Persistent pain is a major problem – understanding your pain is a key step to recovery
By Paul Bolger. Chartered Physiotherapist at Nano Physiotherapy, Kilkenny (www.nanophysio.ie).
Is it possible to unlearn pain? Can we show the body that it is safe and possible to move without suffering? Leading pain scientists think so, and they believe that many people with persistent pain should have hope in their ability to live life less burdened by pain.
Last week we explored how for many with persistent pain issues the body has, in a sense, “learned” to be really good at feeling pain. Changes within the nervous system reflect this – nerve pathways sending signals from the painful area of the body and brain networks associated with pain and distress strengthen and become more easily activated.
A Better Approach
Pain scientists have come up with an approach, built upon interventions and theories from psychology, physiotherapy, biology, learning and neuroscience, that they have shown to be highly effective in treating chronic pain problems. The core steps in their framework involve:
- Rethinking pain and its causes
- Helping the body to move and feel normally
- Becoming more fit and able for life’s demands
Rethinking Pain
Education about the science of pain is step one in the process of recovery.
It’s extremely rare for pain to be a sign of something really serious. For instance, with a common issue like back pain, only a very small percentage of people will need medical or surgical treatment. Read ‘Back Pain is a Fact of Life’ on the Observer’s website for more about this.
Pain Doesn’t Equal Damage
Understand that pain does not always equal to damage, that the body can become sensitive and “learn” how to be really good at feeling pain (read ‘Learning to Feel Pain’ on the Observer’s website for more).
In phantom limb pain, a person who had their leg amputated may feel extreme pain in the big toe of the foot that is no longer there! It’s also possible to experience little pain despite massive damage – Bethany Hamilton, retired pro-surfer, had her arm bitten off by a shark when she was 13. She recalls feeling no pain at the time.
Many Factors Influence Pain
Understand how things like sleep, stress, our own thoughts and our previous experiences can all contribute to how pain feels at any given moment (for more details, read ‘Pain – What Matters?’, ‘Stress, Pain & The Brain’, ‘Stress & Your Pain System’). With thought, reflection and experimentation, people can figure out what factors might be turning up the volume on their pain.
Living Things Adapt
Understand that we can adapt when we expose ourselves gradually to something new. If the body can adapt to become really good at feeling pain, it’s possible to adapt in the other direction too. Like anything learned, time and consistency are key.
Taking the next step
For anyone who wants to know more on any of the above, there is a fantastic, engaging website called Flippin’ Pain – www.flippinpain.co.uk.
This website is full of fantastic information from leading pain experts. It contains stories from people who have been living with persistent pain and links to free online programmes designed to help people suffering from persistent pain.
Next week we will explore the next step in the process towards recovery – helping the body to move and feel normally again. If you suffer from persistent pain, maybe you could bring up something you learned here with your GP or a physiotherapist.
