When is it not healthy to "Tolerate the pain"?!
Question: I don't like taking medicine... I avoid it as much as possible... are you like this? Is it dangerous at some point in time?
BESIDES the obvious if it's fatal incidents (shot, burning, etc) for those who were about to give a smart-butt answer
Answers: I don't like taking medicine... I avoid it as much as possible... are you like this? Is it dangerous at some point in time?
BESIDES the obvious if it's fatal incidents (shot, burning, etc) for those who were about to give a smart-butt answer
It's actually worse to leave the pain untreated than to take pills. Untreated pain makes it harder to heal, can cause high blood pressure, and make you depressed. It's not worth it when there are treatments out there. The number of people who become addicted to pain pills for chronic pain is very, very small. Honest! http://www.paincare.org/pain_management/... says fewer than 1%. Usually people who do become addicted are people who have had trouble with drugs or alcohol in the past, but they have been successfully treated with opiods, too.
There are many ways to deal with the side effects of narcotics. They won't make you sleepy after you've been on them for a few days. If you get constipated, try taking some fiber daily. I've had to be on and off narcotics (Vicodin, morphine, methadone, fentanyl) since 1996. I've never become addicted--and i'm not atypical. Addiction does not mean needing more meds to get the same pain treatment or having withdrawals. These are normal things that happen because the brain is used to the chemical. Addiction is now considered only to be when a person uses the drug to get high, and seeks the drug for a high. I know this goes against what most of us have learned, but there's been tons of new research into pain and pain treatment over the last decade.
I know this is more than you wanted lol! It's just something that makes me upset, seeing people suffer because of fear based on incorrect medical teaching. I've got ankylosing spondylitis, which I've been told is supposed to be one of *the* most painful things out there. It's hard, at first, to get used to using a pain pill. It feels like you are a wuss, having to rely on a drug. It took me several years to get over this, but now I can't believe I suffered because of pride. So do take your meds! You'll be able to function better and will be happier.
Edit: Also, waiting until the pain is severe makes it harder for the drug to work. You want to take it before you're in the fetal position, weeping. Keeping on top of the pain and taking the drug either as scheduled or as soon as you start to hurt is the best way to take them.
I agree on the medicines and I have been tolerating pain for about 2 years now since an accident. I have prescription pain meds but I don't like to take them. I tolerate the pain up until the point where it is debilitating and then I have to do something about it.. now if I am at home.. then I will just curl up.. if I am out that isn't an option and I will have to take the med. I do notice that after several days of really bad pain my moods aren't so happy and my mental status is probably on the verge of snapping and I am slower in my reflexes.. so that probably isn't healthy.. But is taking the meds healthier? I don't know.
Nothing wrong with tolerating the pain, as long as you aren't ignoring something that is ongoing for many months that could be a condition.
People have done without "drugs" for centuries and still do in many countries. You are allowing your body to fight things on it's own and I would think that means you are pretty healthy since your body has been doing it so far for ya.
I have a friend like that. She doesn't like to take any meds. As the years have passed though, I notice she is a aging a lot more than me. Because she doesn't want to take anything for a cold, it takes her longer to get over it. When she sore from working out, she down and out for a long time. I personally don't see it as a beneficial way of living. She seems to be missing life more than enjoying it. I am not a pill freak, I take aspirin if I am sore or cold medicine if I get sick..nothing major. I have been her friend for over 20 years,so I see the difference in her. It seems the older she gets,the harder her life is. So, I guess I have to say yes. I do think it can get to be dangerous. She doesn't want to treat her conditions and they progress badly. She tries natural things but none of them have worked. I think the key is moderation, don't go to much in any direction. I suggest you do not cut out the meds totally, I believe it is a losing bet.
I would suppose it depends on what kind of pain. If it's the usual monthly menstrual cramps, or tension headache_I avoid taking aspirins for these headaches always_or arthritic pains which I've suffered from, on and off, throughout the decades.
Now a really bad case of toothache (such as I've had in past) which unfortunately have been accompanied by an abscess, then not only is Ibuprofen or similar recommended, it needs to be taken care of by prescription for antibiotic from dentist.
And needless to say all pain for which there's not a known reason has to be "investigated" and tended to by doctor.
I agree with you on taking the meds can be a bad thing, however pain is a signal to the brain that something is wrong in the body. I think if someone is experiencing pain somewhere , they should see a doctor about it if it lasts more than a couple of days or if it is severe...then they should see one right away.
sometimes pain can be helpful as in telling us to slow down or don't do this or that. I hope this is helpful to someone. And when it is chronic pain or pain that's bad....pain meds are a good option as well as other things. I don't think anyone should try to be a hero when they are in pain. It's silly because pain can drain the life right out of you and cause other things like depression/anxiety.
I try to deal with my pain as well as I can, but I won't apologize for the use of pain relievers that my doc prescribes. I seem to have a little better quality of life when I am not reeling in pain. If you ignore pain, it could be dangerous...like chest pain could be heart problems or strange pain in the belly or groin could be a hernia and these can be dangerous.