Almost everyone has experienced some type of pain in their lives. Acute pain is a protective response to tissue injury that typically resolves with the healing process and lasts less than three months. However, for one in five people around the world, their pain persists for longer than three months and is considered as chronic pain.
Regardless of its source, chronic pain can disrupt nearly all aspects of life. Beyond physical pain, it can impede ability to work and participate in social and other activities. It impacts all the relationships and is responsible for feelings of isolation, frustration and anxiety.
The impact of chronic pain is undeniable to those who live with the condition but its often- invisible nature can lead to many misconceptions.
Let’s understands this imapact of chronic pain and its management with Ayurvedic perspective.
Chronic pain – An invisible Demon
- ‘It’s all in your head’, or, ‘I heard you were sick, but you look fine to me.’ To be in constant pain and at your lowest point, and not be believed by loved ones, is one of the hardest things I’ve had to face.
This is the most common frustration amongst the people suffering from chronic pain.
Because chronic pain is like an invisible demon, a lot of people suffers more than what we think.
Signal system behind every pain
Pain starts in receptor nerve cells found beneath the skin and in organs throughout the body. When you are sick, injured, or have other type of problems, these receptor cells send messages along nerve pathways to the spinal cord, which then carries the message to the brain. Pain medicine reduces or blocks these messages before they reach the brain.
Pain can be anything from a slightly bothersome, such as a mild headache, to something excruciating and emergent, such as the chest pain that accompanies a heart attack, or pain of kidney stones.
Pain can be acute, meaning new, subacute, lasting for a few weeks or months, and chronic, when it lasts for more than 3 months.
Chronic pain is defined as a persistent pain that lasts for more than three months or longer, with no known cause or resolution. It can be caused by injuries to muscles, ligaments, bones, joints, organs or nerves. The most common types of chronic pain include headaches, backaches, fibromyalgia and arthritis. People who suffer from chronic pain often experience fatigue, depression and anxiety alongside it.
Symptoms of Chronic Pain -
Chronic pain often leads to fatigue, sleeplessness, stress, and depression.
Common types of pain are:
• Neuropathic pain which affects nerves.
• Musculoskeletal pain, which affects muscles and bones.
• Visceral pain, which comes from inside organs.
The symptoms of chronic pain include -
- Mild to Severe Pain: The intensity of the pain can vary greatly, ranging from mild discomfort to unbearable, severe pain.
- Shooting, Burning, and Aching Sensation: The pain might feel like a sharp shooting sensation, a burning feeling, or a constant aching.
- Discomfort, Stiffness, or Soreness: Chronic pain can cause persistent discomfort, stiffening and soreness in the affected area.
Causes behind chronic pain
Common causes include headaches, joint pain, shoulder pain, and backaches, as well as conditions like osteoarthritis, migraines, and fibromyalgia.
Arthritis and cancer can also cause chronic pain. It affects both physical and emotional well- being, significantly impacting the quality of life.
Statistics related to Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is one of the most costly health problem in the world. Increased medical expenses, lost income, lost productivity, compensation payments are some of the economic consequences of chronic pain.
• Low back pain is one of the most significant health problem related with chronic pain. Back pain is a common cause of activity limitation in adults.
• Cancer pain affects most people with advanced cancer.
• Arthritis pain affects more than 50 million people each year.
• Headaches affect millions of adults. Some of the most common types of chronic headaches are migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.
Ayurvedic Strategies for Managing Chronic Pain -
Chronic pain can be debilitating and have a dramatic effect on an individual’s life. Fortunately, Ayurveda has mentioned natural remedies for relief that can help manage chronic pain symptoms without the need of harsh medications and treatments. Ayurveda is one such option offering numerous benefits to those suffering from chronic pain conditions.
Ayurvedic medicine has been offering effective tools and techniques to relieve persistent aches and pains naturally and holistically.
Drawing on principles rooted in nature, Ayurveda works by targeting the underlying cause of a person’s discomforts rather than just treating their symptoms alone. By doing so, individuals who practice Ayurveda enjoy improved overall health while receiving much needed respite from their painful conditions at the same time.
Here are some strategies for managing chronic pain by Ayurveda.
Personalized approach -
According to Ayurveda, representation of chronic pain is different in every individual. Many times vitiated vata dosha is seen to be associated with chronic pain. Dhatukshay, vitiated dosha can be treated with the help of Ayurveda. By maintaining harmony between all health parameters, Ayurveda can manage chronic pain very well.
Rasayan chikitsa ( Rejuvenation therapies)-
Rasayana Chikitsa in Ayurveda is one of the prominent treatment in chronic pain management. It ensures the normal functioning of overall organs, nerves, bones, and mind through various therapies. This rejuvenation and revitalization therapy has deep and prolonged effects.
Herbal medicines -
Herbal remedies are one of the primary treatments for chronic pain. Herbal medicines have been used to treat physical ailments. Depending on the type of chronic pain experienced, various combinations of medicines are recommended.
Panchakarma (detoxification) –
According to the cause, nature and duration of the pain, Ayurveda offers a wide range of Panchakarma therapies to manage and heal pain. Treatment modalities offered in Ayurveda such as Agnikarma, Jalaukaavcharan etc. offer immediate pain relief without much untoward effects.
Abhyanga, patra swed, pinda sweda, mardana, parishek, sthanik Basti etc are some techniques used by Ayurveda for managing chronic pain.
Agnikarma (therapeutic heat burn) is one which gives instant relief from pain by balancing local Vata and Kapha Dosha without any untoward effects.
Viddha is a sterile procedure of puncturing or piercing selected points with special hollow viddha needles. It is implied to give an instant and acute pain relief. It is a simplest procedure of blood letting for instant pain relief.
Diet and Lifestyle modifications-
Moreover, some lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise may also be suggested along with specific herbal remedies in order to achieve lasting relief from chronic pain.
Eating light meals at regular intervals throughout the day is important as well as avoiding processed foods and other items that aggravate symptoms.
Additionally, engaging in gentle stretches or yoga poses can help improve flexibility while strengthening muscles weakened by prolonged immobility due to chronic pain. With these steps combined with appropriate herbal remedies prescribed by an ayurvedic practitioner, many people find they are able to manage their chronic pain without having to resort to more extreme measures such as surgery or long-term medication use.
Dietary modifications by following specific diets based on one’s Prakriti (body type). These special diets help to reduce inflammation in the tissues and promote healing from within.
The most beneficial aspect of adhering to an Ayurvedic diet is its ability to prevent further progression of disease by restoring harmony in the body-mind system through proper nutrition. By nourishing the body with healthy food choices that suit your individual constitution, you will be able to achieve optimal health naturally without any side effects.
Precautions to avoid Chronic Pain
To relieve chronic pain effectively, taking precautions to avoid the condition is crucial. These precautions include:
1. Avoiding intense physical activity that may increase pain.
2. Stress reduction through relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation.
3. Maintaining a healthy weight helps to prevent chronic pain.
4. The anti-inflammatory diet focuses on foods high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Regular exercise, such as swimming or mild yoga, can improve flexibility and reduce pain.
6. Taking sufficient rest is vital for pain management.
From physical limitations to emotional strain, living with chronic pain affects every aspect of your life.
Preventing chronic pain is better than managing it. Good posture, a healthy lifestyle, and prompt treatment for injuries or conditions can reduce the risk of chronic pain.
Ayurveda has been practiced for thousands of years and its approach and effectiveness in treating various ailments including chronic pain is very unique. When combined with lifestyle modifications such as exercise, diet control and stress management – it can be an effective way to treat chronic pain naturally without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs which have many side effects associated with them.
