Is Living with Pain the New Normal? A Look at India’s Silent Epidemic - Dr Aayushi Choudhary

In Indian society, enduring pain is often seen as a testament to strength and resilience. This cultural attitude, deeply rooted in our history, has led to a troubling normalization of pain. Research indicates that approximately 19% of India's population, roughly 25 crore people, live with chronic pain. Many treat pain with temporary fixes like pain-relieving medications, rest, or simply ignoring it. However, this approach overlooks the long-term implications of untreated pain.

Modern lifestyles have exacerbated this issue. Prolonged screen time and sedentary desk jobs are wreaking havoc on our musculoskeletal health. Conditions like spondylotic back pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain are rampant. Despite this, the prevailing mindset remains reactive rather than proactive. Healthcare is sought only when the pain becomes unbearable, by which time simple solutions are often no longer viable.

Chronic pain does not just affect physical health; it profoundly impacts mental well-being. Persistent pain can lead to frustration, anxiety, depression, and a significant decrease in quality of life. Activities that once brought joy, like playing with children, exercising, or even simple hobbies, become sources of discomfort and are often abandoned. This leads to a loss of happiness and a more irritable, withdrawn demeanor. We become accustomed to a diminished quality of life without realizing how much better things could be.

Fear of surgery is another significant barrier. Many avoid consulting a doctor, fearing that surgery will be the only option. However, pain is the body's language of communication, a signal that something is wrong. Ignoring these signals and relying solely on pain-relieving medications can mask the problem temporarily but does nothing to address the underlying issue. The smaller the pain, the simpler the solution. Conversely, the longer pain is ignored, the more complex and invasive the required treatment becomes.

 Dr. Aayushi Choudhary, a specialist in pain management, musculoskeletal, and rehabilitation medicine, exemplifies a modern approach to pain management. Trained both in India and abroad, Dr. Aayushi emphasizes holistic and minimally invasive treatments. She believes in addressing pain at its root cause through regenerative medicine, which harnesses the body's natural healing processes, and comprehensive rehabilitation protocols. Her approach not only alleviates pain but also restores functionality and improves overall well-being. In today’s healthcare scenario, consulting specialists like Dr. Aayushi can prevent severe complications and ensure a quicker, more effective recovery.