Pain is a broad term that covers a wide range of generally uncomfortable sensations within the body. It comes in many forms, from dull aches to sharp stabbing irritations, through to soreness, stinging and throbbing. This is subjective in that everyone responds differently, but what should remain the same, is the need to minimise pain and discomfort wherever possible, especially if someone is unable or less able to look after themselves and require extra care and attention, such as long term or 24-hour care patients.
Although pain is always unwelcome and sometimes distressing, it can also be a positive factor. It is a natural indication of when something is not quite right, making it easier to identify the causes. For example, lower back pain, shin splints or knee pain are common forms of suffering, but they do narrow down where to examine. However, it is always difficult to remember the positives whilst undergoing a sore or irritating sensation, particularly when it continues for a long time or is constant, requiring long term or 24-hour supervision.
The first and most important step is to seek help from a medical professional. When a diagnosis is available, this creates the knowledge to begin taking corrective measures. Whether you are a Carer, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, or are undergoing the discomfort yourself, it is important to recognise the type of sensation that you or your patient are going through before undertaking any exercises to correct the issue.
These feelings of discomfort can either be acute or can even occur over a long period of time. It may also be related to a specific injury or disease, localised or general, on-off or consistent, it may even only appear under certain conditions or perhaps may have progressed as the sufferer has reached an advanced age.
Once these underlying causes are identified, begin to plan the management – what can and cannot be done on the road to recovery? What support and equipment is needed if any? What exercises can be done to help alleviate the symptoms? In most cases, there is no instant cure or quick fix, but there are exercises that can help. To read more on this issue, please see the NHS link below:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/10-ways-to-ease-pain/
Whilst it is important to take steps to alleviate the symptoms, equally important is making sure not to aggravate the cause, particularly during times of rest and recovery. This is where Hospital Direct has introduced a range of products to help ease any suffering and maximise recovery and comfort.
A wonderful example is the Flexicare 4-Way System which remains under the patient at all times and makes the repositioning of palliative, long term, and 24-hour care patients both easy, comfortable and dignified, providing assistance with repositioning up and down in bed, turning, swivelling, sitting up, transferring and proning, whatever movement to patient requires.
As patients can remain on the Flexicare 4-Way indefinitely, either directly or under a cotton bed sheet, there is no requirement to disturb the person prior to repositioning. Thus, minimising unnecessary discomfort and disruption to rest. To read more on the Flexicare 4-Way, please visit the product page below:
https://www.hospitaldirect.co.uk/product/flexicare-4-way/
It is important to understand the underlying causes of these symptoms and what can be done to help. At Hospital Direct, we aim to provide healthcare solutions for all our customers, whatever their concern or situation.