How Losing Weight Can Help With Pain
When thinking of ways to reduce pain, one area that gets overlooked, is weight management. Although the pain relief may not be noticed for some time, the benefits could be well worth it. Research is showing a strong connection between being overweight and pain severity.
This is a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough and can be a difficult subject to address. Some physicians may try to steer away from talking about weight management in efforts not to offend the patient or to make the conversation embarrassing for the patient. Patients visit a pain specialist in order to talk about the pain they are having and not about their weight and they may not understand the correlation, therefore this can be a sensitive topic. A positive doctor-patient relationship, with a high level of trust, is often needed to get the ball rolling.
This is an important conversation to have, because being overweight can have a significant impact on how we experience pain. Extra body weight increases mechanical forces on the frame of the body, including the knee and hip joints, the spine, and supporting muscle groups, which can cause added wear and tear. Studies show that losing just one pound can reduce four pounds of pressure on the knees, and that for patients with arthritis the more weight they lose, the better their pain relief and function with daily activities. Extra weight, especially in the mid section, seems to increase levels of inflammation in susceptible parts of the body like aching joints.
And it’s not just arthritis. Conditions like fibromyalgia some bone and muscle disorders, and even headaches could show reductions in pain and improvements in quality of life after weight loss. Being overweight has also been shown to be a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as for developing chronic pain problems after injuries and motor vehicle accidents. One study of 800 women found that losing an average of 11 pounds could reduce in half the odds of developing arthritis of the knees.
The truth is, losing weight is difficult when you live with pain, but not impossible. It just may take some extra time, extra planning, and extra patience, but it will be well worth it. Here are a few recommendations to help with losing weight:
Visualization: Instead of focusing on losing unwanted weight, focus on the positive, like how good your body will look and feel from this weight loss. Avoid comparing yourself to others or filtered pictures of celebrities on social media, but rather think in terms of how you would like your best version of you to look, not necessarily just in front of a mirror, but when moving about and interacting with the world. Many successful athletes have relied on visualization as a tool for success because it helps prepare their brains to communicate more effectively with their bodies when it is time to compete. Keep that special visual of yourself in the back of your mind as you make your way.
Talk with your Doctor: Talk to your doctor to get direction on how to make changes. They may bring in other specialists, like nutritionists and life coaches. In some cases, they may suggest considering bariatric surgery. Also, keep in mind that community and regional medical centers may also offer special programs and classes for weight loss.
Get a personal trainer: Exercise can be a challenge for pain patients. You may need help from movement specialists with expertise in working with patients in pain. Avoid the trap of overdoing it to lose weight more quickly, as this will only flare-up your pain and set you back. Be gentle with your body as you try to gradually do more in the way of exercise. Give it the time it needs. I often tell my patients that reaching weight loss goals is seventy-five percent based on sound nutrition habits and only twenty-five percent based on exercise, so no need to get too hung up on what you can’t do in the gym.
Celebrate small wins. I often recommend that my patients break up their weight loss goals into smaller steps, such as taking it five pounds at a time. Once the first five pounds are lost, recognize the positive impact this can have on how you feel. Acknowledge your win! And then you can transition to working on the next five pounds. Because no matter how you approach weight loss, results can take time – so you’ll need to be patient with the process. I know it’s tempting, but avoid the trap of trying to do too much too quickly. Instead, take a gradual approach. Your weight loss plan is a valuable long-term path toward less pain. Be sure to consult your physicians before embarking on any new diet or weight loss programs – and ask them to partner with you in your goals. You’ll be more likely to succeed if you have your doctors – and friends and family – encouraging you and keeping you accountable to your goals.
Pain Management Atlanta
It makes no sense to live in pain, if you can be helped. At Pain Relief Clinic, MD, we provide medication management, a complete compliment of interventional treatments including physical therapy and Stem Cell treatment. Our professional caring staff will help you through every aspect of your care. Our patient advocate, Nicole, will help guide you through new patient process.
For some people, living in pain has become a way of life and IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO! With Combination Therapy ™ we incorporate medication, safe injection medication and soothing waveform technology that works in combination when other single treatment therapies fail.
If you have been suffering from arthritis, back pain, all sports injuries (including young athletes), fibromyalgia, headaches, neck pain or any other types of Acute & Chronic pain, call us!
Our clinic has been designed to provide everything up to surgery, at one location. Our forms of treatment consist of, Medication, Interventional Pain Management & Physical Therapy. We are the Atlanta Pain Center that everyone is talking about. We take Medicare, Medicaid and other commercial insurances.