| Sally, now 4 months after surgery that was | | | | - Why did this activity or situation lead to pain? |
| supposed to help her neck pain reports, "My pain | | | | (Were you under stress? Were you using good |
| is worse than ever. I can't sleep, can't work, or | | | | body mechanics?) |
| even do simple house work." | | | | Action taking. |
| Sally's neck pain developed when she began work | | | | Take action on what you learned. Treat the cause |
| as a data entry clerk. She says, "I hated it. I was | | | | of the pain. Maybe your action is resting from an |
| always meeting a deadline. I got so wound up, I | | | | activity or reducing the stress of a situation |
| wasn't sleeping at night. My neck muscles kept | | | | you're experiencing at work or at home. For |
| getting tighter and tighter with more and more | | | | severe pain, you may decide you need immediate |
| pain." | | | | professional help. You may want to try natural |
| Now, Sally is sure her pain was caused by | | | | pain relief methods, like these: |
| job-related stress. She wishes she had talked to | | | | - Ice or Heat. Ice the area as soon as possible |
| her supervisor about the stress or even just quit | | | | after injury for 10 to 15 minutes four times a day |
| the job. Pain is your body's message that | | | | for 48 hours. Then use heat to promote pain |
| something's not right. Ignoring or silencing pain | | | | relief and increased blood flow to the area. |
| without treating its cause just doesn't make | | | | - Chiropractic Treatments |
| sense. That's why the most important pain relief | | | | - Massage Therapy |
| method is to treat the cause of your pain. | | | | - Yoga/Tai Chi/Qi Gong |
| "LEARNS" offers a helpful acronym for 6 steps to | | | | - Acupuncture |
| finding and treating the cause of pain: Listen to | | | | - Herbal Therapies |
| your body, Evaluate possible pain causes, Action | | | | - Relaxation Techniques |
| taking, Notice the results, Seek professional help if | | | | Notice the results. |
| needed. | | | | Pay attention to how your treatment is working. |
| LEARNS... 6 Steps to Pain Relief | | | | Develop ongoing body awareness. Is your pain |
| Listen to your body. | | | | gradually improving, are there situations or |
| Sounds silly, but too often in our busy lives we | | | | activities that make it worse. Keep updating your |
| don't notice subtle cues that something we're | | | | treatment plan as you learn more about what |
| doing or some situation we're in is hurting us. | | | | helps and what harms healing by listening to your |
| Anyone with chronic tendonitis will tell you they | | | | pain. Some find keeping a journal helpful. Your |
| wished they had listened to their body before | | | | body normally can heal itself in 4 to 6 weeks. |
| chronic inflammation... chronic pain set in. | | | | Seek professional help if needed. |
| The old adage of "no pain, no gain" is just plain | | | | If your body hasn't righted itself after 6 weeks |
| wrong. Those in the know now say you should | | | | see your health provider for a professional |
| rest from an activity when pain develops. The | | | | evaluation and treatment of your pain. |
| body needs rest to recover... to heal. This holds | | | | Make sure you receive a diagnosis (the cause of |
| true for stress too. Stress causes physical | | | | your pain) and treatment that adequately |
| responses in your body that tighten muscles and | | | | addresses this cause, not just symptom |
| constrict blood flow leading to headaches and | | | | treatment (pain medications). |
| other forms of musculoskeletal pain. Pain can be a | | | | Too often, drugs and surgery form the bedrock |
| real blessing giving you information on changes | | | | of mainstream medical treatment. If you're not |
| you need to make for a happier, healthful life. | | | | satisfied with both the diagnosis and treatment |
| Evaluate possible pain causes. | | | | plan, get a second opinion from a doctor who |
| Now that you're catching your body's pain signals | | | | provides natural medicine. |
| earlier, use the "Four Ws" to uncover possible | | | | Treat your pain with the respect it deserves. Use |
| causes, then decide which cause is most likely. | | | | the six LEARNS steps to develop your treatment |
| This exercise works best when relaxed, so take | | | | plan and avoid pharmaceuticals whenever possible. |
| some personal time to do it. Some find writing | | | | Using the LEARNS steps to identify and treat the |
| their response to these questions helpful. | | | | cause of your pain along with natural pain relief |
| - Where is the pain located? | | | | methods can stop pain permanently. Plus, you get |
| - When did you first notice the pain? | | | | the added bonuses of greater self-awareness and |
| - What activity or situation is associated with the | | | | control of your health-both leading to a happier |
| pain? | | | | more healthful life! |