Living with chronic pain can be an overwhelming experience. While it’s often thought of as a physical issue, chronic pain can also have deep emotional and social effects. Not only is there that ever-present discomfort, but over time, it can take a toll on your quality of life in more ways than one.
Eric Fanaee, MD, and our team in Bethpage, Smithtown, and West Islip, New York, understand that chronic pain is complex — and it’s more than just the physical symptoms it causes. Here’s a closer look at four ways chronic pain can affect your overall health and how pain management can make a difference.
Chronic pain is, of course, painful. But in many cases, that pain isn’t the only symptom. Whether you have arthritis, nerve damage, an injury, or something else, experiencing chronic pain can make your muscles tense up as your body tries to guard itself from further pain.
This tension can lead to muscle stiffness, reduced mobility, and decreased strength over time — which, in turn, can worsen the pain itself. Plus, many people with chronic pain may limit physical activity, which affects their cardiovascular health, endurance, and muscle tone.
The continuous discomfort associated with chronic pain can take a serious toll on your mental health. Chronic pain can contribute to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression.
Constant pain can disrupt your sleep and make it hard to concentrate, which then makes it difficult to manage daily activities and responsibilities. It can also lead to feelings of frustration and isolation because it can keep you from social events or activities you once enjoyed.
Chronic pain doesn’t just affect the individual living with it — it can also impact family, friends, and other social connections. You might withdraw from social activities or avoid outings due to discomfort, which contributes to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
This isolation, particularly when it’s combined with emotional distress, can put strain on your personal relationships because your loved ones may not fully understand the scope of your condition.
Chronic pain can severely impact your career and your ability to carry out daily tasks. Pain makes it hard to maintain focus, energy, and productivity, which often leads to missed work or reduced performance. This can impact your financial stability and increase stress, creating a cycle that can worsen both the physical and emotional aspects of chronic pain.
There’s no denying that chronic pain can have a profound impact on your overall well-being and your quality of life. The good news is that pain management can make a big difference.
Dr. Fanaee and our team are here to help you find a pain management strategy that fits your needs, with options like medication, physical therapy, and alternative therapies like acupuncture to reduce pain and restore function.
Some treatments target the source of your pain, while others help manage other symptoms, like improving your physical abilities, mental well-being, and ability to engage in social activities. We work with you to understand your symptoms and then address your chronic pain through a combination of approaches to help you reclaim your health.
If chronic pain is affecting your well-being, it’s time to learn more about your pain management options. Our goal is to help you achieve better balance and comfort, and you can get started by scheduling a consultation today. Call us at 631-265-2020 or request an appointment online now.
