Whether it’s bad backs, strains, sprains, injuries, migraines, or arthritis, more than 15 million Brits are living with day-to-day pain, according to Government estimates.
A report from Public Health England found that over a third of adults (34% or 15.5 million) live with chronic pain. Women (38%) are more likely to be affected than men (30%).
This is backed by a IPSOS survey of over 4000 UK adults which revealed that almost half (49%) have recently experienced pain. And a quarter overall are living with day-to-day chronic pain, rising to 66% in people aged 55-75 years.
Pharmacist and advisor to Amgesic Pain Relief Gel, Noel Wicks says: “We can thank our modern lives for this explosion of pain since one of the biggest causes is musculoskeletal problems. Slouching at a desk, home working from the kitchen table, TV marathons and driving long distances all put pressure on our joints and muscles, leading to injuries.
“Add to that the negative impact of chronic health conditions, such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and long Covid, which are all associated with pain and discomfort.
“The IPSOS survey found that six in ten people (59%) claim to cope with chronic pain at least half the time, showing people are trying to push through to enable them to get on with their lives. This is despite the fact that a third of long-term sufferers – 40% of 55–75-year-olds – experience pain on a daily basis. Yet, this doesn’t have to be the case as many self-care options are now available to manage pain and inflammation”.
The IPSOS survey found that the most popular ways to deal with chronic pain were taking paracetamol (35%), anti-inflammatories (31%) or opioid-based medicines (24%) which can be addictive if used long-term.
Pharmacist, Noel Wicks, says: “Taking oral pain killers is a popular choice but these can’t be used long-term due to potential gastro stomach risks. That’s why topical gels, such as the new Amgesic Pain Relief 1% Gel which contains diclofenac sodium, can be a useful alternative. The active ingredient targets the painful, swollen joints and muscles rather than building up in the blood where it can reach other parts of the body”.
“Chronic pain, especially from musculoskeletal injuries and strains, has become a daily way of life for millions of adults, impacting on their ability to do their jobs, or enjoy their hobbies. Almost half (45%) of adults say that chronic pain impacts their working, domestic or social lives most of the time and, in some cases, even stops them getting out of the house.
“To break the pain cycle, we need to provide people with a range of self-care options for pain relief which can include topical anti-inflammatory products such as Amgesic Pain Relief 1% Gel. An analysis of research carried out by the influential Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that topical diclofenac was consistently one of the most effective treatments for dealing with acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain”.
Try these four top tips for helping to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain by Pharmacist and advisor to Amgesic Pain Relief Gel, Noel Wicks – https://amgesic.co.uk/:
- Rub it in: Massaging sore muscles stimulates blood flow which helps to activate the healing process. Even better, rub in an anti-inflammatory gel, such as Amgesic Pain Relief 1% Gel, which contains diclofenac sodium – an effective medicine which zones into the area needing pain relief.
- Mind over matter: Studies show that so-called biopsychosocial interventions – which combine behavioural therapy, mindfulness, and relaxation – can reduce our perception of pain, helping us to deal better with chronic conditions. Try the Yogic box breathing technique where you breathe in, hold your breath, breathe out and hold again all for 5 seconds per stage.
- Keep active. Although chronic pain can make people fearful of having exercise and even conducting daily tasks like cleaning, shopping, cooking and walking round the shops, this reduction in normal activity can result in worsening mental health and more pain and stiffness at the site of the chronic pain. Keep as fit and active as possible with regular movement and stretching. Exercise has been shown to reduce chronic pain and increase function as well as lifting your mood which can itself reduce pain. Being as active as possible also helps you to maintain your weight. Gaining weight may make your pain worse.
- Avoid aggravation: Certain activities, postures or situations can set off a bout of chronic pain so learn to avoid your own triggers by keeping a pain diary. It could be slouching on the sofa, having a poor driving or desk position, getting stressed and tense, or not having enough sleep.
- Sweet dreams: Poor sleep makes us less tolerant of pain so make sure you get good quality ZZZs by starting a sleep hygiene routine. Rid the bedroom of screens, wind down with a warm bath or book an hour before bed and try to get outdoors in the late afternoon and morning to reset your circadian rhythm – the internal clock for sleep.
