Chronic Pain: Finding Relief
We all experience pain at some point in our lives. But when does pain go from normal, everyday pain to chronic pain? Rob Danoff, DO, an osteopathic family physician from Philadelphia, discusses the causes and symptoms of chronic pain and how those who live with it can find relief.
Using a whole-person approach to care, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, look beyond the symptoms of chronic pain to assess the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors on your health. They are trained to listen and partner with their patients, encouraging the body’s natural tendency toward self-healing.
What is Chronic Pain?
“Chronic pain is considered a persistent type of pain lasting for three months to six months or longer, and lingers beyond the “normal” expected course for healing,” says Dr. Danoff. “It can be mild or severe, continuous or sporadic, merely uncomfortable or totally incapacitating.”
According to Dr. Danoff, headaches, joint pain, pain from injury, and backaches are the most common sources of pain. Other kinds of chronic pain include tendinitis, sinus pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and pain affecting specific parts of the body, such as the shoulders, pelvis, and neck.
He notes, however, that many people suffer from chronic pain in the absence of injury or any previous damage to the body.
What are the symptoms of chronic pain?
When dealing with chronic pain, experiences can vary greatly.
“Some people experience shooting, burning or stabbing pains while others experience a ‘pins and needles’ feeling, or soreness, tightness and stiffness,” explains Dr. Danoff.
Pain is almost always associated with a number of related symptoms like sleeplessness, withdrawal from activity, weakened immune system, and changes in mood including hopelessness, fear, depression, irritability, anxiety, and stress.
“One of the most devastating effects of chronic pain is the emotional toll it takes on the individual,” says Dr. Danoff. “The anxiety, depression and fatigue that often accompany chronic pain can decrease the body’s production of natural painkillers and make the pain worse.”
Treatment Options
Just as there are multiple types of chronic pain, there are a wide variety of treatment options, from medication to hands-on techniques.
One treatment shown to be effective in treating chronic pain for some patients is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, or OMT. DOs are trained to perform this series of hands-on techniques to help diagnose, treat and prevent injury and illness.
“Effective pain treatment requires an individualized pain management program created through patient and physician collaboration,” says Dr. Danoff. “It takes into account both the physical and the emotional/mental symptoms.”
What should I do if I’m experiencing pain?
If you are living with chronic pain, Dr. Danoff recommends doing the following:
- Assess your pain.
- Make an appointment to speak with a DO about your pain.
- Work with your physician to come up with an individualized treatment plan that meets your needs.
- Follow your personalized pain management/treatment plan.
“You don’t have to suffer in silence if you’re living with pain,” says Dr. Danoff. “By starting the conversation with your physician, you will be taking an important first step in finding relief.”
