What Is Chronic Pain?
The simple definition of chronic pain is pain that has been present for greater than 12 weeks.
Typically, acute pain is because of some traumatic event that injures your body’s tissues.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
If you smash your thumb with a hammer, for instance, this causes acute pain.
The pain is sudden and severe, and you could easily discern the cause of it.
Your thumb becomes red, swollen, and painful.
Over the course of a few weeks, however, the pain goes away as your thumb heals.
Now imagine that you smash your thumb with a hammer again.
Your thumb becomes red, swollen, and painful.
This time, imagine your thumb pain continues long after the signs of injury have gone away.
The tissues are clearly healed, but your thumb still hurts.
When you give a shot to move your hand, the pain increases.
This is chronic pain.
Plus, dealing with chronic pain can leave you and your healthcare provider perplexed.
Often times, pain comes up whenever there is little or no tissue damage.
Why is the pain lasting long after the tissues are healed?
Why are medicines not effective in treating your pain?
Is there something really wrong?
Treatments Types
There are many different treatments available for chronic pain.
Finding the best one for you’re free to take a little trial and error.
During this session, you will meet your physical therapist and discuss your condition.
Your therapist should ask questions about your pain and how it behaves.
Is your pain present constantly or intermittently, and how does it affect your life?
What makes it better or worse?
Goals may include: pain relief, extended range of motion, increased strength and improved functional mobility.
Your goals should be personal and should give you a road map to follow during your rehabilitation program.
Finally, your treatment can begin.
Does this mean that they will not be effective for you?
Understanding the research can help you make informed decisions about your care.
Massage, however, may help improve the mobility of tissues and feelings of well-being.
Treatments Proven to Be Effective
Exercise has been proven to be effective for chronic pain.
Still, finding ways to maintain walking and exercising is important.
(Your PT can help with this.)
Overall, passive treatments like heat, ice, or massage may feel good.
The most important thing to remember is that your pain is personal.
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