Persistent pain is not like other medical issues—it’s difficult to assess or measure, and there is no set protocol for a successful treatment plan. Often, people with persistent pain find it difficult to describe or explain what they are feeling as it may vary in location, severity and impact on daily living from one day to the next. For these reasons, people with persistent pain may have experienced times where health professionals appear to not believe their symptoms of are exaggerating them.
So what is Persistent Pain?
Persistent pain, previously referred to as Chronic Pain, is not just a symptom of tissue damage, but a much more complex process involving many structures. It is very important to understand that pain in created by the brai
n. Pain is an experience triggered by structures around the body when something happens that the brain per
ceives as potentially dangerous. This is nociception. The amount of “perceived danger” depends on many things; previous similar experiences, cultural factors, other perceived dangers/context, and knowledge, amongst other things. An increase in perceived danger will increase the level of pain “felt”.
As pain persists, the nociception system becomes more sensitised. “Danger signals” are sent to the brain with greater significance, causing the brain to conclude the tissue is in greater danger. The result is the feeling of increasing pain. As physiotherapists, we can help you change this process and the notion of pain re-enforcing further pain.
At Get Active Physiotherapy, through a thorough holistic assessment we will listen and identify your symptoms, discuss them with you and provide advice and education regarding your pain. We will then discuss the best course of treatment with you and create achievable short and long term goals for your recovery.
Some treatment options are:
• Advice and education regarding the physiology of pain and pain management strategies.
• Exercise therapy
• Joint mobilisations and manipulation
• Neural mobilisations
• Soft tissue release and massage
• Muscle energy techniques
• Acupuncture
If you have any questions or would like to book in to see one of our physiotherapists, please do not hesitate to contact Get Active on 1300 8 9 10 11 or email us at admin@getactivephysio.com.au
