Chronic pain is a very old term, and a very misunderstood one. At one point in time, chronic pain was considered pain that lasted longer than 6 months. Then it was considered pain that could not be explained by a physical cause. After that, it was considered pain from a psychological origin. Still later, it was considered pain from “nerves gone wild.”

Well, unfortunately, we still don’t know all of the causes of chronic pain, or as we prefer to call it, “Persistent Pain.” However, we do understand some of the reasons it can occur, and, more importantly, we understand some of the things we can do to interrupt it. In the last 5 years, the research and skills to deal with chronic pain have expanded considerably.

Let’s get rid of some of the myths first:

1. Chronic pain is a psychological problem.
False. Recent studies have shown actual neurological changes in the nerves, spinal cords and brains of patients who have had chronic (persistent) pain. In addition, there is ample evidence on PET and MRI scans that certain areas of the brain are involved in development of chronic pain and that many of these areas are not the “pain centres” of the brain. What does this mean? It means that there is more to pain than simply a light switch being turned on. Many areas of the brain and body area involved and this explains why many things affect your pain! Stress, weather, smoking, drinking, certain foods, emotion, depression, negativity…these are all involved in the pain experience.

2. If I have chronic pain, I’ll never get rid of it.
False. You may have a great deal of difficulty overcoming it, but people with chronic pain DO get better. Many “pain management programs” are based on old ideas and assume a “you need to live with it and deal with it” approach to try to get you to get on with life. This is a valid approach for some people. For others, it simply fails. Those who fail in this type of program are often written off. YOU CAN GET BETTER! It involves using the latest techniques in pain control (not management), exercise, lifestyle planning and, most importantly, YOU! Any program must work around you as an individual. There are no standardized approaches, and that is where many treatment programs fail. It can take a long time, however. Most treatment programs for chronic pain involve 6 months or more of careful planning and program participation. It’s hard to stay motivated that long. We can help.

3. If I have chronic pain, I should stop working and rest/recover first.
False. You might need to change work, alter your workplace or slow down a fair bit for a while. But stopping work is a mistake…a very common one. It can make you feel less than a whole person, not a productive member of society or that you have no control of your life. You can take control, but only with the right guidance and direction. Again, we can help. It’s an uphill road and the path sometimes winds, but with enough time and the right program, you can get to the end of the road.

4. I’ve had pain for a while and I’ve been to a number of healthcare professionals to treat it. Do I have Chronic Pain?
Not necessarily. First, chronic pain can occur very rapidly, within 2 weeks sometimes, although it is not often recognized that early. Second, you may not have been assessed properly, so it is still possible that you have a straightforward problem that has not been properly evaluated. Remember, a physiotherapist, chiropractor or other healthcare professional should spend at LEAST 30-45 minutes assessing you before starting a treatment plan.

Michael Poling has worked in several pain management programs across Canada and has advanced training in Advanced Pain Medicine, Palliative Pain and Chronic Pain Management. He uses a combination of physiotherapy techniques, pain management techniques, cognitive behavioural techniques, technology (INTERX, Electroacupuncture, Laser Acupuncture, TENS, Interferential, etc), education and working with other healthcare professionals to monitor/alter medications. Michael has successfully helped hundreds of chronic pain patients recover.

“Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional…”