Pain has a direct impact on daily life. Some suffering from chronic pain have to abandon or change activities that they love. Chronic pain can even lead to mental illness, such as anxiety or depression.
Chronic pain is a daily struggle that can affect all areas of life.
Today, many people are looking beyond pharmaceuticals for chronic pain relief. Cold compression therapy is rising as a medication-free option to combat chronic pain.
Can chronic pain cause depression?
According to a 2010 study by the Pub Med journal, depression and chronic pain go hand-in-hand. The two are closely related, and it’s often unclear which comes first.
From the sample studied, those experiencing depression before chronic pain were more likely to experience frequent headaches and chest pains. However, numerous studies also show that the stress of chronic pain leads to anxiety and depression.
Pain-related anxiety and depression don’t always present themselves as textbook mental illness. Depression and anxiety for pain patients can look a lot like avoidance.
Those mentally affected by chronic pain often show three main avoidance tactics:
- Catastrophizing: When those affected by anxiety will focus on the worst possible outcomes of any situation.
- Hypervigilance: When the pain becomes the prime focus of the individual.
Fear-avoidance: When experiencing chronic pain, some people will avoid specific movements to prevent pain. This avoidance tends to be counterproductive for those going through physical therapy.
Are there alternatives to pharmaceuticals for chronic pain relief?
For decades, pharmaceutical intervention has been America’s go-to answer for chronic pain relief. Nicknamed “pain killers,” narcotics and other pain relief medications have now fallen under scrutiny due to serious side effects.
Today, different therapies can supplement or replace pharmaceuticals altogether when it comes to managing chronic pain.
Acupuncture
Many Americans are hesitant to embrace Eastern medical practices like acupuncture, but some studies do suggest it can help with chronic pain. For this type of treatment to have effect, it must be conducted consistently. Acupuncture is typically used to treat headaches and musculoskeletal pain.
Exercise
It can be difficult to stay motivated to get up and move when suffering from chronic pain, but exercise helps keep joints moving and maintains mobility and flexibility.
Without exercise, the risk of injury increases.
Exercise also benefits mental health, which can help alleviate depression symptoms that coincide with chronic pain.
Massage
Like acupuncture and exercise, massage for pain must be regularly utilized to help alleviate pain. However, treatments such as trigger point therapy and cross-fiber therapy could help control pain.
Can Cold and Compression Therapy Help Soothe Chronic Pain?
Cold therapy has been used for millennia to relieve pain. It is usually part of the recovery process as part of the R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
Simple cold therapy such as icing can help by:
- Restricting blood vessels
- Slowing circulation
- Reducing swelling
- Reducing inflammation
- Numbing nerve endings
- Dulling pain
- Relaxing muscles
- Preventing muscle spasms
Cold therapy has come a long way from just dunking an elbow into icy water or grabbing a bag of frozen vegetables for your knee.
With cold compression therapy, patients receive the benefits of cold therapy while adding active compression that mimics the body’s natural muscle contractions.
Many modern physical therapists now recognize the distinct roles of cold and compression in relieving pain and inflammation, respectively. However, they also work best in tandem.
In addition, the compression can help prevent blood clots (edema) in the injured area while stimulating tissue healing, increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery, and optimizing lymphatic drainage.
PowerPlay Cold Compression Therapy
PowerPlay cold compression therapy wraps are designed for several specific body parts often associated with chronic pain.
Wraps are equipped with a gel pack and another optional insert for adding ice or other packs for additional coldness. PowerPlay gel packs may also be warmed in the microwave for heat therapy, giving you the most flexible therapy options.
And unlike cumbersome ice bags, the compression keeps the cold packs pressed close to the source of the pain for maximum effectiveness.
The PowerPlay pump’s battery life is between 4 and 8 hours of continuous therapy use, and it weighs just under one pound for portability and convenience.
Shop PowerPlay cold compression
References:
Garcia, C., Karri, J., Zacharias, N. A., & Abd-Elsayed, A. (2021). Use of Cryotherapy for Managing Chronic Pain: An Evidence-Based Narrative. Pain and therapy, 10(1), 81–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-020-00225-w
Woo A. K. (2010). Depression and Anxiety in Pain. Reviews in pain, 4(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/204946371000400103
*The information featured on this page is subject to our standard content policy and disclaimer. It is available for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.
