We all have occasional aches from time to time. Whether you cut your finger or pull a muscle, pain is a common part of life which almost everyone goes through at some point. It is our body’s natural reaction when something is wrong. Usually, when our bodies heal this pain goes away too. But for many people, pain doesn’t leave even after the body has healed significantly. So, what is chronic pain and how can one identify and treat it? Let’s take a look.

What is Chronic Pain?

You can define chronic pain as a form of pain that does not subside on its own even after a long time such as 12 weeks. Most people go back to normal after they recover from an injury, but in case of chronic pain, this aching in your body continues despite the treatment. This can severely affect your lifestyle and take a toll on both your mental and physical health.

Some of the people suffering from chronic pain may also have chronic pain syndrome (CPS). In chronic pain syndrome, one suffers from other ailments as well. These ailments can develop with your pain or can intensify the effects of your chronic pain syndrome.  Such as depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns that can interfere with your daily life.

Even when your body becomes healthy to function, your body still keeps sending pain signals to your brain. This can last for several weeks and in some cases for years too and become a lifetime condition. This form of pain can appear in almost any part of your body. Chronic pain is also a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide and affects almost 100 million Americans.

How to find a Chronic Pain Therapist

If you are looking to find the perfect Chronic Pain therapist it is crucial to make sure that they have the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience. At Expat Therapy 4U we only accept therapists who have full professional proficiency in English and are highly experienced in working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. The clinicians we approve share our values and commitment to provide high quality therapy to the expatriate community in the private sector across Europe and online worldwide. We strongly believe that therapy changes lives, and being accredited ensures all our therapists are qualified to a high standard. You can find a Chronic Pain therapist who is insured to practice and accredited with a recognised membership body online here.

Symptoms of Chronic Pain Syndrome

Chronic pain can have effects on not only your body but on your psychological health as well. Chronic pain can be near-constant. The symptoms of chronic pain include:

• A dull ache that is consistent
• Throbbing and burning sensations in the body
• Soreness, stiffness, and stinging aches.
• Feeling very tired all the time despite proper rest.
• Not feeling hungry and experiencing mood changes
• Constantly feeling migraines and headaches.
• A lack of energy and overall weakness.
• Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
• A loss of interest in sex life and other activities you once used to enjoy.
• Inability to perform in work and other areas of your life because of a lack of motivation.
• Thoughts of suicide and a general mood of irritability.

The biggest factor that will differentiate chronic pain from the rest is its long-lasting nature. More than 12 weeks of pain can be deemed as chronic.

What are the Causes of Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain can be caused by several factors. Some of them are:

• Untreated lower back pain can give rise to lasting aches.
• Medical conditions such as Arthritis, osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, Multiple sclerosis, nerve damage, etc.
• Severe physical injury such as road accidents.
• Unsuccessful surgeries and body operations.
• Muscle strains and sprains.
• Broken bones.
• Cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Repetitive stress injuries where the same pressure is put over and over on your body.
• Substance abuse over long periods of time.

People that smoke, are obese and are depressed are more likely to suffer from chronic pain syndrome than others. Age and gender can also play a great role in determining your chances of developing chronic pain. Women and people older than 65 are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses as they are more susceptible to conditions that may produce chronic pain.

Recommended Treatments for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a long-lasting condition and often treatments will require you to go through long procedures. That being said, in many cases the pain is treatable and you can return to your normal way of living.

You can use the following treatments for relieving your chronic pain.

Medical Treatments

Most often, the first treatment you get for treating your disorder is some form of long-term medication. These can be anti-inflammatories, steroids, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, or any other forms of the drug that have pain-relieving properties. In severe cases, you may also get prescribed opioids. Physical therapy and exercises for treating muscle-related pain can also be really effective.

Talking Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural therapy can also be used to help deal with pain. While therapy may not directly reduce pain, it can help boost your morale and provide you with confidence to deal with your condition. Biofeedback therapy can help you become aware enough to control your bodily reactions such as rapid breathing. Breathing exercises, and muscle relaxing techniques can help you cope with bodily stress on your own. Controlled breathing and mindfulness meditation have shown to significantly reduce stress and improve symptoms of depression and anxiety that follows chronic pain.

Find a Chronic Pain Therapist through the Expat Therapy 4U platform

Living with chronic pain can be a challenging dilemma to deal with. If you feel as if your pain is not going away and it’s been more than 12 weeks, then you should consult your doctor to see whether you have chronic pain or some other problem with your body. Consistency of pain over long periods is often the most obvious sign of chronic pain. Seeking medical attention can help you alleviate your symptoms and gain a better sense of relief over time.

Further Readings on Chronic Pain Management

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/ways-to-manage-chronic-pain

https://theinternationalpsychologyclinic.com/problems/pain-management-treatment-london/