When a persistent pain condition strikes, it can affect your everyday life and the way you think about yourself. It may erode your daily activities, reshape your relationships and cause emotional strain. It may also alter the functioning of your body and even the parts of your brain that register pain.
For this reason, alleviating pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek medical care. Unfortunately, reducing and managing chronic pain is not always straightforward. In fact, it often takes months or even years before patients feel better.
Unlike acute pain, which comes and goes, chronic pain is the result of permanent tissue damage and changes in neural activity. This means it’s difficult to treat with a single strategy and requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes physical therapy, psychiatry and other specialists. This is called a pain management program.
To treat chronic pain, doctors first evaluate its intensity and location. They also look for underlying factors that could be contributing to the pain. For example, they assess whether the pain is due to nociceptive pain (signaled to the brain via normal afferent neural pathways) or neuropathic pain (dysfunctional neural functioning).
Then they look for treatments that address the pain at different levels. They may use non-opioid pain medications like acetaminophen and NSAIDs or techniques that involve injections to deposit local anesthetics into nerves and joints. They may also perform procedures to correct structural issues like a steroid injection into the epidural space of the spine for pain that radiates into the neck and arms, or nerve blocks to help with neuropathic pain conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Finally, they can refer patients to psychologists to address the cognitive-behavioral aspects of their pain. These therapies can be very effective in helping people break the habit of fixating on their pain and rethinking how they relate to it. They can teach them how to distract themselves by focusing on something pleasant, like a hobby or favorite activity. They can teach them to manage their pain with pacing, mindfulness and other stress-reduction techniques. And they can help them develop a healthier relationship with their medication by helping them understand the benefits and risks of its side effects.
Although it may take weeks or months, the right treatment can make a difference in breaking free from chronic pain. By taking a holistic approach that addresses pain at every level, you can learn to cope with your condition and return to living the life you deserve. To find out more, join Breaking Free from Chronic Pain, a six-week pain management class that incorporates breathing exercises, healthy movement, guided relaxation and education to help you gain control over your mood and heal your body. Click here to learn more about this online group.
Chiropractic therapy is a natural and effective way to manage pain and improve overall well-being. By focusing on realigning the spine and restoring the body’s balance, chiropractic care addresses the root causes of pain rather than merely masking the symptoms. As a non-invasive and drug-free approach, it provides a safe and sustainable option for individuals seeking lasting pain relief. Whether it’s back pain, neck discomfort, headaches, or joint issues, chiropractic therapy offers a holistic and empowering path to managing pain and living a healthier, pain-free life. If you are considering chiropractic care for pain management, consult with a qualified chiropractor to determine the most suitable treatment plan for your specific condition and health needs.