Pain

WHAT CAUSES PAIN?

painManagement

Pain is your bodies subjective response to an unpleasant stimulus.   This means that what is painful for you may not be painful or may be more painful for someone else.  Infact some people feel pain just by watching a painful event and othere people dont feel any pain at all (HSAN).   It is how your body interprets your environment and involves many factors.

  1. – Please watch the following video that further explains pain – video
  2. – Another video on a wonderful Australian Physio David Butler on his book – explain pain
  3. – Video on basic principles of Pain Management according to David Butler

Pain is caused by several factors:

  • Inflammation
 – The process that causes the redness and swelling also affects nerves and can make them more sensitive.
  • Damage to joints / tissues
– Results from the disease process or from stress, injury or pressure
  • Fatigue resulting from disease
 – Makes your pain seem worse and harder to handle
  • Depression or stress
– Results from limited movement or no longer doing activities you enjoy.
You can get caught in a cycle of pain, limited/lost abilities, stress and depression that makes managing pain difficult

WHAT MAKES YOU PAIN WORSE?

  • Increased disease activity
  • Excessive Inflammation
  • Focusing on pain
  • Stress / Fatigue (work, family, financial, adjusting to new scenario)
  • Depression
  • Overdoing physical activity
  • Deconditioning (Underdoing physical activity)
  • Anxiety
  • Inactivity or Avoiding / Catastrophising activity
  • Unavoidable situations
  • Alcohol
  • Inappropriate use of medications / other drugs

WHAT CAN HELP PAIN?

  • Positive attitude and pleasant thoughts
  • Heat and Cold treatments
  • TENS Machine (Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation)
  • Appropriate exercise & Prescription (sets, reps, frequency, alternatives, timing, resistance, position, alternatives (hydro/ gym/ tai chi/ yoga)
  • Massage (many types)
  • Acupuncture / Dry Needing
  • Relaxation Techniques (Mindfulness, Meditation, PMR, Guided Imagery) 
  • Topical pain relievers (Creams, Heat, Cold)
  • Medications (Specific Pain relief for your type of pain)
  • Distraction / Humour/ Alternative Movements
  • Understand your pain (cause / course/ implications/ perspective)
  • Variety (try new things that might help)
  • Being Social (friends, family, groups, volunteering)

To Learn how to Manage Your Pain – Click here