Struggling with ongoing Pain? 7 Things Every Physio Wishes You Knew About Pain.
Pain is your body’s alarm system. Sometimes, the alarm goes on for longer than it should, and we have to re-train the alarm's sensitivity setting.
1. Pain Doesn’t Always Mean Harm
Not all pain means you are causing harm or damage. Ever had an awful headache? This is very rarely due to something serious. It’s an example of how we can experience severe pain without worrying about structural damage.
2. Coping Strategies and Beliefs Matter
Pain is turned up or down depending on your coping strategies and beliefs. If you are sleep-deprived, stressed-out, and anxious, your body will assume the pain alarm is because of an imminent threat, making it so ‘loud’ that you can barely think about anything else. If you’re on a Caribbean holiday, without a care in the world, and have had 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, then the alarm ‘sound’ is generally much lower. This is why learning about the role that your thoughts, lifestyle, and fears play in the experience of pain is vital to you taking control of it.
3. Pain Is a Part of Being Human
We all experience pain. We’d be in danger without our pain systems. Understanding the cause of your pain and whether it is serious or not is helpful to navigate your way through it. Knowing when to ‘listen’ to it and when to carry on as normal is a skill.
4. Don’t Suffer in Silence
You don’t have to suffer in silence if you are experiencing pain that is lasting longer than 3 months. Chronic pain is known to cause depression, anxiety, and withdrawal as many people suffer in silence. Reaching out and asking for help is vitally important in your recovery.
5. Your Pain Is Real
Your experience of pain is real. It’s not ‘all in your head,’ but it is something that the brain controls.
6. Find the Right Health Professional
Finding a health professional who understands, listens, and can diagnose your problem is an important step on the road to recovery.
7. Movement is Medicine
Staying active can help manage pain. While it might seem counterintuitive, gentle physical activity can reduce pain levels and improve your overall health. A physiotherapist can guide you in creating a safe exercise plan tailored to your condition.