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"  Myth 1: Women are much better than men when it comes to dealing with pain.FACT: Actually, &amp;quot;neither sex has the edge,&amp;quot; says Doris K. Cope, M.D., director of the University of Pittsburgh pain medicine program. Research has found that while women are better able to tolerate chronic pain than men, they are more sensitive to acute pain \u2014 say, by touching something hot. However, women are less bothered by lingering discomfort. A National Institutes of Health study on osteoarthritis sufferers hints at why this may be the case: Women had more coping strategies such as talking to friends, seeking spiritual support and asking their doctor for help.  Myth 2: Pain that goes away when you take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication is nothing to worry about.FACT: How easily an OTC pain reliever soothes your pain has nothing to do with the seriousness of your ailment. A sprained ankle can be so excruciating that an OTC painkiller barely helps. More worrisome conditions like cancer may cause so little discomfort that an OTC analgesic will work, at least for a while. So how do you know when pain signifies something serious? Minor ailments normally heal in about a week. See a doctor if nonprescription remedies don&amp;#039;t help or if the pain comes on suddenly. Myth 3: Pain in your breast can&amp;#039;t be cancer.FACT: While it&amp;#039;s rare for breast cancer to cause pain in the early stages, it can happen, says Edith Perez, M.D., director of the breast cancer program at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Less common types of breast cancer \u2014 such as inflammatory breast cancer \u2014 may cause discomfort early on. Usually, tender breasts are nothing to worry about. But call your doctor if you find a lump; notice changes in the appearance of a breast or nipple; develop swelling, redness or persistent pain in either breast; or experience unusual sensations in a breast (painful or not). Myth 4: No pain, no gain.FACT: No way! It&amp;#039;s normal to feel some muscle soreness if you start a new exercise program or rev up your current routine. But if your workout leaves you in real pain, it could mean you&amp;#039;re exercising incorrectly or developing an overuse injury from trying to get fit too fast. To protect against painful injuries (shinsplints, muscle tears or tendinitis), ease into new exercises gradually and work different muscle groups on alternating days. For example, jog one day and bike or swim the next. Myth 5: All pain is curable.FACT: Many chronic conditions \u2014 such as back pain \u2014 often can&amp;#039;t be cured. But &amp;quot;people can learn how to control their pain, so the pain doesn&amp;#039;t control them,&amp;quot; says Dr. Gordon Irving, M.D., medical director of the Swedish Pain Center, in Seattle. Pain-management techniques include biofeedback, relaxation exercises and behavior modification. Also, medication can ease discomfort, while physical therapy can strengthen surrounding muscles, allowing you to do more of your everyday activities with less pain. Pain Organizations The following organizations can help you locate a pain expert in your area: American Academy of Pain Management 13947 Mono Way #A Sonora, CA 95370 209-533-9744www.aapainmanage.org American Academy of Pain Medicine 4700 W. Lake Glenview, IL 60025 847-375-4731www.painmed.org American Chronic Pain Association P.O. Box 850 Rocklin, CA 95677 800-533-3231www.theacpa.org American Pain Foundation 201 N. Charles St., Suite 710 Baltimore, MD 21201-4111 888-615-7246www.painfoundation.org "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a16827/pain-myths-help-apr03/>