Pain that is persistent and unrelenting can be distressing.
Not being able to move or perform activities that you usually do, can also be frustrating. It can stop you moving the way you want to.
Information and education about pain processing is important in helping to deal more effectively with persistent pain that is disabling and exhausting. There are a number of 'myths' about chronic pain, that may be confusing.
e.g. 1/ I need to exercise more to work through the pain, I have been told ' no pain, no gain'.
Pushing through the pain barriers might work in some gym settings and where the pain is acute. But for Chronic pain, pushing too hard with exercises that are aggravating the pain symptoms, can exacerbate a range of physiological reactions. Scientific evidence supports the need to find the 'right exercise' for the condition. This is particularly appropriate for those with back pain.
The Feldenkrais method has been shown to be important in helping restore movement and function for those with chronic pain - through involving changes to the nervous system and how we can pay attention to the way in which we can more - see below.
https://free2move.com.au/change-your-brain-to-relieve-pain-an-introduction-to-feldenkrais/
Every person with a pain condition is different, hence their needs are unique, and what works for one person, may not work for the next.
See the references below for more information on this complex topic.
http://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au:8080/pain-management-movement-with-pain.html
http://www.pain-ed.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Osullivan-and-Lin-Pain-management-today-2014.pdf
https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/for-everyone/pain-and-physical-activity
2/ Sometimes you might be told the pain is 'in your head' ...
Scientific evidence shows the brain plays a key role in pain. That is where we register that something is painful. Connections through the nervous system alert us to the onset of the pain, and nerves connect with the brain (which is in the head) for processing. Parts of the brain interpret what that pain means. Then other parts interact to also determine how we respond to it.
E.G. if we are fearful, anxious, or angry, then other systems will become activated – such as the ‘flight or fight response’.
It doesn't mean that you are 'imagining the pain' of making it up - just that what the pain means to us is different, depending on what we are feeling and how we interpret these feelings.
To manage pain that has become chronic and persisting beyond a couple of months, there is a need to consider all the factors going on in our lives at the time, and take a 'whole body' approach.
This is particularly important where the immune system is not working well, and where there are high levels of inflammation affecting the body - these factors have been shown to be important in how the body responds to pain processes.
These are some references that explain in more detail.
http://www.chronicpainaustralia.org.au/index.php/chronic-pain/pain-physiology
https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/212850/Understanding_Pain_PA.pdf
https://vimeo.com/135425015
3/ You can change your pain
There is evidence to show people can change their pain. The key is learning more about how pain works, how the body responds in relation to pain, and ways to better self manage the symptoms and how to modify or change things that might be causing aggravation, rather than helping the body to heal.
Chronic pain management is a complex process. Everyone is different. But change is possible over time.
Below are some more websites that may be of assistance.
https://www.painbc.ca/chronic-pain/self-management
https://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/chronic-pain/pain-physiology/25-physiology/128-neuroplasticity
www.hammond.com.au/health-and-aged-care/brain-that-changes-provides-challenge-and-hope-for-people-with-pain
http://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au:8080/neuroplasticity.html
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/chronic-pain-is-basically-plasticity-gone-wild-dr/6479094
https://www.painbc.ca/chronic-pain/pain-toolbox
For further help or information, call Physio2U on 0405344335.
Not being able to move or perform activities that you usually do, can also be frustrating. It can stop you moving the way you want to.
- Chronic pain that goes on and on, with no relief from medications or traditional treatments, can make you feel angry and emotionally at loss as to how to escape from the situation.
- Sometimes exercises or physical treatments can seem to flare up pain symptoms. The more you try, the worse it seems to become.
- It is important to understand the mechanisms in our bodies that can aggravate pain. That make things worse rather than better.
Information and education about pain processing is important in helping to deal more effectively with persistent pain that is disabling and exhausting. There are a number of 'myths' about chronic pain, that may be confusing.
e.g. 1/ I need to exercise more to work through the pain, I have been told ' no pain, no gain'.
Pushing through the pain barriers might work in some gym settings and where the pain is acute. But for Chronic pain, pushing too hard with exercises that are aggravating the pain symptoms, can exacerbate a range of physiological reactions. Scientific evidence supports the need to find the 'right exercise' for the condition. This is particularly appropriate for those with back pain.
The Feldenkrais method has been shown to be important in helping restore movement and function for those with chronic pain - through involving changes to the nervous system and how we can pay attention to the way in which we can more - see below.
https://free2move.com.au/change-your-brain-to-relieve-pain-an-introduction-to-feldenkrais/
Every person with a pain condition is different, hence their needs are unique, and what works for one person, may not work for the next.
See the references below for more information on this complex topic.
http://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au:8080/pain-management-movement-with-pain.html
http://www.pain-ed.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Osullivan-and-Lin-Pain-management-today-2014.pdf
https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/for-everyone/pain-and-physical-activity
2/ Sometimes you might be told the pain is 'in your head' ...
Scientific evidence shows the brain plays a key role in pain. That is where we register that something is painful. Connections through the nervous system alert us to the onset of the pain, and nerves connect with the brain (which is in the head) for processing. Parts of the brain interpret what that pain means. Then other parts interact to also determine how we respond to it.
E.G. if we are fearful, anxious, or angry, then other systems will become activated – such as the ‘flight or fight response’.
It doesn't mean that you are 'imagining the pain' of making it up - just that what the pain means to us is different, depending on what we are feeling and how we interpret these feelings.
To manage pain that has become chronic and persisting beyond a couple of months, there is a need to consider all the factors going on in our lives at the time, and take a 'whole body' approach.
This is particularly important where the immune system is not working well, and where there are high levels of inflammation affecting the body - these factors have been shown to be important in how the body responds to pain processes.
These are some references that explain in more detail.
http://www.chronicpainaustralia.org.au/index.php/chronic-pain/pain-physiology
https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/212850/Understanding_Pain_PA.pdf
https://vimeo.com/135425015
3/ You can change your pain
There is evidence to show people can change their pain. The key is learning more about how pain works, how the body responds in relation to pain, and ways to better self manage the symptoms and how to modify or change things that might be causing aggravation, rather than helping the body to heal.
Chronic pain management is a complex process. Everyone is different. But change is possible over time.
Below are some more websites that may be of assistance.
https://www.painbc.ca/chronic-pain/self-management
https://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/chronic-pain/pain-physiology/25-physiology/128-neuroplasticity
www.hammond.com.au/health-and-aged-care/brain-that-changes-provides-challenge-and-hope-for-people-with-pain
http://painhealth.csse.uwa.edu.au:8080/neuroplasticity.html
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/chronic-pain-is-basically-plasticity-gone-wild-dr/6479094
https://www.painbc.ca/chronic-pain/pain-toolbox
For further help or information, call Physio2U on 0405344335.
