Imagine waking up and not knowing how your body is going to feel that day. Will you wake up with a spring in your step? Will you be resigned to the sofa… again? You’ll have good days and bad days, but some are just plain rubbish. Pain is a very personal experience. At its very essence, pain is subjective and triggers an unpleasant physical and emotional response.
There are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain lasts for a short period and is usually the result of an injury — the kind of pain you’ll feel after stubbing your toe or bumping your head. While undeniably unpleasant, it serves a purpose: to alert you of an injury and reduce the potential for further damage.
Chronic pain is persistent and usually the result of damaged nerves outside the central nervous system. Your brain continues to send pain signals to the brain long after the injury has ceased. The numbers speak for themselves. 1 in 5 Australians suffer from chronic pain but as with any health problem, family members, carers and colleagues will most likely be implicated. For those suffering from chronic pain, support is so important. Knowing how to manage your pain is as important as securing the right medication.
Check in to your local Blooms The Chemist and work with your trusted pharmacist to develop a tailored action plan. Your pharmacist will give you all the information you need to understand and identify pain as well as an action plan for pain management.
During a one on one assessment, your pharmacist will run you through all the ways pain can affect your life, including complications surrounding sleep and mental health. They will run you through complementary and non-medical treatment, the potential side effects and can recommend some positive diet and lifestyle changes.