Journal · 19 August 2020
Understanding Chronic Pain
What is chronic pain?
There are all sorts of different symptoms of chronic pain. The common theme with them all is that it is persistent. Whether it's that dull ache that keeps popping up when you are stressed, or the sharp excruciating pain when you move in a certain way. If it keeps coming back or is with you constantly on a daily basis for 6 months or more, it's chronic!
Different types of pain
When you mention chronic pain to most people they assume you mean musculoskeletal pain, and of course this is often where the pain resides, but there are so many different types of pain:
- Nociceptive pain: usually the outcome of a soft tissue injury
- Inflammatory pain: a protective response by the immune system
- Neuropathic pain: irritation of the nerves
- Functional pain: pain without a recognisable source
Stress, mental health and emotional processes can often increase chronic pain, but we rarely make the connection between them.
What factors affect pain
People often presume pain is only what is happening at soft tissue level. But it's so much more. There are various systems throughout the body. They send signals back and forth that play a part in pain. Belief systems, our reasoning, past experiences, emotional processes and the external environment that surrounds us all affect the way we experience pain.
For years we have assumed musculoskeletal pain is about tissue damage. This view is somewhat outdated now! It's important to know that pain is, more often than not, about protection rather than tissue damage. People's thoughts and beliefs contribute to the nervous system being vigilantly overprotective. The pain scientist Lorimer Moseley has a short, simple video explaining this.
When our state of mind perceives our pain in a negative way, like wanting rid of it or labelling it as something that limits what you can do, there is a disconnection between mind and body. Your body is communicating in an attempt to express its needs and your mind isn't listening.
Held back for Nicki to decide: The original "Managing chronic pain" and "How Wellcentred can help" sections claim sessions ease chronic pain and that symptoms "can lessen dramatically", and list conditions (PTSD, IBS, MS, arthritis, CFS, fibromyalgia, cancer). Held for Nicki to reword.
Working with Craniosacral Therapy and Somatic Experiencing is a wonderful way to connect mind to body… After that, the body starts to settle and relax and we can experience a reduction of chronic pain. In addition, by incorporating nurturing practices and habits into our daily lifestyle like mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi and qigong the symptoms can lessen dramatically over time.
Watch Lorimer Moseley explain pain: Tame the Beast (opens in a new tab)
Nicki
Journal posts share Nicki's experience and aren't medical advice. If you have a health concern, please speak to your GP. Wellbeing note and crisis support
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