Chronic pain can be defined as pain that is persistent, debilitating, and prevents a person from doing both everyday tasks and the things they love. With approximately 1 in 5 Australians over 45 experiencing chronic pain, it’s no surprise that it’s currently viewed as a significant and costly health problem.
Too often, people put up with chronic pain because they have become accustomed to it after years of silently suffering. Whether it’s from a degenerative disease or old injury, there are many treatment methods that can provide relief from a chronic condition. It’s simply a matter of finding the right strategy.
The best place to start is often a physiotherapist. While it’s true that physios can treat acute injuries, they also understand the patient, nuanced and strategic approach that is required to care for those suffering from chronic pain.
If you struggle with chronic pain, booking an appointment for physiotherapy in Ringwood could be the best thing that you do for your health and wellbeing.
What is chronic pain?
As per the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, chronic pain is ongoing and experienced on most days of the week. It can last anywhere from a few months to an entire lifetime, depending on the cause — if this can even be discerned.
One of the most challenging aspects of treating chronic pain is its complexity and subjective nature. While acute injuries tend to have an easily identifiable root cause (making it easy to tailor a treatment plan), chronic pain can occur for no apparent reason. It can also be caused by injury, surgery, illness, musculoskeletal conditions (such as arthritis) or other types of illness.
In addition to the above mentioned characteristics, chronic pain tends to be very debilitating. This can be the case even with appropriate treatment. People who suffer from chronic pain may find completing daily tasks, such as showering or doing household chores, extremely painful. Activities they previously loved, like certain sports or even going out for dinner with friends, may become near impossible.
Risk factors for chronic pain
Diagnosing chronic pain can be a difficult task. However, as is the case with many types of illness and injury, there are certain risk factors that can increase your likelihood of developing a chronic condition.
Age: As we get older, certain parts of our bodies that we rely on for pain-free movement tend to degrade. The cartilage between our joints, for example, can wear down to the point where arthritis develops.
Weight: There is no one ‘healthy’ weight. How much we should weigh depends on a number of factors, including gender, age, height, and any pre-existing health conditions. In saying this, being overweight can put more pressure on our organs, muscles, tissues, and joints, resulting in any number of different chronic conditions.
Lifestyle: Studies have shown that while nicotine may bring short-term relief from pain, smoking impairs the immune system and significantly decreases the effectiveness of other proven treatment methods. Other lifestyle factors, such as a lack of exercise, can also make it difficult to treat chronic conditions.
How does a physiotherapist approach chronic pain?
How a physiotherapist approaches chronic pain really depends on the clinic you visit. A quality physio will start by taking a comprehensive history of the patient. This will involve asking questions about their personal and family history, when the pain started, if they know what caused it, treatment strategies they have tried, and any other health conditions they are suffering from.
They may then ask the patient what their goals are. For patients suffering from particularly severe chronic pain, this may be as simple as being able to go for a short walk around the block. Others may be hoping to return to full movement and a high level of physical fitness.
Having gathered all of the information they need, the physio can then tailor a treatment plan that teaches the patient how to manage their pain. This can include a regular stretching routine, conditioning exercises, and even more structured forms of treatment, such as dry needling or massage therapy.
In some cases, a patient may suffer from chronic pain their whole life. However, with the right education and tools, they will be able to manage their condition to the point where it has less of an impact on their daily life.
Further treatment methods
As mentioned, a physio may also recommend complementary treatment strategies that are designed to provide pain relief and strengthen muscles and tissues.
When choosing a provider of physiotherapy in Ringwood, opt for a team that offers comprehensive services. This can include podiatry, myotherapy, pilates, shockwave therapy, and dry needling, in addition to traditional physiotherapy services.
With the right team, managing your chronic pain can become a far more achievable prospect. Speak to a physio who specialises in chronic conditions today to get back to doing what you love best.
