In 2018, nearly 20% of Americans were estimated to experience chronic pain. But while this problem may be prevalent, many don’t know they even have it, especially if they confuse it with other conditions. Fortunately, if you can recognize the issue and have it diagnosed by a doctor, you can explore many different options for relief—such as those provided by a local pharmacy. To help you avoid lasting discomfort, here are a few important details every person should know about chronic pain.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain can affect any part of the body and produce a variety of uncomfortable symptoms—such as tingling, stabbing, and throbbing aches. However, the one unifying factor is that these symptoms don’t seem to go away with time. Chronic pain doesn’t always have to be present, either. For some, the symptoms can flare-up at different times and at different intensities.

What Causes It?

Traumatic Injury

Traumatic injuries—such as falls or fractures—can cause both acute and chronic pain. While the actual cause of the injury may heal, the incident can leave behind lasting damage to surrounding joints, nerves, and tissues. This damage is responsible for chronic discomfort.

Disease

Cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other diseases can place extra stress on the body’s immune system, and in turn, increase your inflammatory response. This inflammation can cause the affected areas of the body to experience reoccurring pain that is difficult to manage.

Lifestyle Factors

Chronic pain can also be due to an assortment of lifestyle factors. For instance, being overweight, having poor posture, or smoking can inhibit your body’s ability to stay strong and healthy. Over time, this stress can increase your risk of chronic discomfort.

How Can You Relieve Chronic Pain?

There are many ways to treat chronic pain. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to heal damaged areas of the body or following a specific diet to reduce inflammation. In other cases, you might get prescriptions from your pharmacy to treat the underlying condition.

When you’re looking for a convenient way to manage your chronic pain, Anderson Pharmacy is here to help you navigate the path toward relief. Caring for the Lancaster County community for more than three decades, this team is recognized for providing fast refills and offering consultation for pain management prescriptions. They are also stocked with many over-the-counter supplies to help ease your symptoms—such as cooling creams and anti-inflammatory medications. To learn more about these products and services, visit this pharmacy online or at their location at 2590 N Reading Rd in Denver, PA. For prompt assistance with your medication needs, call (717) 484-2649.