Chronic pain management is both a physical and mental challenge. Most people think of pain as resulting from physical injury or disease, but psychological factors play a huge role in pain perception. “Recent investigations are unraveling how factors such as expectation of reward or punishment, fear, stress and mood alter perceived pain intensity and affect our choices.”(Howard Fields from Scientific American)
There will always be those of us who may need to rely on Medications to manage our pain; however, many alternative methods are becoming accepted by the medical and psychological communities. The techniques of Chinese Medicine are reliable and very effective at chronic pain management. Meditation and breathing techniques also have a positive impact on pain levels and stress management. In addition, many people are finding exercise, even weight-lifting, to be helpful in chronic pain treatment. Building up the muscles around the injured or weak area can alleviate localized pressure.
There are also a variety of therapeutic techniques that can address our perceptions of pain in addition to traditional physical methods. An important thing for chronic pain treatment is gaining some insight into patterns in our perception of pain. Often patients report a higher level of pain when they are also depressed or anxious.
“Pain, especially chronic pain, is an emotional condition as well as a physical sensation. It is a complex experience that affects thought, mood, and behavior and can lead to isolation, immobility, and drug dependence. In those ways, it resembles depression, and the relationship is intimate. Pain is depressing, and depression causes and intensifies pain. People with chronic pain have three times the average risk of developing psychiatric symptoms — usually mood or anxiety disorders — and depressed patients have three times the average risk of developing chronic pain.”
Because of their relationship, chronic pain and depression can be treated with the same medications and therapeutic techniques.
At Solutions Treatment Center, it is our goal to address the whole person and the whole problem. We personalize our treatments by combining therapy with physical pain management techniques such as acupuncture, yoga and massage. We help those who have become dependent on narcotic pain medications find healthy alternative means of managing their pain while still achieving their life goals. We believe that the goal of chronic pain management should be emotional and physical freedom. The road to this goal can mean compromise and creative combinations that we can find together!
Solutions – we can help you find your way again. Call one of our intake counselors for a free consultation – 877-499-1354 or 505-424-3170.
Resources
American Academy of Pain Management
www.aapainmanage.org
209-533-9744