And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Has your doctor ever asked you, “How would you rate your pain on a scale from 1 - 10?” Is this a simple question to answer? How do we “rate,” or even define, pain? Better yet, how do we prevent or reduce pain?

The impact pain has on quality of life and age must be taken into consideration when weighing pros and cons of management options. It’s important to recognize how it affects daily life and in some cases can lead to depression and anxiety, fatigue, insomnia and mood swings. Pain, whether chronic or acute, can come in many different forms and appear across our body. The Mayo Clinic Health System offers helpful insights for supporting a loved one with chronic pain. Check it out HERE.

Can pain be prevented?

There are several risk factors associated with specific conditions or injuries:

• Genetics: The cause of some chronic pain, like migraines, run in the family (are genetic).
• Obesity: Having obesity can worsen certain health conditions that cause pain, such as arthritis since there’s extra pressure on your joints.
• Age: Older people are more likely to experience chronic pain from arthritis and neuropathy.
• Previous injury: If you’ve had a traumatic injury, you’re more likely to develop chronic pain in the future.
• Labor-intensive job: If you have a physically strenuous job, you’re at greater risk for developing chronic pain.
• Stress: Studies have shown that chronic pain is connected to both frequent stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Smoking: If you smoke, you’re at greater risk for developing medical conditions that lead to a need for chronic pain treatment.

Can lifestyle changes help with pain? 

Four major lifestyle factors can affect your chronic pain and help minimize it. Healthcare providers sometimes call them the four pillars of chronic pain. They include:

• Stress: Stress can play a major role in chronic pain, so it’s important to try to reduce your stress as much as possible. Everyone has different techniques for managing their stress, and Concordia Health Plan (CHP) members can get individualized help through care navigation at Evernorth Confide.
• Exercise: Participating in low-intensity exercises, such as walking or light swimming, for 30 minutes every day may help reduce your pain. Exercise can also be a stress reliever for some people, which is important to manage when you have chronic pain.
• Diet: It’s important to eat a healthy diet to boost your overall health. Your healthcare provider may suggest trying an anti-inflammatory diet by eliminating foods that cause inflammation for you.
• Sleep: Getting enough quality sleep is important for your overall health. A lack of sleep can cause you to gain weight, which could make your chronic pain worse. Getting quality sleep is also important for stress management. 
  

Be sure to discuss these four lifestyle pillars with your healthcare provider to determine how each applies to your type of pain and how you can incorporate changes into your day-to-day life.

Can therapy help with chronic pain?

Certain therapies may help you manage chronic pain, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This counseling method helps you think differently about pain and teaches you ways to cope.
• Counseling: Talk therapy can help you manage chronic pain, especially pain that is psychological and not physical. As a member of the CHP, you and your household have access to an enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and expanded mental health solutions, including eight free counseling sessions, through Evernorth Confide Behavioral Health Navigator. Get registered at well.evernorth.com or on the app Well by Evernorth.
  
  

• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapy teaches you how to do everyday tasks differently to lessen pain or avoid injury.
  
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy involves exercises that stretch and strengthen your body, which can help reduce your pain.

Physical Therapy is a safe, effective and long-term pain relief option that helps patients achieve their physical activity goals and improve their quality of life. Physical Therapy services can:

• Improve and restore movement and function.
• Manage pain without prescription drugs or surgery.
• Reduce the symptoms of many chronic (long-term) conditions and diseases.
• Recover from and prevent injury.

• Available to you and eligible adult family members 18 and older enrolled in the CHP at no extra cost.
• No prescription or doctor’s orders are needed.
• Sword matches you with a licensed physical therapist who learns about you over a video call, designs a customized program and supports you every step of the way, adjusting your program as your needs change, so you get better, faster.
• You’ll then get a tablet and motion sensors to track your exercise progress, give feedback and help correct your form in real-time. The FDA-approved device with motion capture tech ensures you perform each move correctly, every time, for increased accuracy and effectiveness.

Studies show Sword members achieve a 30% improvement over conventional physical therapy and reduce pain levels by 70% in just eight weeks. Consistency is key. Unfortunately, 70% of traditional physical therapy patients do not complete their program and 50% of lower back pain patients drop out after just four sessions. Sword brings the PT to you, wherever you are, and makes consistency possible.

For more information about pain and how it affects our mental wellness, as well as how to connect with Sword Thrive check out this webinar.

Webinar: Learn about pain relief through Sword

Do you find yourself struggling with joint, back or muscle pain? Join Sword for a webinar to learn everything you need to know about pain relief, including common myths and expert tips. Plus, you’ll get personalized advice through a live Q&A with one of Sword’s clinical experts.

• What: Live Webinar with Ellie Smith, Sword Thrive Clinical Specialist
• When: Tues., Sept. 24, 12 p.m. ET (Duration: 45 minutes)
• Why: Learn about pain relief and your no-cost benefit
• Register now

Learn more about your no-cost benefit, Sword Thrive.

Source: Marketscan Healthcare Data 2017, NIH, Arthritis.org, Cleveland Clinic