Chronic Pain Defined
Chronic pain is medically defined as pain that lasts, at a minimum, longer than three months. Some medical professionals define chronic pain as pain that lasts between six and twelve months, or, alternatively, pain that lasts “longer than the expected period of healing.” In any case, chronic pain is ongoing. In most situations, those suffering from chronic pain experience discomfort on a daily basis.
Levels of chronic pain can vary from mild to completely incapacitating. Chronic pain can affect a specific joint or body part or be more generalized. Chronic pain frequently follows an injury accident, such as an auto collision.
What Causes Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is usually caused by injury or repetitive strain. Repetitive strain can be as simple as poor daily movement habits or as complex as high level athletic training. Chronic pain that results from injury frequently stems from car accidents or other high velocity collisions (i.e. skiing or snowboarding, bicycling, motorcycle collisions, etc).
Chronic Pain Treatments
The typical medical treatment for chronic pain involves high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate inflammation and pain. While this treats the symptoms of chronic pain, NSAIDs do not address the underlying cause. Recent research has shown that chronic pain is associated with a deficiency in the mind’s perception of the body in space, known as proprioception. Areas afflicted with chronic pain often have fewer sensory nerve endings than they should, making it difficult for the mind to get an accurate read about that part of the body. Thus, the mind needs to “make up” a map; medical researchers postulate that the brain brings sensory awareness to a deadened area of the body through chronic pain.
Chronic Pain Relief
To get lasting chronic pain relief, it’s important to redevelop the mind’s proprioceptive map of the body. This can be done through postural therapy and neurological reeducation. A qualified movement specialist is able to accurately assess movement, release tight, restricted tissue and prescribe exercises for proprioceptive awareness. This combination can effectively reduce chronic pain, getting to the root cause of the pain instead of just treating the symptoms.
Contact us today to schedule your free chronic pain assessment and see how we can help you get chronic pain relief. You can use the form at the right to schedule your consultation or send us an email directly. We look forward to discussing chronic pain treatment with you.