Having that lingering, constant pain in your neck, back or wherever can become unbearable. It takes away your ability to enjoy the little things like time with your family and even gets in the way of being able to relax.

If you’ve been dealing with this for a while, when should you get professional treatment? AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah is here to provide some answers for you.

Why Does My Body Hurt So Much?

We wish we could give you a straight-up answer. Chronic pain is a complex condition that affects 42–50 million Americans, according to the American Pain Foundation, and it still remains widely misunderstood by doctors all over the nation.

The reason is because there are many causes of chronic pain, and it’s hard to nail down one specific cause. Maybe your pain started after an initial injury, but that initial physical pain, even after it’s healed, can develop a psychological element to it over time.

Common Causes of Chronic Pain

• Arthritis
• Frequent headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Shingles
• Nerve damage

How Can I Make My Body Feel Better?

As we said earlier, physical pain can have a lasting psychological impact. Experts say that people who dwell on their discomfort tend to be more disabled by chronic pain than people who try to take their pain in stride. It’s important to try your best to maintain a positive outlook rather than letting that emotional raincloud hang around forever to take steps towards pain relief.

However, if your body pain is all you can think about no matter what, it’s time to see a doctor or a pain specialist to start working toward getting some relief.

Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Alleviate Pain

• Changing your diet
• Exercising often
• Quitting smoking
• Getting necessary amounts of sleep
• Drinking more water than usual
• Managing your stress levels

Tired of dealing with pain? AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah will help guide you toward getting the relief you need.