Pain is an unpleasant sensation that we usually associate with tissue injury. It is considered chronic when the pain continues longer than three months or the expected average healing time after an injury. Those with chronic pain often believe they have an ongoing disease or their body has not healed, when instead, the pain centers in the brain may be causing the pain despite no new causes of pain occurring in the body.
Causes of Chronic Pain
There are many causes, but certain medical conditions are more likely to result in chronic pain. These include:
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Limb amputation
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
- Traumatic injury
How Do I Know If I Have Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain feels different for each individual, but common complaints include the following:
- It may feel like “everything hurts everywhere”
- Symptoms may spread from one area to another
- You may feel more fatigued and fearful of activity
- Pain symptoms may worsen in periods of stress and upsetting circumstances
- Symptoms arise without a cause
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Chronic pain affects each person differently, but it can lead to decreased activity levels, job loss, financial difficulties, as well as anxiety, depression, and disability. Physical therapists work with people with chronic pain to reduce pain and restore their activity to the highest possible levels.
Physical therapy treatments may include:
- Strengthening and flexibility exercises
- Manual therapy
- Postural awareness and body mechanics instruction
- Education on pain science
Our physical therapists at Breakthru Physical Therapy + Fitness are trained in treating chronic pain. Contact us today or schedule an appointment here. If you are living with chronic pain, our therapists can work with you to get you back to the activities you enjoy.
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