That pain that just never seems to go away—despite the help of countless doctors, appointments, medication, and injections—may be more than just a physical issue. Pain that continues for several months or years after an injury has physically healed is called chronic pain, also known as persistent pain. Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon that is different from acute pain, which occurs after an injury but usually ends within three to six months.
Chronic pain is kind of like a faulty car alarm. It’s a result of the brain’s pain alarm being overly stimulated, despite an injury being completely healed. Some areas of the brain control chronic and acute pain, according to a 2019 study. The original area of injury becomes sensitive to even the smallest stimuli or touch. Factors such as stress, a poor support system, fear of movement, and depression have all been found to increase the brain’s pain centers and cause higher sensitivity in the affected areas.
The pain may feel like a physical problem, but simply taking medication or getting injections and waiting for it to heal often won’t make the pain go away. Instead, we need to work on recalibrating the central nervous system. That means you can’t be healed within a short period. It requires patience, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Traditional medication tends to be ineffective because it doesn’t usually target the underlying issues of chronic pain. This list of noninvasive treatments may help, according to a “Manual Therapy” research article and 2020 study.
- Physical therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Pain neuroscience education
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
Re-training the body’s central nervous system can be a long process, but it’s worth it if you’re willing to put in the work. That’s why it’s important to contact PRO~PT or your primary care physician so that we can help you create a plan that best suits your needs. There is a variety of treatments that we can administer in our offices to help you manage and overcome your chronic pain. Call today to get started.
