What Is Chronic Pain?
What is Chronic Pain?
Experiencing pain after an injury has healed is a common phenomenon known as chronic pain. Our brains and bodies can adapt to chronic pain in several ways:
Central Sensitization: After an injury, the nervous system can become sensitized, meaning it becomes more sensitive to pain signals. This heightened sensitivity can persist even after the initial injury has healed. Central sensitization involves changes in the way the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes pain signals, leading to an amplification of pain perception.
Neuroplasticity: The brain is remarkably adaptable and can undergo changes in response to chronic pain. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, involves the rewiring of neural pathways in the brain. Over time, chronic pain can lead to alterations in brain structure and function, which may contribute to the persistence of pain even after the underlying injury has resolved.
Psychological Factors: Emotional and psychological factors can play a significant role in the experience of chronic pain. Conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, and past trauma can amplify pain perception and contribute to its persistence. Additionally, negative thoughts and beliefs about pain can perpetuate the pain experience and make it more difficult to manage.
Musculoskeletal Changes: Chronic pain can lead to changes in the musculoskeletal system, including muscle tension, stiffness, and altered movement patterns. These physical changes can further exacerbate pain and contribute to functional limitations.
Inflammatory Processes: In some cases, chronic pain may be associated with ongoing inflammation in the affected tissues, even after the initial injury has healed. Persistent inflammation can contribute to ongoing pain and discomfort.
It's important to recognize that chronic pain is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Addressing chronic pain often requires a comprehensive approach that addresses not only the physical aspects of pain but also the emotional and psychological factors that contribute to its persistence.
If you are experiencing chronic pain, it's essential to seek support from healthcare professionals who can help you develop a personalized treatment plan. This may include a combination of medical interventions, such as medications and physical therapy, as well as psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches, to address the various aspects of chronic pain and promote healing and recovery. Unfortunately, traditional healthcare can fail some of us. Manual therapies such as massage and bodywork can bridge the gap between traditional pain management techniques and how we feel in our bodies.
You have to feel safe in your body to heal. And if every movement is fraught with pain and the anticipation of pain, we become trapped and stuck. You can’t heal when you are in pain. You have to find ways of managing that pain before your body and mind can recover and recognize that it is safe. Bodywork, manual therapy, massage, whatever term you use, is the answer to most cases of chronic pain that does not respond to physical therapy or medications.
