For those who have had arthroscopy or back surgery and always seem to know when it is going to rain, you can relate to this comment all too well. While some surgeries can mitigate pain, the general rule is that once you have a major trauma, some level of sporadic pain will stay with you for the rest of your life and this is why it is important to develop a regimen to prevent and manage chronic pain.

The influx of anti-inflammatory and pain medication in the market have given rise to many people only treating the symptoms of pain instead of focusing on mitigating the source of chronic pain.

Injuries can also result from repetitive motions without sufficient breaks and stretching exercises to alleviate the physical stress on the affected body parts. This is often a primary concerns for line workers in plant environments. Another cause of injury can result from persons who have working conditions that are not ergonomic.

Sometimes there are simple solutions to prevent neck, back, and wrist pain from sitting at a computer for long periods. Raise your monitor to eye level and make sure your feet are firmly on the ground, ensure and your back is against the back support of your chair to ensure proper lumbar support while working. In other cases, where there is a high demand for typing and use of a mouse, efforts should be made to ensure employees have proper desk height and wrist support to minimize injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome. In these types of instances, injury prevention is key to avoiding chronic pain.

The old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is extremely true in the cases of taking care of your joints and muscles to improve your quality of life. Many employers are also recognizing the high cost of disability premiums they pay and have added an increased focus on safety awareness and compliance.

Diet for Pain Management

In addition to therapy and surgery, diet and lifestyle also play an important part in pain management and prevention. Many doctors recommend patients use physical therapy and use workout regimens to help strengthen joints, muscles and bones and increase balance and flexibility. A diet high in protein and calcium along with vitamin D is also highly recommended, especially for those healing from a recent trauma such as a car accident or sports injury. Sufficient rest of the injured area and sufficient use of cold and heat therapy can also reduce swelling and pain.

Many orthopedic surgeons are also recommending dietary supplements that contain Glucosamine and MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane), which have been found to help increase lubrication in joints to prevent cartilage degeneration and arthritis. While not officially endorsed by the FDA for such treatments, these natural pain remedies have been studied for the last two decades, and increasingly, doctors and scientists in the medical community are finding that high doses of glucosamine and msm combined have been found to increase tissue repair for a broad range of symptoms and disorders such as: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Fibromyalgia, tendonitis and bursitis, muscular soreness and athletic injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, post-traumatic inflammation and pain, heartburn and hyperacidity, headaches and back pain, and allergies.