What is Pain?
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. It’s a necessary feeling that helps to keep you safe and alert you to an issue that needs to be addressed such as when an injury has occurred, or you are sick.
The experience of pain can range from slightly bothersome, like a mild headache or paper cut, to extremely severe, such as chest pain during a heart attack or significant traumatic injury.
The sudden onset of pain, such as following an accident, is known as acute pain. Acute pain is caused by inflammation, tissue damage, injury, or illness. It usually lasts less than a week and in most cases, will subside once the acute illness or injury is resolved.
Chronic pain, however, is pain that continues to persist for a much longer period. If pain hasn’t resolved within 12 weeks, or accompanies a chronic condition, it is considered to be chronic and will require medical attention and management.
Chronic pain can have a serious impact on a person’s
- physical health
- mental health
- ability to meaningfully engage in everyday life
For those reasons, it is important to speak with your family doctor if you are experiencing chronic pain because there are treatment options available.
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Living with Chronic Pain
While there’s no cure for chronic pain, it can be managed successfully with the right approach and consistent effort.
You can also support your chronic pain management with regular, at-home activities such as:
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly
Continue daily activities
Participate in the activities you enjoy despite your pain. Isolation can lead to a more negative outlook and therefore increase sensitivity to pain so it’s important to remain engaged in life.
Seek support
Remember you’re not alone and help is available. Reach out to family and friends during challenging times and continue to work closely with your care team to maintain a treatment plan that works for you.
What Causes Chronic Pain?
other chronic conditions. In some cases, pain will last beyond an initial injury due to damage to the nerves, resulting in more intense and long-lasting pain.
Unfortunately, the causes of chronic pain aren’t well-understood. However, it is known that chronic pain may result from underlying conditions such as:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- TMJ
- And more
Older adults are most at risk of experiencing chronic pain, and the following factors may make you more likely of experiencing chronic pain:
- Having an injury
- Having surgery
- Being female
- Being overweight
People facing discrimination and marginalization are often more likely to have chronic pain and experience more severe pain, as well.
Chronic Pain Management
The primary goals of chronic pain management are twofold: to reduce overall pain and to increase mobility to allow for the return to daily activities.
When developing a pain management plan, it is important to remember that our experience of pain is influenced by our:
- Biology
- Psychology
- Spiritual factors
- Social factors
Your doctor will work with you to create a plan that considers your unique needs and circumstances, which includes a multi-disciplinary team of health practitioners who will support you in all factors of life. Treatment is most effective when it is approached as a holistic plan.
A well-rounded treatment plan may include a combination of the following:
Medication
Such as NSAIDs, cannabinoids, anti-depressants, muscles relaxants or other medications.
Psychological support
Including cognitive behavioural therapy, support groups, education sessions, and mindfulness-based interventions
Physical intervention
Such as exercise, physiotherapy, yoga and activity modification
Medical devices or procedures
Including nerve blocks, TENS, laser therapy and deep brain stimulation
Allied health professional support
Including acupuncture, massage therapy, physiotherapy, osteopathic treatments, etc.
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