The nervous system is responsible for sending pain messages to the brain, and the brain determines that there is a real threat to the person. In some conditions, even after the person seems to be healed, pain still does occur. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than three months, and can be quite troublesome and debilitating.
Many conditions can lead to take this type of pain; however, there are specific illnesses that are more susceptible to chronic pain. These illnesses include: severe trauma and injury, diabetes, fibromyalgia, migraines, phantom limb pain, shingles, and multiple sclerosis. Of course, there are many diseases that have pain that is ongoing, such as rheumatoid arthritis and the many types of cancers, yet with chronic pain the discomfort is generated in the nervous system even though the point of pain and tissues have recovered and healed.
Physical therapists are trained to help patients deal with chronic pain. They do so by reviewing the patient’s medical history, listening to the patient, and discussing all symptoms and any diagnosis from the primary physician. With this information, the physical therapist will be able to develop a plan of treatment through specific and combined therapies.
To begin, the physical therapist will educate the client about chronic pain in the precise reason her patient may be experiencing the pain. She will involve the client in developing the therapy plan. The plan of therapy may include: flexibility and strengthening exercises, manual therapy, movement and posture exercises, and other modalities incorporated into therapy. These may include the application of ice, heat, and electrical stimulation therapy.
It is important to understand that everyone is different, and everyone’s chronic pain is unique to the individual and to the condition. Once the physical therapist and the client begin to consistently work together, the client will begin to see marked improvement in the ability to manage the chronic pain and enjoy a sense of well-being.
“Types of Chronic Pain Syndromes.” – RightDiagnosis.com. Health Grades, Inc., 13 Aug. 2015. Web. 22 May 2016.