Things You Must Know About Chronic Pain
It is difficult knowing someone you care about is battling chronic pain. But it can also leave you feeling frustrated when nothing you say or do seems to help. With that in mind, our Bournemouth chiropractor highlights some of the most important things you should know about chronic pain…
1: It’s real
People with chronic pain are often treated as if they are exaggerating their symptoms. But everyone’s pain is real, even if you or the person are not aware of the true cause. Most chronic pain sufferers would like nothing more than to enjoy a pain-free life, so think how frustrating it is for them when people accuse them of being hypochondriacs.
2: It can lead to disuse syndrome
Because chronic pain often leads to long-term inactivity, a person suffering chronic pain can be at risk of developing disuse syndrome. This syndrome can negatively impact their musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neurological, psychological, and emotional processes. At its worst, it can even lead to a lack of wellness that can be debilitating in itself. So be mindful that they may be suffering from a lot more than pain itself.
3. It commonly leads to sleep-related problems
When it comes to sleep, chronic pain can create a negative cycle. In other words, the pain can make it difficult to sleep, and a lack of sleep can make chronic pain worse.
People with chronic pain may find it difficult to fall asleep or they may wake up frequently during the night and get up feeling exhausted the next morning. Due to the close connection between sleep problems and chronic pain, many people are often treated for both issues.
4. It is personal
Each and every person’s experience of pain is different. An example of this is two people having the same condition, and one displaying no major symptoms while the other is totally incapacitated. This is especially true when it comes to back pain. It is quite common for two people to have the same type of herniated disc, and one feels only slight discomfort while the other feels burning, debilitating sciatic pain. So even if you’ve experienced – or know someone who has been through the same condition, don’t assume that you necessarily know how the chronic pain patient is feeling.
5. It does not equal unhappiness
When a person suffering chronic pain is smiling, laughing or even having a “good day,” people sometimes assume that the person is “cured” or that they’re no longer experiencing pain. But this is not usually the case.
It is important to understand that a person can be happy and be experiencing pain at the same time. Of course, share the good times with them, but be mindful that their pain may still exist.
When it comes to helping someone you know with chronic pain, the more knowledge you have, the more good you can do.
The key is to listen, to be there and to always be open-minded.
