Chronic Pain: Pain That Doesn’t Stop or Go Away
Table of Contents
Chronic Pain Types
Chronic pain is placed into two categories.
These categories help physicians develop individually customized treatments because everyone and their pain type is unique and needs to be approached and treated uniquely. General forms of chronic pain are:Neuropathic pain
This is pain caused by damage to or malfunction of the nerves.Nociceptive pain
Nociceptors are receptors in the nervous system that are activated when an injury occurs. If there is no injury from outside of the nervous system, the nociceptors do not get activated. Therefore, nociceptive pain is caused by an injury to an area of the body that is not the nerves. With chronic pain, the nociceptors are still sending/relaying pain messages after the injury that created the pain has healed.
Neuropathic Pain
The peripheral nervous system includes all the nerves going to and from the spinal cord. These nerves send pain signals to the brain. If they get injured, neuropathic pain can develop. Pain caused by injury to these nerves. The term peripheral neuropathy is another way of saying neuropathic pain. This comes from damage to the peripheral nervous system. Central nervous system injury/damage can also trigger neuropathic pain. Chronic neuropathic pain can be extremely challenging to treat because of the difficulty of finding where and how the nerves are damaged/injured.Nociceptive Pain
An injury or disease causes nociceptive pain to an area of the body. It’s an injury or disease that stimulates the nociceptors. There are various types of chronic nociceptive pain:Somatic pain
Somatic pain comes from an injury/s that happen to the outer body like the:- Skin
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Joints
- Bones
Visceral pain
The viscera are the internal organs, specifically those in the abdomen and chest cavity. The stomach is a perfect example of a visceral organ. Not all of the organs have nociceptors, so they cannot send pain signals if they are injured. In this type, a dull ache will be felt but could be difficult to pinpoint. Visceral pain can also present referred pain. This means that the brain is having difficulty calculating if the pain is coming from an organ or from another part of the body. An example is a kidney problem where the low back is in pain. Figuring out what type of chronic pain is presenting can be a difficult process. As there are many types and trying to diagnose without any noticeable injury or disease is a challenge. Pain is a subjective experience that must be described in detail by a doctor or specialist. As long as the individual works together with a doctor, then the best treatment option can be generated.
Visceral pain
The viscera are the internal organs specifically those in the abdomen and chest cavity. The stomach is a perfect example of a visceral organ. Not all of the organs have nociceptors, so cannot send pain signals if they are injured. In this type, a dull ache will be felt but could be difficult to pinpoint. Visceral pain can also present referred pain. This means that the brain is having difficulty calculating if the pain is coming from an organ or from another part of the body. An example is a kidney problem where the low back is in pain. Figuring out what type of chronic pain is presenting can be a difficult process. As there are many types and trying to diagnose without any noticeable injury or disease is a challenge. Pain is a subjective experience that must be described in detail to a doctor or specialist. As long as the individual works together with a doctor then the best treatment option can be generated.
Symptoms
It can take on many forms like:- Aches/Aching
- Burning sensation of pain
- An electric sensation of pain
- Sharp pain
- Shooting pain
- Soreness
- Stiffness
- Throbbing pain
- Tightness
- Sleeplessness
- Energy is drained
- Depression
- Withdraw from family friends activities normally enjoyed
- The immune system becomes weakened from a tremendous amount of body energy dealing with the pain
Proper Diagnosis
Obtaining a proper diagnosis of the cause of chronic pain is essential to creating the most optimal treatment plan. The severity and cause of chronic pain may require an individual to see various specialists in addition to the primary caregiver. These could be a:- Chiropractor
- Physical therapist
- Pain medicine specialist
- Orthopedic spine surgeon
- Neurosurgeon
- Physiatrist
- Rheumatologist
Treatment
Treatment and therapy options that could be offered are:Chiropractic
Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor could recommend chiropractic medicine. Two weeks of regular manipulation can generate significant improvement in individuals with chronic low back pain with referred leg pain.Physical Therapy
Stretching and strengthening the muscles is vital in the treatment of chronic pain. A physical therapist could include:- Ice
- Heat
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Ultrasound
- Myofascial release
- Stretching exercises
- Strengthening exercises
Meds
Different meds could be prescribed to treat pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, and neuropathic pain. This could be combined with meds that treat accompanying symptoms/conditions like sleep problems, depression, and anxiety.Surgery
A doctor could recommend spinal injections, spinal cord stimulation, drug pump, or spinal surgery. If there is uncertainty about the recommended treatment plan then get a second opinion.Skills for coping
Mood and psychological perspective can affect the level of pain. A trained specialist could educate and train an individual with relaxation and coping skills.Complementary care
Doctors are now recommending several complementary therapies like acupuncture and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine. Ask a doctor about this option. It is often used in conjunction with conventional and alternative medicine/therapy/treatment programs.Chiropractic Management
A chiropractor will do a physical exam along with specific tests to help them diagnose the root cause of the pain. Once diagnosed the chiropractor will develop a customized treatment plan. The treatment could include spinal manipulation, manual therapies, and therapeutic exercises. A chiropractor will work with the individual in developing an optimal treatment plan geared to that individual’s needs. Once the pain is completely addressed, the individual will be able to gradually, and progressively increase daily activities.Chiropractic Podcasting: Why Chiropractic Works
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