Chronic Pain: Question and Answer

Chronic Pain and Opioids are a big part of the news today. Are you confused about what chronic pain is? Can someone with chronic pain become pain free without Opioids? Answer to these questions will come in parts.

Part One:

1. What is Chronic pain?
   1. Chronic pain is any pain that has been experienced for greater than 3 months
2. Does my body go through physical changes when my pain is chronic?
   1. Yes, your brain begins to change and can effect the mirror neurons in your brain.
   2. Your body is in pain more often, so you have more pain receptors and more of the chemical that binds to the nerves that produce pain. 
3. Do the changes in my body effect the way my brain views my body and movement?
   1. Yes, the changes in the mirror neurons can cause pain when you think about movement or see someone performing a movement that is painful.
4. Are you saying my pain is in my head?
   1. No, I am saying that pain comes from the brain.
5. Pain comes from the brain, can you be more specific?
   1. The brain is a pre-activity organ and predetermines the way we perceive touch, movement, -and various other sensory inputs- based on experience.
   2. This quick learning process is very helpful in sports. It is called muscle memory, but unfortunately our body’s can develop pain memory.
6. How can I have pain memory that comes from my brain?
   1. Based on past experience you brain can send a pain signal even when that is an inappropriate response. NOI group calls this brain smudging.
   2. That means when a loved one lightly touches your arm,  your brain interprets that as pain instead of touch.
   3. Another example may be experiencing an 8/10 pain rating 2 days after exercise. If you hurt yourself you would have experienced pain sooner. Normal response to exercise 2 days later is soreness due to lactic acid build up. Your brain got it wrong. You should be sore not in extreme pain.
7. Are you saying my pain is not real?
   1. No! The pain and inflammation you experience is very real. I am saying your brain got it wrong and needs to be retrained.
8. Can I help my family to understand that my pain is real?
   1. Yes! Through education people with chronic pain and their loved ones can better understand what the person is going through and that it is not in their  head.
   2. Follow this Youtube link to learn more about Understanding pain in less than 5 minutes.

This article is for education only. This information is not intended to replace the advise or evaluation of a healthcare provider. An evaluation is highly skilled and complex and involves an evaluation of different systems and elements to determine the best approach for each individual. Always follow the instructions of your physical therapist or physician in regards to your personal exercise program. 

Chronic Pain: No Opioids Please

I know many of you have been living with Chronic pain for many years and have worked hard to not take Opiates to manage your pain. The latest news regarding the Opioid epidemic is supporting your decision to not go down that road, but you still find yourself in a loop of chronic pain. You have been told the pain is in your head, but you live in your body and know that you experience 10/10 pain or greater on a daily basis. People tell you “You have a low pain tolerance. Its all in your head. You just need to exercise more.” and more.

The truth is: if you have experienced pain for more than 3 months, you have chronic pain. What happens over time is that your brain begins to change and makes it easier for your body to produce pain even with a light touch. The pain is real, but does not match the input. Pain is supposed to be released as a flight or fight mechanism in response to input that causes harm or tissue damage. In a chronic pain loop the weight of a hair on a nerve can cause pain and a protective inflammatory response.
If you have found yourself in a chronic pain loop you can exit the loop. It does take patience and persistence, but it is achievable. The first step is to break the chronic pain loop. This can be achieved with:

• Meditative Prayer
• Alpha Stimulation
• Myofascial Release
• Relaxation Techniques
• Low Level Laser Therapy

Just to name a few. A qualified professional with experience in treating chronic pain can assist in evaluating you and helping you to determine the right treatment path for you. Treating chronic pain is a multitiered approach that must be customized to each person. Remember chronic pain is something you have and it can be treated.

Fitness and Technology

 If you are wondering if a fit bit, I watch, pedometer, heart monitor or any other type of technology can assist in tracking a healthy lifestyle, then I hope this post will offer you some insight.

If you are like me you are a little skeptical and slow to accept new trends. As the weather improves I am increasing my activity and starting to use the activity feature on my I watch. I obtained my apple I watch to assist with managing a hectic lifestyle of traveling, business ownership, and being accessible to my loved ones. It is great when navigating an airport with luggage in toe to be able to answer a message simply by speaking into your watch. As I learned more about my watch, I started using the activity aspect of the watch more than I thought I would. On office days I get a little tap to remind me to stand, I can see that my calorie burn and step count are low; which motivates me to take the dog for a walk after dinner. On airport days I high five myself for exceeding 10, 000 steps.  The I watch can also act as a Heart Rate monitor and with the help of your I phone you can track your calorie intake and your weight loss goals. I get a medal on days that I exceed my goals. Yes, Words of affirmation is my love language even from inanimate objects. The bottom line is -Even as a physical therapist with knowledge in calories and exercise- it
was very eye opening to see my activity level and very motivating to track and achieve my goals.

The best part is you:

• set your own goals
• make your goals attainable
• and make them fit your life

Now Get out and Enjoy Life!! #Movementismedicine!

Now Hiring: Licensed Physical Therapist

Posture

Good posture is preventative medicine:

*Reduces spinal compression

*Reduces shoulder impingement

*Improves lung function

Be proud and stand tall! Your spine will Thank You!