Recovery from a fracture can prove to be a very painful and prolonged process. Sometimes pain persists even after fracture healing has been completed. Persistent pain may lead to sleep disturbances, make you more irritable, or cause feelings of depression. These, in turn, increase sensitivity to pain and create a vicious cycle of ongoing suffering.

If you suffer from chronic pain, discuss with your doctor ways to bring it under control or reduce it. You may find relief by doing some of the following:

• Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever (e.g. paracetamol/acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These medicines can be obtained from your pharmacist without a prescription, but this does not mean that you can take them in unlimited amounts or for long periods at will. Like all medicines, they also have side effects, and excessive use may lead to unpleasant consequences. It is best to consult your doctor before starting them.
• Applying hot or cold packs may relieve pain in an area of injury or inflammation. Cold relieves pain and reduces swelling and inflammation, while heat relieves pain and allows movement and continuation of an activity (although it may worsen inflammation). Care is needed when applying packs in order to avoid burns. Do not apply them for longer than 15–20 minutes at a time.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A session lasts approximately 5 to 15 minutes and is performed by a specialist in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine or a physiotherapist. The method uses low-energy electrical current, which travels through the body by means of electrodes placed on the skin and helps relieve pain. During the session, the sensation is one of warmth or tingling.
• Acupuncture. A method of ancient Chinese traditional medicine that is steadily gaining ground in the Western world because of its very good results in pain control. It is based on the assumption that our body is traversed by “rivers” of energy flow, whose movement can be influenced by the painless insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body. In Greece, the method appears to be gaining acceptance within an increasingly wider circle of the medical community.
• Biofeedback. This is a method that uses electronic devices to measure bodily functions and feed the information back to the body, so that better control of these functions can be achieved. The specialist conducting the biofeedback sessions helps you gain better and more effective control over certain body functions, such as blood pressure and heart rate.
• Behavioural approaches. This technique concerns changing habits, reactions, behaviours, and emotions that contribute to the vicious cycle of pain. Specialists working in these methods mainly come from the fields of psychiatry and psychology. Supportive care may include changes in physical activity, improvement of dietary habits, and broader behavioural modifications.
• Massage. Fractures may cause tension and pain in the muscles that support a joint and lie close to the site of injury. Massage can improve pain by relaxing the muscles through slow and gentle manipulations, thereby relieving muscle spasm. Before choosing this method, consult your doctor and ask for approval, because incorrect use may worsen the pain rather than relieve it.
• Sport and exercise. Exercise is a natural way to minimize pain. When you exercise, your body releases substances called endorphins. These substances have the ability to reduce pain intensity and at the same time improve your mood. Exercise benefits osteoporosis in several ways. It improves balance, strengthens muscles, and makes them more flexible. Through the pull exerted by tendons on bones, anabolic activity in bone cells is promoted and bone density increases. Before starting any sporting activity, discuss with your doctor what type of exercise is appropriate for your particular case and how you can be active safely. Also ask about the possibility of physiotherapy, which may help to some extent.
• Relaxation techniques. There are techniques that can help relax muscle tension and distract your attention from constant pain. Examples include deep breathing, slow stretching exercises, relaxing music, and guided imagery. Patients can obtain information about these techniques from CDs, videos, books, and of course from trained professionals.