September is Pain Awareness Month

Acute Pain – is a new onset of pain which can be explained through some sort of injury e.g. recent accident, change in activity levels, lifting something at work which was awkward or heavy, and even sitting on a different chair. Usually this pain will resolve on its own accord without intervention in 6 -12 weeks’ time.
Chronic Pain – this is a pain that lasts more than 3-6 months and also can be split into Primary and Secondary Chronic Pain.
a) Primary – pain presenting in 1 or more areas of the body and is associated with significant emotional distress or significant functional disability (interference with activities of daily life and participation in social roles) and cannot be better explained by another chronic pain condition. Primary chronic pain examples are Fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Chronic Musculoskeletal pain (Lower back pain and Headaches).
b) Secondary – pain that can also be widespread in the body but there is usually an explanation for the onset of the pain such as post-surgical pain, post traumatic pain, cancer related pain, or Osteoarthritis (spondylosis).

You may have sought help through many different avenues, the GPs, Consultants, Pain management courses, Physiotherapist, Chiropractors and Counselling. Unfortunately, depending on the professional you meet, the most beneficial treatment for Chronic Pain is usually a combination and mixture of therapies.
You may leave some consultations frustrated as you are told ‘you will have to live with the pain and learn to manage the pain’, ‘do more physiotherapy rehab exercises’, ‘become more active’, ‘try to relax and use positive self-talk to manage the pain’, ‘go for regular passive treatment which may entail, massage, spinal adjustments and talking therapy’ and ‘use pacing to manage your daily activities’.

Through my own clinical experience and from recent NICE guidelines released April 2022, using a combination of psychological interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and gradual exposure to the correct exercises can help patients improve their Quality of life which subsequently reduces the effects of pain. NICE Guidelines also strongly advise Acupuncture and the use of pain science education as good clinical practise to help people understand their condition.
The Pain Specialist at Down2U Physiotherapy encompasses all the elements above to tailor specific treatment to assist your recovery from Chronic pain. We offer free 15 minute consultations to explore your needs and discuss ways in which we can help get you back on your feet. Even with patients suffering with 30 years of back pain – after 4 sessions we have managed to get them back to hobbies such as climbing in the Peaks.

The common behaviour to pain is to avoid and reduce activities which may trigger the pain response. This decline in social activities such as work, hobbies and socialising can be so gradual that it becomes habitual and feel normal to stay-in or find reasons not to go out. Life without joy, social interaction and support can leave people feeling with distress in their mental health and lead them to experience Depression, Low mood, Anxiety and even substance use (prolong use of prescribed opiates like Tramadol, Cocodamol and Morphine based drugs)