Learn more about chronic pain

Ways to cope and find treatment for chronic pain

While not everyone with myositis will experience chronic pain, it is estimated that roughly 40% do. A physician at Johns Hopkins Myositis Center told us that 50% of her patients present with muscle pain.

Some may experience chronic pain in association with overlap diseases such as Lupus, Sjogren’s, and/or Scleroderma. It can be hard to differentiate which illness is causing the pain, especially if you have myositis and fibromyalgia.

An important factor to note is that when treating pain, the goal is usually not to eliminate pain altogether unless possible. However, treatments can minimize the amount of pain patients experience.

Treating Pain

The goal of treating pain is usually to improve the patient’s experience and minimize pain.

Chronic pain can be treated by a pain management specialist, such as a physician anesthesiologist who has specific knowledge and understanding about the complex ways pain affects our body and mind.

There are many medications and therapies available to for pain including NSAID’s, opioids, muscle relaxants, physical therapy, along with other options such as acupuncture, electrical stimulation, psychotherapy, relaxation, and meditation therapy, biofeedback, and behavior modification.

For those with chronic pain, we have provided some helpful resources below.

Estimated 40% of Myositis patients live with pain

From the American Society of Anesthesiologists

ASA is an educational, research and scientific society that works to elevate the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve patient care. Since 1905, ASA has played an important role in American medicine acting as an advocate for all patients who require anesthesia or relief from pain. Through our When Seconds Count® endeavor, we are committed to educating patients about their pain management options, including the appropriate use of opioids as well as safe and effective alternative treatments.

  • What is Chronic Pain?

    Learn more about the definition of chronic pain, how it is diagnosed, who treats it, and some available and alternative therapies.

    About Chronic Pain

  • Opioid Treatment

    Learn more about opioids such as benefits, risks, and side effects, as well as opioid abuse.

    Opioid Treatment

  • Non-Opioid Treatment

    Learn more about non-opioid treatments options.

    Non-Opioid Treatment

"It is estimated that 40% of people with Myositis experience chronic muscle pain"

Chronic Pain Resources

Helpful tips and articles on chronic pain

Chronic Pain Organizations

Chronic pain organizations and resources

Pain is like “A Car With Four Flat Tires”

2006 Voices of Chronic Pain Survey

Source: www.painmed.org/patientcenter/facts-on-pain/#america

  • 77% Reported feeling depressed

  • 59% Reported impact on enjoyment of life

  • 86% Reported inability to sleep well

  • 51% Reported feeling no control over pain

  • 70% Reported trouble concentrating

  • 74% Reported energy level affected by pain

Why people stop taking narcotics

Narcotics are sometimes the only effective way to manage chronic pain. However, severe constipation they cause may be a reason patients stop taking them.

Learn more about opioid-induced constipation by watching the video.

Also, there are new medications on the market that can help reduce constipation associated with narcotic medications.

Opioid-Induced Constipation

About Chronic Pain - Discovery Channel, Pain Matters

“100 million American adults live with chronic pain. That’s more than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. According to the Institute of Medicine, the high prevalence of chronic pain suggests that the condition is not being adequately managed. Undertreatment of chronic pain creates large costs to the healthcare system and the U.S. economy; we spend more than $560 billion in the U.S. each year on chronic pain-related healthcare costs. Moreover, chronic pain can carry significant physical and emotional burdens.” – From Discovery Channel, Pain Matters

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