DALLAS, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and doctors should try to find the underlying problem, says a University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center expert.
Dr. Leland Lou of the Eugene McDermott Center for Pain Management at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas says more than 50 million Americans must deal with chronic issues of head, back, cancer, arthritic and other types of pain, which can persist and cause physical debilitation and emotional stress.
People in chronic pain should visit a doctor to see what might best work for them; for example, the right medication can make all the difference, according to Lou.
Lou says other techniques to manage chronic pain include:
-- Medications: Over-the-counter aspirin and ibuprofen can help relieve pain, while steroids and injections are available only by prescription.
-- Exercise or relaxation: Physical therapy, aquatics, yoga and massage programs can increase the body's functionality and lessen pain.
-- Acupuncture: Trained therapists aim to ease pain by inserting thin needles into specific points on the body.
-- Anesthetics: Medications that can numb or block nerves that signal pain.
-- Electrical stimulation: A technique to lessen pain by stimulating nerve fibers through the skin.
