doctor is the best person to assess and prescribe treatment for pain.
Fact. Pain is what you say it is. Most doctors don't get specific training on pain management, so they use their general knowledge or sometimes they'll refer you to a pain specialist.
Myth 2. Pain makes you stronger.
Fact. Chronic pain can disturb your sleep, cause depression, weaken your immune system and make you feel lousy instead of good. It can also cause frustration because motivating yourself to do your normal activities becomes harder.
Myth 3. Pain isn't serious if you can get relief with over-the-counter medications.
Fact. Regular, long-term use of such medications can cause kidney or liver damage. It can also mask symptoms so by the time you seek proper treatment, the actual problem is more advanced and treatment may be very difficult, if not impossible.
Myth 4. Pain is just in your mind.
Fact. Pain can exist in both your body and mind. Even if you can't locate the actual source of the pain, it doesn't make it any the less real.
Myth 5. You should only take painkillers when you're in a lot of pain.
Fact. If you don't treat pain when it occurs, you may end up with chronic pain in the long-term. Diabetics are more prone to chronic pain because nerves are susceptible to weakness.
Myth 6. Painkillers are the only method for easing pain.
Fact. There are lots of ways to relieve pain. You can use relaxation techniques, meditation, acupuncture, massage, yoga and physiotherapy.
Myth 7. A strong painkiller will get rid of your pain completely.
Fact. Whether you are diabetic or not, severe pain may not go away. However, it will often drop to a lower level which is better managed. People with chronic pain usually live with a certain amount all the time, and it's only when it gets worse they take painkillers or seek treatment.
Myth 8. If you don't complain about pain, it means you don't have pain.
Fact. Pain means different things to different people. Some will complain about a scratch while others may not complain if they have a sprained ankle or a broken arm. Many people merely put on a "brave face."
Myth. Eventually you'll always develop a tolerance to painkillers.
Fact. This is not always the case. It may depend on how often you take medication. You may also need to increase your dose if you have a constant need to control your pain.
Pain is part of life. It's a signal telling you something is wrong in your body and you should pay attention. If you ignore it, the odds are it may get worse, especially if it's diabetic nerve damage which can be chronic.
Always seek medical help for nagging pain to prevent further complications.
Myth 1. Your doctor is the best person to assess and prescribe treatment for pain.
Fact. Pain is what you say it is. Most doctors don't get specific training on pain management, so they use their general knowledge or sometimes they'll refer you to a pain specialist.
Myth 2. Pain makes you stronger.
Fact. Chronic pain can disturb your sleep, cause depression, weaken your immune system and make you feel lousy instead of good. It can also cause frustration because motivating yourself to do your normal activities becomes harder.
Myth 3. Pain isn't serious if you can get relief with over-the-counter medications.
Fact. Regular, long-term use of such medications can cause kidney or liver damage. It can also mask symptoms so by the time you seek proper treatment, the actual problem is more advanced and treatment may be very difficult, if not impossible.
Myth 4. Pain is just in your mind.
Fact. Pain can exist in both your body and mind. Even if you can't locate the actual source of the pain, it doesn't make it any the less real.
Myth 5. You should only take painkillers when you're in a lot of pain.
Fact. If you don't treat pain when it occurs, you may end up with chronic pain in the long-term. Diabetics are more prone to chronic pain because nerves are susceptible to weakness.
Myth 6. Painkillers are the only method for easing pain.
Fact. There are lots of ways to relieve pain. You can use relaxation techniques, meditation, acupuncture, massage, yoga and physiotherapy.
Myth 7. A strong painkiller will get rid of your pain completely.
Fact. Whether you are diabetic or not, severe pain may not go away. However, it will often drop to a lower level which is better managed. People with chronic pain usually live with a certain amount all the time, and it's only when it gets worse they take painkillers or seek treatment.
Myth 8. If you don't complain about pain, it means you don't have pain.
Fact. Pain means different things to different people. Some will complain about a scratch while others may not complain if they have a sprained ankle or a broken arm. Many people merely put on a "brave face."
Myth. Eventually you'll always develop a tolerance to painkillers.
Fact. This is not always the case. It may depend on how often you take medication. You may also need to increase your dose if you have a constant need to control your pain.
Pain is part of life. It's a signal telling you something is wrong in your body and you should pay attention. If you ignore it, the odds are it may get worse, especially if it's diabetic nerve damage which can be chronic.
Always seek medical help for nagging pain to prevent further complications.
Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. It
need not slowly and inevitably get worse. You can take control of the
disease... take back your health and reduce the likelihood of nerve
damage and pain.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.
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