If you are dealing with chronic pain, you’re probably not alone. National statistics show that chronic pain affects around 116 million American adults per year, and veterans are disproportionately represented in that number, often due to wounds or medical issues that stem from their service. Veterans and civilians alike, problems with chronic pain are actually more frequent than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined. Along with this, chronic pain has a wide span of potential effects, from a minor annoyance to potentially crippling pain at times. Serious chronic pain not only hurts your personal life, but also your earning potential after your service is completed. Many military families get medical assistance in California for these problems, but sometimes, people aren’t sure whether or not they need it.
One thing that we can talk about when it comes to chronic pain is the various different risk factors that are associated with. The nature of a military lifestyle exposes veterans to more chronic pain risk than the average person, but there are a variety of other potential risks too, from our biology to our mental state to other lifestyle factors. Here’s a closer look at all three options and how they factor into chronic pain for veterans and civilians alike.
Body Issues
As a start, while all our bodily systems have the same functions, there are a variety of different issues and situations that can occur that leave one person at a greater chronic pain risk than the other. This even applies if they have a similar medical history. One example of this is the fact that the elderly are far more likely to deal with chronic pain than other people. This largely is because of what happens to the body as we age. As one example, our bones naturally deteriorate over time, with old cells being replaced by new cells. However, as we get older, our rate of replenished bone cells decreases, while the deterioration doesn’t. Compounding this is the fact that many people develop physical limitations as they get older. This can make it more difficult to eat a balanced diet or properly exercise, which helps with pain management in some cases.
Genetics is another common risk factor when it comes to chronic pain. In some cases, the likelihood of certain types of chronic pain can be passed down directly, like migraines. However, there are also some genetic conditions that cause you to be more sensitive to certain types of pain, even if the pain isn’t directly connected. This means that something that may be a minor inconvenience to one person is a massive issue for another one. The best way to tackle this situation is to ensure that you bring as much medical history from your immediate family as possible to your doctor. A side fact that should be mentioned is that certain ethnic groups, like Hispanics and African-Americans, have a greater risk for chronic pain.
One major health condition that often happens concurrently with chronic pain is obesity. This is because obesity can contribute to chronic pain several ways. One example of this is the fact that bad diets have been linked to excess amounts of inflammation, which we associate with chronic pain. Another thing that bears mentioning is the simple state of being obese puts excess pressure on your joints and other body parts as you move around. If you don’t get exercise to strengthen these areas, they can lead to chronic pain.
Mental And Lifestyle Issues
The mental health issues that veterans have to deal with after their service gets discussed a lot, but one thing that sometimes gets missed in the conversation is the fact that physical health and mental health often run closely together. One of the most common examples of this is the “gut-brain axis” where scientists recently discovered that issues impacting the gut bacteria can have an impact on the brain and mental health. However, chronic pain is also showcasing this link. For example, science shows that there is a certain pain neurotransmitter that is emitted more frequently with people who have past major injuries. However, that same neurotransmitter is also emitted by people suffering from psychiatric disorders. Other studies show that people with mood disorders or childhood trauma also are more likely to deal with chronic pain. The exact root cause isn’t solved yet, but we know that several parts of the brain that regulate mood also regulate pain signals.
If you find you are struggling with mental health issues stemming from your chronic pain, make sure to get help and support at a veterans association in Los Angeles as soon as possible.
For genetic or mental issues, you need to adapt in order to better manage your chronic pain, but there are some people with bad lifestyle decisions that are increasing the risk of said pain. It may not be a quick fix to make these changes, but it is possible. For example, much like military service, jobs that require heavy lifting or frequent physical activity are associated with chronic pain risk. If you can’t find another job, make sure that you always follow safety practices and wear protective equipment when appropriate. Smoking is also a major issue that can help you develop issues that include chronic pain. One interesting fact is that on average, smokers are also less likely to show progress with pain management therapy.
In some cases, like genetics or psychiatric disorders, you need to learn how to manage issues as opposed to “curing them,” however, a lot of people are dealing with lifestyle decisions that increase their risk of chronic pain. The good news is that some of these can be changed relatively quickly. For example, certain jobs that require heavy lifting or strong physical activity are more likely to develop chronic pain. It’s important to minimize risk here by always using best practices and protective equipment where appropriate. Equally important is minimizing your stress levels as well as not smoking. Not only are smokers more likely to develop conditions that lead to chronic pain, but they’re less likely to respond to pain management therapy.
If you’re looking into a proper way to handle these issues, it’s best that you look into a veteran’s medical center in Los Angeles or wherever you live as soon as possible.
