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HEALTH SERVICES
Health Services
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What is Pain?
The body's musculoskeletal system is made up of bones, muscles and joints. This includes cartilage, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues and is responsible for giving the body its structure and support. Physical injuries as well as a range of illnesses can damage the musculoskeletal system resulting in dysfunction and pain.
While universally understood, the experience of pain varies widely among individuals due to diverse factors. These factors, unique to each person and circumstance, shape the nature and intensity of the pain experienced.
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Globally, 93% of people have experienced pain in the last year.
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One-third of the world’s population is in pain every day.
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1 in 5 people with chronic pain are under 30 years old.
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65% of people are not happy when experiencing pain
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72% of people say their pain decreases their quality of life.
Did you know?
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The most common forms of musculoskeletal pain that you are likely to come across are4,5:
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Arthritis
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Back pain
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Neck pain
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Shoulder pain
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Foot pain
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Osteoarthritis
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Various sports
injuries
Acute vs Chronic pain
What's the difference?
Acute Pain
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Usually the result of injury or illness causing some form of tissue damage.
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Helpful alarm system that stops a person from doing things that might cause damage to their body.
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Helps us identify where something is going wrong.
Chronic Pain
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Pain lasting more than 3 months.
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May be felt as constant pain or it can appear from time
to time.
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If the pain is due to a chronic disease, it's important to have regular check-ups with
a healthcare practitioner.
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It can be the result of: ongoing condition of disease (e.g. osteoarthritis), nerve damage or over-sensitisation of the nervous system.
Managing Pain
Musculoskeletal pain comes in many forms and can be treated in more than one way. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about co-creating a complete solution for managing your pain.
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Using pain relieving medicines (analgesics) like Maxigesic, and anti-inflammatories are considered part of the overall strategy for pain management in adults with musculoskeletal conditions. They can help in relieving pain and inflammation for both acute and chronic pain.
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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs offer several benefits such as managing pain and inflammation. They are available over the counter and are effective in many conditions such as muscle pain, headaches and arthritis. While generally safe for short term use, long term use or high doses can increase risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular or kidney side effects. You should always consult your pharmacist or doctor regarding the most suitable treatment for you. Topical NSAIDs are those available in creams or gels can be an alternative due to minimal systemic absorption.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol or Paracetamol combinations like Maxigesic can also be used to treat mild to moderate pain. Paracetamol is generally well tolerated and has less side effects than NSAIDs.
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Other ways to assist
in pain management
Magnesium
Magnesium is useful for muscle pain because it acts as a natural muscle relaxant, preventing spasms and cramps by regulating muscle contractions. It also blocks pain receptors, reduces inflammation, supports proper blood circulation, and helps in stress management. An example of a magnesium based product is Bioglan Active Magnesium 1000 which combines 4 different forms of magnesium for better absorption and utilisation in the body.
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Curcumin
Curcumin is the active ingredient from the root Tumeric and is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can assist in pain relief by decreasing mild joint pain and swelling. Bioglan Curcumin Tumeric 15,800mg is one such product than can help reduce inflammation and enhance joint function and mobility.
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Cold & Heat Therapy
What's the difference?
Cold and heat therapy are both commonly used in managing various types of injuries. The choice between hot or cold therapy depends on the type and stage of the injury. Here is a general guideline:
Heat therapy can be used for:
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Chronic injuries: generally used for muscle and joint stiffness, muscle tension, and conditions such as arthritis.
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Muscle relaxation: helps relax muscles which can promote healing and alleviate stiffness.
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Before activity: warming up muscles before physical activity can help reduce the risk of injury.
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Joint pain: heat can be particularly beneficial for joint pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis.
Pain Away
Heat Therapy Range
Cold therapy can be used for:
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Acute injuries: in the initial 48 hours after injury occurs.
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Inflammation: helps to reduce pain and swelling.
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Pain relief: Dulls the sensation of pain.
Lifestyle therapies
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Lifestyle therapies like regular physical activity, yoga, adequate sleep and diet improvements be considered as part of an overall pain management plan. These assist with pain management and have proven beneficial.
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