Exercise May Help With Chronic Pain

A recent news report by HealthDay News covered new research that suggests that exercise may relieve some aspects of chronic pain stemming from nerve damage. Using laboratory rats as subjects, scientists found that exercise seems to relieve some pain associated with neuropathy.  Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain that may stem from injury, diabetes, and other conditions causing nerve damage.  Exercise seems to relieve some of this pain by reducing levels of inflammation-causing body chemicals known as cytokines. The particular kinds of exercise used in this study were swimming and treadmill running, which showed a 30-50% reduction in neuropathic pain. It should be noted that the article also explicitly stated the following: "Scientists note, however, that research with animals often fails to provide similar results in humans. Exercise is commonly recommended for patients with different types of chronic pain, but there are conflicting findings about whether it can help patients with neuropathic pain."

Neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to control and manage with medication.
Traditional medication routes often result in significant and potentially dangerous side effects, which is why scientists continue to research alternative treatment options.  If you feel that you have neuropathic pain as a result of an accident due to the fault of another, it may be time to consult with an attorney.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  To learn more about his law firm, please click here.