Pain is the most common reason people seek medical attention. It is the way our body alerts us to potential danger and protects us.
Have you ever touched the flame of a candle and felt a burst of pain, only to realise you had not burnt yourself?
Our brain is smart and it protects the most important thing - you! But what happens if you have had pain for a while? Chronic pain is defined as persistent pain lasting for longer than three months. It affects one in five people and is the leading cause of sick days and early retirement.
Chronic pain is complicated. It causes the body to become more alert. This may mean it takes less to trigger our pain and we can no longer do activities we once found easy. Think of it like your body is an alarm that is activated by smashing glass. With chronic pain, your body is instead an infrared light which only takes the slightest movement to set off. This is unhelpful and frustrating.
To manage chronic pain, we need to de-threaten our body’s alert system. There are many ways to do this, but one of the easiest is with the most widely available and effective prescription - exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s happy hormone, which helps you to feel better. Those who exercise regularly will know the ‘buzz’ you feel after being active.
Physiotherapists spend at least four years at university learning how to help patients in pain. All of the physiotherapists at Good Country Physiotherapy have undertaken additional professional development in this area, to ensure we are providing our patients with the best evidence-based management for chronic pain.
An individualised exercise program and goal setting can be used to help you determine where you are now and where you would like to be. Some pain when you start a new exercise program is quite normal. Over time, your body will acknowledge that comfortable exercise is not threatening, and you can make it harder.
With patience, you will be able to reach your goals and reduce the impact pain has on your life.
If you have chronic pain or would like to find out more about the ways in which a physiotherapist can help you manage your pain and improve your quality of life, please call our clinic on 87621515 or visit our website www.goodcountryphysio.com.au or find us on Facebook or Instagram.